Netflix’s Ripley has landed on the streaming service, with critics praising the small-screen adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel.
However, while the psychological thriller, also starring Andrew Scott, has received mostly positive reviews, some critics claim that Dakota Fanning cannot compete with Gwyneth Paltrow’s original performance in the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Gwyneth starred alongside Matt Damon and Jewish 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 performance.
Reviewing the new series Evening StandardAnna Van Praagh wrote that Dakota “can’t compete for a second with Gwyneth Paltrow’s impeccable Marge Sherwood, and Johnny Flynn is left 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” when she takes on the role of Marge Sherwood in the Netflix adaptation.
Gwyneth starred alongside Matt Damon and Jude Law in the 1999 Hollywood film The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Visually the two adaptations are worlds apart, since the The Hollywood film’s sumptuous visuals have been replaced by a noir version of the Netflix series, with critics comparing the latest version to Hitchcock in style and pacing.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 in no way tried to copy Gwyneth’s performance while preparing for the role.
Speaking in an interview with British Vogueexplained how different the two adaptations are and admitted that she didn’t find the film useful for her portrayal of Marge.
“I revisit the movie because I love it, but I didn’t find it useful in terms of playing Marge or getting into this world because the vibe of it is completely separate,” Dakota explained.
Set predominantly in Rome and Venice, Gwyneth brought glamor to her role as Marge with a collection of feminine, floral summer dresses.
In the scenes where she and Jude Law, who played Dickie, emerge from the sea, Gwyneth, who was 27 at the time, looked radiant in a navy blue printed bikini.
However, the pastel colors of her outfits have been removed in the black and white version, with Dakota’s Marge wearing plain, oversized shirts and sweaters.
The actress, 30, explained that it was a conscious decision for her wardrobe to be all black and navy blue.
Dakota confessed that she in no way tried to copy Gwyneth’s performance while preparing for the role.
Set predominantly in Rome and Venice, Gwyneth brought glamor to her role as Marge with a collection of feminine, floral summer dresses.
However, the pastel colors of her outfits have been removed in the black and white version, with Dakota’s Marge wearing plain, oversized shirts and sweaters.
Dakota also opted to make Marge’s ambition more central to the plot, while Gwyneth seemed pretty straightforward at first as Dickie’s socialite girlfriend.
In the scenes where she and Jude Law, who played Dickie, emerge from the sea, Gwyneth, who was 27 at the time, looked radiant in a navy blue printed bikini.
Unlike Gwyneth’s two-piece suit, Dakota revealed that for the swimming scene she wears a gray plaid swimsuit that was deliberately unglamorous and practical.
She explained: “We wanted to make sure the costumes looked natural, wrinkled and a little big, to show that Marge wants to be taken seriously.”
Dakota also opted to make Marge’s ambition more central to the plot, while Gwyneth seemed pretty straightforward at first as Dickie’s socialite girlfriend.
Dakota revealed: ‘Marge has some ulterior motives too. She’s also somewhat taking advantage of this situation she finds herself in for her own benefit.’
Vogue’s Radhika Seth is certainly a fan of this new performance as Marge, writing: “It’s a remarkable performance from Fanning, still, impassive, cold and cryptic, among the 30-year-old actor’s best.” .
Meanwhile, Andrew Scott’s central performance in Tom Ripley has captivated early viewers, with the Scottish actor being branded “fascinating”.
Set in the 1960s, Ripley is hired by a wealthy New Yorker to travel to Italy and convince his wayward son Dickie (played by Johnny Flynn) to return home.
Tom delves into the luxurious world of the elite before resorting to deception and murder in a desperate attempt 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 wildly different role, while the star-studded cast also includes Dakota Fanning, who plays Marge Sherwood, an American who lives in Italy and who begins to suspect Tom’s motives.