I've never seen a movie like this, the tone and rhythm are completely different before and after. The first half is still a pleasant vacation style in an Italian-style town and rich second-generation people, and it turns to the suspenseful thriller style of violent murder at any time (really, I was basically in a state of covering my eyes since Dicky died). But I think this is the most brilliant point of the director. He used a full 50 minutes of sunny beach martini saxophone to pave the way, so that the tension and horror of the next 80 minutes are so chilling.
There's a lot going on in this film, and I want to talk about the relationship between Dickie and Ripley the most.
Many people say that this is a gay movie. I think Pete and Ripley do have a relationship in the back, but I don't think there is a so-called love between Dicky and Ripley, and even said that Ripley was born because of love too deeply. Hate killing Dicky, I don't think so either. Because, because in this movie, Dicky is really a straight guy who can't be straight any more! Jude's handling of many details is really good, and it's really not a cover to get an Oscar nomination for this movie.
The first detail is playing chess in the bathroom. The most ambiguous scene in the whole film, I don't know how many people's hearts are raised. It was ambiguous at first, until Ripley said, "Can I get in?" Dickie looked at him meaningfully, and said slowly "no". I watched the whole scene so many times, it wasn't a refusal or a flirtation, it was surprise, guesswork and alertness. This was an offensive request, so Ripley immediately said that I didn't mean it together (there's no silver taels here, okay). But Dickie still said yes, but he left, and walked away from Ripley so naked. I think it's because of being straight that he actually subconsciously regarded Ripley as a friend of the same sex, so he was naturally unguarded like this, but Ripley took this exposure as some kind of ( shy) hints, even as a vague confession. And Dicky, who left, I think he has realized that something is wrong, so he made the choice not to share the same room (or the bathroom).
The second detail is that the two were on the train, and Ripley sniffed Dicky's clothes while he was asleep, and even kissed him through the shadows. But with his eyes closed, he suddenly said, "Why do you always twist your neck around?" Haha, this place is really cute, but this is the best embodiment of a straight man's incomprehensible style. In fact, I don't think Dicky is pretending to be asleep, but he didn't fall asleep either. He just closed his eyes and just felt Ripley's "euphemistic" gesture of love, but! But he didn't understand at all, and said that people twisted their necks. If there is a real relationship, I don't believe that there is no such sensitivity.
The third detail is the last two people on the boat. After Ripley is provoked, he speaks out what he really thinks - he always thinks Dickie loves him, and the bathroom that night is the beginning of the confession of love. Dicky's expression is definitely saying are you kidding me? It's an expression that feels that the other party is unreasonable and too addicted to his own brain hole, not that you are right and I'm angry. The phrase "I don't love you" said it decisively, and the unbelievable expression had already expressed his heart.
So I always understand Dickie as a simple straight guy who loves jazz and women. He's not that stupid (for example, half-joking about Ripley at a concert but hitting the nail on the head), but he really doesn't care about male-male relationships It's not that sensitive, in fact, it is sometimes very rough; but Ripley lives in his own mind - I always feel that Ripley's misunderstanding of Dicky's feelings is what led to the final killing of Dicky. The important reason, the confession he thought, the beauty he thought, the love he thought, he thought the two of them would have a future, but he mistakenly regarded Dicky, who was born with a halo, as a light source that was only released to himself. So he felt cheated. So he lost control.
Another interesting point is that Dickey's attitude towards Ripley changed since the appearance of Freddie. In fact, I quite like this cheap fat man (what's the matter with the feeling of a honeyed Huang Bo when he speaks), he has the inferiority of all the rich people, but after Dicky died, he chased after the death of Ripley at home. That questioning was really enjoyable, and I even thought that there was a person who was sober at that time. Unfortunately, he was killed unexpectedly.
However, Dickie has distanced himself from Ripley since Freddie's appearance. From the most embarrassing scene in history - Ripley wearing Dickie's clothes since he was caught, Dicky began to alienate Ripley. I've always felt that it was inevitable even if it didn't happen; I think Freddy said something to Dicky after his first meeting with Ripley, like the sarcasm he later said to Ripley Ironic but truest words. This made Dicky, who was already skeptical, start to be alert. The scene where they had breakfast together on the balcony was also very subtle. Freddy kept talking sarcastically at Ripley, but Dicky and Maggie didn't say anything. In a scene, Dicky was drinking coffee and looked up, presumably It was he who told Ripley through Freddy's mouth: You should leave.
In fact, what I didn't figure out was that the half-joking but pointed question, if it was true, since Dicky had seen through Ripley, why did he still not have a showdown? Is it to use a superior attitude to see him continue to pretend to be embarrassed until he makes a fool of himself, or is it really in the goodwill of a friend and endures again and again in order to get together and break up? But I think it has absolutely nothing to do with love. Well everyone interprets it differently, I think Dickie is a straight guy.
Only analyze the first 50 minutes, because the later is really very nervous and nervous. There is another place worth mentioning, the soundtrack of this film is also very thoughtful. It is found that every time Ripley wants to "scheme", whether it is to cater to deception or to kill, there will be a short-lived creepy BGM, which really greatly increases the weirdness and anger of the movie, especially if you are sunny in Italy I heard such unconventional music in front of the beach. But this unique achievement is the greatest charm of the film.
Finally, I want to say that I can understand Ripley's feelings for Dicky, his humble but somehow beautiful feelings, and I can also understand Ripley's jealousy and possessiveness towards that upper class, and I even understand him Killed Dicky out of control, but I can't understand how twisted it really is to have the thought of being his replacement and enjoying what he has after killing Dicky as a matter of course. Does having nightmares mean guilt? No, it's unforgivable, the fall begins with his makeover, not the moment he kills.
If you can go back, don't go back to borrowing coats, just go back to Tu Vuo'Fa L'Americano.
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