TV REVIEW: RIPLEY - Miniseries

4/5

The Thomas Ripley Affair.

8 Episodes. Starring: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy & Maurizio Lombardi. Director: Steven Zaillian. On: Netflix.

Believe it or not. Andrew Scott wants you to get out more and get over 'Fleabag'. Is the man, who is rumoured to be in a 'Tortured Men's Club' group chat with 'All Of Us Strangers' co-star Paul Mescal and Taylor Swift ex Joe Alwyn that inspired the name of her latest album, telling me to get a life? Maybe he just knows that if the "sexy priest" takes it further, we'll all fall in love again. Besides, there's much more to the villainous 'Sherlock' and 'Spectre' star. Now, if you thought his priest was holy, this is Moriarty we're talking about. This month, he gets to play the ultimate one with the biggest confidence in Netflix's new, slow burning limited series 'Ripley', shot in beautiful European black and white for you film noir buffs all about the art. Classic cinematography based on 'The Price Of Salt' (that inspired the classic, cinematic 'Carol') writer Patricia Highsmith's 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', which has already been adapted into a great movie starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and a young Matt Damon literally getting his oar in after his 'Good Will Hunting' Oscar success. After 'Spectre' and 'Sherlock', Scott shows his slimy side as a snake of a villain that sheds more skin than psoriasis. But that's the only gross thing about this gorgeously shot bit of filmmaking that shouldn't be passed over for baby reindeer's and the latest tiger king, like Netflix obsession. Mind hunt through this one, where even stranger things happen, and you'll see the real makings of a murderer and a man unmade.

Neo-noir psychologically thrilling television in all its eight wonders don't come much better than this from 'The Night Of' creator Steven Zaillian who cut his teeth with screenplays for 'Schindler's List', 'Gangs Of New York', and 'The Irishman'. Based on the 1955 novel idea, this is a more mesmerizing mystery than Agatha Christie. For the Poirot's that is. As we know all about Thomas Ripley and his talents for trickery and descending into darkness. This is Ripley's game...we're just along for the ride. The victims here, well, they've been through it. The "I've seen this guy somewhere before" of 'One Life' star Johnny Flynn caught flack for the impossible task of playing the late, great David Bowie far too soon in 'Stardust'. But here as the Law of Dickie Greenleaf, taking over the hey Jude character before Andrew assumes his identity, he showcases how sensational a talent he is on a show originally meant for Showtime before this streaming service came in with the Netflix money. Then, Marge, who Paltrow played powerfully, is perfected by 'The Sixth Sense' of 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' star Dakota Fanning. No stranger to detection, recently reuniting with Denzel Washington after 'Man On Fire' for the trilogy concluding 'The Equalizer'. She has none here, no matter what you think of her taste in scarves.

Call the police like LCD Soundsystem, because Sting and Trudie Styler's singing and songwriting offspring Eliot Sumner steals the show as a concerned friend already riled up by Ripley. After making their mark in 'The Gentlemen' and 'No Time To Die', the sum of Sumner's parts adds even more to this already amazing affair. As does the Italian of seven-time David di Donatello Awards winner Margherita Buy as a landlady with the lay of the land, a soft spot and a hard edge. Or the decadent detective (complete with a moustache, of course) Maurizio Lombardi ('The Young Pope', 'The New Pope' and 'Citadel: Diana') assigned to the case. The perfect playwright and stage director going back and forth with Scott's Tom over cigarettes and niceties that could kill you one day, you know, like Sumner summing him up. And let's not forget the classic cameos. This perfect production illuminated the screen without so much a drop of colour, aside from blood-red, that Zaillian knows all too well about after Spielberg's famous and heartbreaking coat from 'Schindler's List'. Haunting, spellbinding and fiercely loyal to Patricia Highsmith's hallmark work. All the way until the credits roll like heads, and sound spins the mystery of tales to come in the episodes that follow like the countdown of your "continue watching" button to press play. Are you ready to spider-diagram more in these webs we weave? Follow the strand like Sherlock. Don't take the skills and smarts of 'Ripley' for granted. Catch him if you can. The talented Sexy Priest. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', 'Carol', 'All Of Us Strangers'.