(Original Caption) Jude Law, Matt Damon & Gwyneth Paltrow at the press conference for the 1999 film ... [+]
The Talented Mr. Ripley star Jude Law said watching Netflix’s
In the Netflix series, Andrew Scott plays Tom Ripley, a struggling grifter in New York City in the 1960s who accepts a tempting offer from a rich businessman, Herbert Greenleaf (Kenneth Lonergan) to travel to Italy to find his millionaire vagabond son. Ripley’s job is to convince Dickie (Johnny Flynn) to return home, but once the con man gets a taste of the younger Greenleaf’s lavish lifestyle, he concocts a sinister plan to steal his identity.
Matt Damon starred as Ripley in the 1999 film version from late director Anthony Minghella, while Law played Dickie. Gwyneth Paltrow also starred in the film as Dickie’s American socialite girlfriend Marge Sherwood, while Dakota Fanning plays the role in the new series.
Law told Entertainment Weekly that he’s seen the majority of the Netflix series and was surprised at how it sparked memories of his 1999 film, even though he hasn’t seen it in “many, many years.”
"It was funny how many of the scenes are similar and kicked up so many memories in my mind. And how well I knew it,” Law told EW. “I kept thinking, 'Oh God, I remember this.' Down to the name of Dickie's maid, Ermelinda. I always remember saying, 'Ermelinda, Ermelinda.' There was an emotional level, too, to revisiting those characters."
Law Says It’s Interesting Watching ‘Ripley’ For Its Creatives Differences From Film Version
Apart from Ripley being an eight-part limited series and The Talented Mr. Ripley a 2 hour-plus minute feature film, Jude Law said he’s enjoying the Netflix hit because of all of its creative differences.
"How can one not? It's such great material. You're in great hands with wonderful actors and it's such an interesting character,” Law told EW. “Both versions reflect the director in many ways. One is visual, colorful, and romantic. The other is quite forensic and more sinister. Film, to me, often reflects the person at the helm of the camera."
Perhaps the most stark difference between the two versions is how Ripley director Steven Zaillian filmed the series in black and white while Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley is in color. Still, Law pointed out, all roads lead to the heart of Patricia Highsmith’s original story despite the creative detours they each take.
"Steve Zaillian's [version], in many ways, couldn't be further from Anthony's," Law told EW. "It's very interesting to see what scenes and threads still come to the surface, even if they are very different stylistically and in their pacing."
The Talented Mr. Ripley earned five Oscar nominations including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Law and a Best Adapted Screenplay nod for Minghella.
All eight episodes of Ripley are streaming on Netflix.
