Netflix’s Ripley has landed on the streaming service, and critics are raving about the small screen adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel.
Although the psychological thriller, which also stars Andrew Scott, has received mostly positive reviews, some critics say Dakota Fanning can’t quite compete with Gwyneth Paltrow’s original performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley from 1999.
Gwyneth played wide Matt Damon and Judas Law in the Hollywood film, playing the role of Marge Sherwood.
And taking on the role 25 years later, critics aren’t entirely convinced by Dakota’s performance, suggesting she can’t compete with Gwyneth’s original portrayal.
Review of the new series The Evening standardAnna Van Praagh wrote that Dakota “can’t compete for a second with Gwyneth’s Paltrow’s flawless Marge Sherwood, and Johnny Flynn lies dead on the side of the road compared to Jude Law’s portrayal of Dickie Greenleaf, a character he inhabited perfectly.” ‘
Ripley critics claim Dakota Fanning ‘can’t compete with Gwyneth Paltrow’ as she takes on the role of Marge Sherwood in the Netflix adaptation
Gwyneth starred alongside Matt Damon and Jude Law in the Hollywood film The Talented Mr. Ripley from 1999
Visually, the two adjustments are worlds apart, just like the The Hollywood film’s lush visuals have been replaced by a noir version of the Netflix series, with critics comparing the latest version to Hitchcock in style and pacing.
And Dakota confessed that she wasn’t trying to copy Gwyneth’s performance in any way when preparing for the role.
Speaking in an interview with British Vogueshe explained how different the two adaptations are and admitted that she didn’t find the film useful for her portrayal of Marge.
“I’m rewatching the movie because I love it, but I didn’t find it useful when it comes to playing Marge or entering this world because the atmosphere of this is completely different,” Dakota explained.
Set mainly in Rome and Venice, Gwyneth brought glamor to her role as Marge in a collection of floral and feminine summer dresses.
In scenes where she and Jude Law, who played Dickie, emerge from the sea, Gwyneth, who was 27 at the time, beamed in a navy patterned bikini.
However, the pastel colors of her outfits have been stripped down to the black and white version, with Dakota’s Marge wearing plain and oversized shirts and sweaters.
The 30-year-old actress explained that it was a conscious decision to make her costumes all black and navy blue.
Dakota confessed that she was in no way trying to copy Gwyneth’s performance when preparing for the role
Set mainly in Rome and Venice, Gwyneth brought glamor to her role as Marge, wearing a collection of floral and feminine summer dresses.
However, the pastel colors of her outfits have been stripped down to the black and white version, with Dakota’s Marge wearing plain and oversized shirts and sweaters.
Dakota also chose to make Marge’s ambition more central to the plot, while Gwyneth came off rather plain at first as Dickie’s socialite girlfriend.
In scenes where she and Jude Law, who played Dickie, emerge from the sea, Gwyneth, who was 27 at the time, beamed in a navy patterned bikini.
Other than Gwyneth’s two-piece swimsuit, Dakota revealed that for the swimming scene she wears a gray plaid swimsuit that was purposely unglamorous and practical.
She explained, “We wanted to make sure the costumes felt natural, gathered and a little oversized, to show that Marge wants to be taken seriously.”
Dakota also chose to make Marge’s ambition more central to the plot, while Gwyneth came off rather plain at first as Dickie’s socialite girlfriend.
Dakota revealed, “Marge has some ulterior motives too. She also makes some use of the situation she has found herself in.’
Vogue’s Radhika Seth is certainly a fan of this new portrayal of Marge, as she writes, “It’s a remarkable performance from Fanning – silent, impassive, cold and cryptic – that ranks among the 30-year-old actor’s best.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Scott’s pivotal performance in Tom Ripley has captivated early viewers, with the Scottish actor being labeled ‘enchanting’.
Set in the 1960s, Ripley is hired by a wealthy New Yorker to travel to Italy to convince his wayward son Dickie (played by Johnny Flynn) to return home.
Tom makes his way into the opulent world of the elite before resorting to deceit and murder in a desperate bid to keep his place at the table.
John Malkovich, who previously played the title role in the 2002 film Ripley’s Game, returns to the world of Tom Ripley in a very different installment, while the star-studded cast also includes Dakota Fanning, who plays Marge Sherwood, an American who lives and starts living in Italy. suspect Tom’s motives.