The Talented Mr. Ripley

starring Matt DAMON, Gwyneth PALTROW, Jude LAW, Cate BLANCHETT,
Philip Seymour HOFFMAN
directed by Anthony MINGHELLA

what's the big deal? Oscar winners Damon, Paltrow, and Minghella
are gunning to return to the podium.
release date Dec. 22



Yes, it's Minghella's follow-up to 1996's Oscar-rich ''The English
Patient,'' but don't expect a tale of heroism and chivalry. It
sounds much more interesting than that. In this opulent adaptation
of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 cult novel, Damon stars as Tom
Ripley, who could be the most likable antihero since a certain
other bad guy with good taste chewed his way through ''The Silence
of the Lambs.''

''Reading the book, you're allowed to take pleasure in Ripley like
you'd take pleasure in Hannibal Lecter,'' says Damon. ''He's
amoral but totally fascinating.'' Damon's title character is a
sophisticated young American who's sent to Italy in the 1950s to
retrieve an old school friend named Dickie Greenleaf (Law). When
Ripley finds him, he falls in love with both Dickie's posh life
and Dickie himself, so he decides to kill him and assume his
identity.

Of course, it won't be just Ripley's deliciously evil deeds that
suck audiences in. The film also stars such easy-on-the-eyes
members of Hollywood's young A list as Paltrow and Blanchett. ''I
cast Matt before 'Good Will Hunting,' Gwyneth before 'Shakespeare
in Love,' and Cate before 'Elizabeth,''' says Minghella, ''so the
casting of this actually makes me look much more clever than I am.''


BUZZ FACTOR: 8