The Talented Mr Ripley, a college kid who gets mistaken for someone else, cheats his way halfway across the globe and kills a rich fellow to take his place. Con-Artist-Movie 101, right? Been there, watched it.
You think about 'Catch Me If You Can', the fun movie about that great guy who happens to be a con man. Who experiences romance, who humorously exchanges teases with the officer chasing him, who he knows on a familiar first name basis. Of course, there's a happy end for everyone. he gets caught, justice wins. He gets released and a Job helping the police finding more forgers, he wins. Ain't that sweet.
Ripley isn't like this. He isn't enjoying himself for long, and you're a lot more nervous when it's not about bounced cheques, but bodies in the sea. Especially when you're responsible for one of them. The movie manages to make us wish he gets away with it at the end, and technically he does, though he pays a much higher price than jailtime or a nine to five desk job. Call it Karma, but if you lie yourself to a better life, you can't just stop one day. The lie becomes your prison.
