The Problem with Patricia Highsmith
Dr. C and I have been watching Ripley on Netflix and enjoying it so much. It is so stylish- shot in black & white and radiating chiaroscuro shot after shot after shot. Andrew Scott is perfect as Tom Ripley. Do we like him? Do we hate him? Do we… trust him?
Y’all, we do not trust him. I find myself sympathizing with him so much, and that’s due to Scott’s portrayal of this complicated, murderous con artist. We have been watching this as a 2 episode at a time clip but honestly, I could see how someone could binge the whole thing in a night or weekend. Its 8 episodes and each one leaves you desperate to know what is going to happen next.
This is a trademark of Patricia Highsmith. Psychological thrillers with twists and turns and characters you aren’t sure you can trust so you have to keep reading. She wrote the book Ripley is based on, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Which was made into the film Purple Noon in 1960 starring Alain Deleon as Ripley. In 1999 it was again brought to the big screen with Matt Damon as Ripley. Apparently The Room (Yes, that The Room) was also a remake of Talented Mr. Ripley with Tommy Wiseau as Dickie Greenleaf. This is laughable.
Highsmith was a prolific author and many of her books made the jump to the big screen. There are other Ripley books, The Price of Salt- known to Queers and Film fans everywhere as Carol directed by Todd Haynes, The Two Faces of January, Deep Water, Ripley’s Game, and Strangers on a Train, which the fam and I watched recently.
Strangers on a Train is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best films in my opinion. Vertigo and Psycho get all the love, but Strangers is so compelling and diabolical, if you have never seen it (or haven’t in a while to pick a copy up at the library, or stream it (it’s on Tubi). Tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) is on the train home when he meets Bruno (Robert Walker), a friendly gentleman also headed home. Bruno strikes up conversation with Guy and seems to know an awful lot about him. While chatting, Bruno randomly suggests how he could commit the perfect crime. A sort of murder swap. Guy laughs it off, but not before talking about someone he wouldn’t mind getting killed. He waves goodbye to Bruno and gets off the train, not thinking about it again until the person he mentioned (his wife!) is murdered and Guy is the main suspect!
Dun dun DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
This movie is fantastic for all the reasons Hitchcock films are usually fantastic. Great acting, a dash of humor tossed in. Smart, effective camera work. But this film is especially good due in large part to the supporting cast all being so dang great.
Back to Highsmith. Why is she problematic, Woody? Well, like Hitchcock, she made art that stands the test of time. Her novels The Talented Mr. Ripley and Strangers on a Train are homoerotic, and both Hitchcock’s film and Ripley show it, although in Ripley its definitely not subtext. But, also like Hitchcock, she was kind of a jerk. That’s putting it mildy. She was antisemitic. Racist. And, a misogynistic queer. Ugh, the worst kind of queer! So, like watching films made by folks who we know did terrible things ( think: Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Hitchcock), its in the back of my mind when I watch a film based on a book she wrote. Just like I pay extra attention to the female characters in Hitchcock’s films and wonder how he treated them. So, I therefore think she’s problematic. Separating art and artist is a damn tough thing to do. I am never not going to watch a film and not think about what I know about who made the film, and who is in it.
Oh, hey, before I forget I did see Deadpool vs Wolverine and it was a fun one. I had never seen a Deadpool movie before, and now that I have seen this I am fine not seeing another one. I enjoyed it but I’m guessing the other two are the same schtick. Instead I will immerse myself into what’s coming out soon, like Cuckoo, Kneecap, and Alien: Romulus.
I LOVE Strangers on a Train. And I also had a great time at Deadpool and Wolverine :)