A Talent for Murder Movie Review

“Men In Black: International” demonstrates that the whole world still needs to be saved from some truly awful aliens. “A Talent for Murder” takes a fictional look at a real-life mystery author who has created a series of novels. These are about a deadly sociopath named Tom Ripley. The author has secluded herself securely away in Switzerland. But a visitor comes to urge her to create just one more amazing story.

 

The author in question is Patricia Highsmith (played by Helen Mirren). In her earlier years, she wrote “Strangers on a Train”. This was adapted into a thriller movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Another famous novel was called “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. This was also adapted into a well-received movie.

 

The main character was ‘Tom Ripley’, who was a nefarious and sneaky charmer who could get embedded into other people’s lives. He would slowly build up confidence, and then devastate his victims. Most of the times, murder was involved.

 

Highsmith is now much older and lives alone by choice. In 1985, she gets a visit by a representative from her Publishing House. The company wants nothing more than Highsmith generate just one more book for the eager public.

 

Her recent short stories and poetry do not have the publishing prowess that a new ‘Ripley’ novel would generate. Highsmith has become more isolated and eccentric in her home in Switzerland. She had sent the first book rep out running into the streets. He never returned to the company.

 

The company decides to make another attempt to contact Highsmith and convince her to write one last book of the series. She has already created five novels regarding ‘Tom Ripley’, and her psyche is feeling all of the pressures of holding a serial murderer in her head. She made damn sure the first Book Rep was put into a very psychologically awkward place. He cracked before she did. He left her compound in a tizzy.

 

This new attempt is going to be made by Edward Ridgeway (played by Alden Ehrenreich). He is a fairly young, bookish man with a very big plan. He wants to conquer ‘Mount Highsmith’. Conquer in the sense that he will talk her into doing the right thing.

 

He wants Highsmith to finally work on the novel that the public wants to have. Edward is on the train to the small mountain town were she lives. He happens to meet up with a very attractive young lady.

 

He meets this pleasant woman named Clementine Balfour (played by Olivia Cooke), who is also on her way to the same town. She will be living there over the summer with her guardian. This is her Aunt Peggy (played by Juliet Stevenson).

 

Her Aunt took in Clem after the death of her parents. She and Edward hit it off quite nicely, for being “Strangers on a Train”. But this meeting causes no problems, only a possible future romantic entanglement.

 

Edward Ridgeway gets to the current home of Patricia Highsmith. Highsmith is less than pleased to be dealing with an ‘intern’. She is cruel and acerbic in everything she says to Edward. She is treating (and mistreating) him in the same ways she did to the prior company representative.

 

That is why he ran out of the house screaming months ago, and cannot be located. Edward takes up the challenge and explains that he is better to deal with Highsmith than the other guy.

 

Pressing and pressuring Highsmith is not an easy thing to do, but Edward makes a few attempts. Her legacy can be improved if there is just one more ‘Tom Ripley’ novel. Highsmith counters with more questions back to him. What would make this new book any good, since she feels she has gone as far as she can with this series? What if they work together to plot out some details of a basic storyline, and let Highsmith work her magic?

 

Edward is starting to capture Highsmith’s curiosity by coming up with some names and situations. ‘Tom Ripley’ can get into the act once again. He can stalk and woo a woman who will eventually come into a small fortune. He suggests a name for this new Ripley victim – Clementine Balfour.

 

She would be an orphan sent to live with her last remaining relative – Aunt Peggy. Yes, Edward with using the names and situations from his chance meeting with Clem on the train. Everything he has found out about her can be used as the basis of the new novel.

 

Clem (the girl he met) is going to receive a large inheritance. But right now it is controlled by her guardian, Aunt Peggy (Clem’s actual aunt). But for the basis of the book, ‘Tom Ripley’ is able to cozy his way into Clementine’s life.

 

There are obstacles that would keep Clementine from getting all that money. ‘Tom Ripley’ can plan in devious ways to eliminate the people who stand between Clementine and her rightful fortune. Actually Tom’s fortune, because after they marry, he will alter the paperwork to make sure he will get all the money.

 

Patricia Highsmith is finally intrigued enough to start and get going on a new ‘Tom Ripley’ novel. But she wants more details from Edward, and he aims to follow through for her. He meets again, several times, with Clem.

 

They begin to be enamored with each other. However, Edward is using more and more of Clem’s real life for the details in the new Highsmith novel. Thinking himself as a stand-in for ‘Tom Ripley’, he sketches out elaborate scenarios about how a cold-blooded sociopath might operate in these situations.

 

At a certain point, Edward is starting to lose grasp on what in his life is actually real, and what parts are pressing in from the ‘Tom Ripley’ story line. His work with Highsmith to generate a new story for another ‘Tom Ripley’ is making him just a bit crazy.

 

Edward sees the ways and methods that ‘Tom Ripley’ would use to get his way. His brain is staring to become a little overwhelmed with the major evil that Ripley could bring.

 

Highsmith says she will finally sign the contract to complete the next book in the ‘Tom Ripley’ series. Edward is glad to see his efforts have finally worked out. He leaves to head back to America. On the train, he again meets Clem.

 

She is also travelling back to the States. She said her agreement with Aunt Peggy can still give her enough to live on and to travel. But some day, when Aunt Peggy is gone, Clem will have complete control.

 

Edward Ridgeway smiles and says he recently made a new friend. This friend might have a way to make Aunt Peggy go away, sooner rather than later. This friend’s name is ‘Tom’…

 

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“A Talent for Murder” is a work of fiction, but it regards an actual person. The actual person Patricia Highsmith never did write a sixth book in the ‘Tom Ripley’ series. But this is a fascinating idea about how that might have happened. Joanna Murray-Smith turned her play “Switzerland” into this movie.

 

Helen Mirren plays this fictional Patricia Highsmith with a caustic wit and a devious presence. She makes it clear that she deems most everything and everybody quite beneath her. She has a regal manner and a tawdry love for knifes, guns and whiskey. She has made quite a name for herself, and she will take no blather from anyone.

 

Alden Ehrenreich takes the role of Edward Ridgeway, the Publishing representative. At first he seems very meek and humble. It seems he would be no match for the gale-force winds of Highsmith.

 

However, later in the movie, Ehrenreich takes on a role within the story that Edward and Highsmith are concocting for her new novel. It is never mentioned outright, but he plays as a pretend version of the ‘Tom Ripley’ character. All of the sneaky dealings and hidden agendas are straight from the mind of a murderous sociopath.

 

The aspect of the original play format shows up is a few places. Where the real friction comes during the meetings between Highsmith and Edward are electrifying to watch. The overall location settings are selected very well. The work done by Olivia Cooke, playing Clementine Balfour, is really good. But it does not carry as much of an impact as Helen Mirren.

 

“A Talent for Murder” is a fictional treat for fans of author Patricia Highsmith and her created character ‘Tom Ripley’. Pulling off another ‘Tom Ripley’ story makes this entire production quite ‘Talented’ indeed…