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Jude Law portrayed the irresistibly charming, spoiled former Princeton student Dickie Greenleaf in Anthony Minghella's 1999 film, The Talented Mr. Ripley, based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 book of the same name.
Steven Zaillian gave his spin on the story with the brand new Netflix show Ripley, which premiered in early April. This time, actor Johnny Flynn of EMMA. fame portrays the iconic Dickie Greenleaf.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Tuesday, April 16, Jude Law, who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Dickie, said that he was "enjoying" the Steven Zaillian show. Law admitted that he hadn't watched the 1999 flick in many years and revealed that many similar scenes stirred up his memories. He also recalled that revisiting the characters struck him on an "emotional level."
Jude Law portrayed Dickie Greenleaf in Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley
1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley featured Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf, the wayward playboy son of shipbuilding tycoon Herbert Greenleaf. After Dickie settles in Italy with his American girlfriend Marge Sherwood, portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow, his father sends in a con artist named Tom Ripley, who pretends to be Dickie's former Princeton classmate, to convince Dickie to get back home.
The film follows the aforementioned con artist, played by Matt Damon, and his ever-growing obsession with Dickie and his lifestyle, which eventually ventures into dangerous territory. Jude Law received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Dickie Greenleaf. Law was even nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 1999 Academy Awards. The award was eventually won by Michael Caine.
Greenleaf is a passionate man who shares a more loose and exploratory idea of his future, far removed from the rigid path that his father has in store for him. Instead of being yet another depiction of a rich kid gone bad, Jude Law's depiction of Dickie makes the character feel incredibly magnetic as well as charismatic, and thus the audience simply falls for his musings.
Another factor that makes Dickie Greenleaf iconic is his unabashedly confident and luxurious dressing style. Whether it be his signet rings, adventurous prints, Gucci loafers, or elegant polos, Dickie's clothes always reflected a strong sense of confidence laced with the perfect amount of charm.
"It's such great material": Jude Law on Ripley
Jude Law reflected on his time as Dickie Greenleaf and gave his opinion on the brand-new Netflix series Ripley in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, which was published on Tuesday, April 16.
He told the publication that he's watched "at least five or six" episodes of the first season, which contains eight episodes in total. Law told Entertainment Weekly:
"Like any great source material, it's really rewarding and interesting to watch something from a new perspective, a new angle."
Law thought that the current show could not be further apart from the 1999 movie. However, he still felt that it was interesting to see the scenes and threads that come to the surface despite the style and pacing differences between the two versions. Jude Law admitted that he was "enjoying" the new show. He further told the publication:
"It's such great material. You're in great hands with wonderful actors, and it's such an interesting character."
He further elaborated on the difference between the two projects:
"Both versions reflect the director in many ways. One is visual, colorful, and romantic. The other is quite forensic and more sinister. Film, to me, often reflects the person at the helm of the camera."
Nevertheless, Law confessed that he hadn't watched the 1999 film in "many, many years." He told EW:
"It was funny how many of the scenes are similar and kicked up so many memories in my mind. And how well I knew it. I kept thinking, 'Oh God, I remember this.' Down to the name of Dickie's maid, Ermelinda. I always remember saying, 'Ermelinda, Ermelinda.' There was an emotional level, too, to revisiting those characters."
The first season of Ripley premiered on April 4 and is currently available to watch on Netflix. Andrew Scott of Fleabag fame plays the titular character of Tom Ripley, while One Life star Johnny Flynn portrays Dickie Greenleaf in the series directed by Steven Zaillian, most notable for his 1993 directorial debut, Searching for Bobby Fischer.
