WithSaltburn, writer and director Emerald Fennell has channeledThe Talented Mr. Ripleyfor the Gen Z set. This is by no means a dig since the film is easily one of the best movies of the year due to the big swings that it takes, but it certainly owes a debt to the 1999 thriller that saw a similar central figure longing for a chance to belong in a world of bright shiny things through a perceived obsession/infatuation with a male counterpart that is seemingly unaware that they are the object of desire or pure envy.
Saltburnis set in England in the mid-2000s and follows a young university student named Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) who becomes obsessed with his wealthy schoolmate Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). This all comes to a head when Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer with him at his very eccentric family’s estate.
Oliver is initially rejected by his classmates because of his perceived poverty, and he earns Felix’s sympathy by detailing a very troubled upbringing due to having parents who suffered from substance abuse and mental health issues. Oliver does showcase a level of obsessive behavior towards Felix that nearly alienates him, but once he reveals that his father has suddenly died, he scores an invitation to Felix’s lavish estate at Saltburn and an opportunity to infiltrate a life he truly desires.
The Talented Mr. Ripley Also Deals With Obsession and Deception
The Talented Mr. Ripley
InThe Talented Mr. Ripley, which is based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel of the same name, Matt Damon stars as Tom Ripley, a con artist from New York City who is sent to Italy to convince Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), a very spoiled and wealthy playboy, to return home. Tom is approached because Dickie’s father believes that he attended Princeton with his son since he’s wearing what turns out to be a borrowed Princeton jacket.
Once in Italy, Tom integrates himself into Dickie’s life by pretending to be a classmate, and he ultimately becomes obsessed with him and his very extravagant lifestyle. When that life is threatened, Tom goes to seriously disturbed lengths to ensure he doesn’t lose it.
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In Fennell’s defense, as many critics have been drawing comparisons between the two films, she has expressed thatThe Talented Mr. Ripleywasn’t one of her reference pointsforSaltburn, even though she loves the Highsmith novel that inspired it:
“Do you know what? It actually wasn’t really [something I was thinking about]. I mean, obviously Highsmith is one of my absolute favorites, but I think that I was sort of looking more at that British Country House tradition of The Go-Between and that sort of specific British…sort of Joseph Losey, where class and power and sex all kind of collide in one specific place.”
Even if Fennell wasn’t looking to the 1999 film for inspiration, bothSaltburnandThe Talented Mr. Ripleydeal with central characters that don’t have a very good relationship with the truth. For the audience, aspects of Oliver’s life already seem suspect, as he does everything he can to ease his way into Felix’s life and the life of his rich social circle. He comes off as a seemingly meek and lonely guy who needs friends with an intense need to fit in.
InRipley, Tom also comes off as more shy and reserved when introducing himself to Dickie. He presents himself in a way that at first makes Dickie want to include him in his life, almost as if he pities him for not sharing his natural charisma and ability to work a room. In both films, Oliver and Tom become obsessed with what someone else has, and there is also a question of how deep the obsession runs.
Both movies walk the line ofwhether the obsessionhas a sexual component. During a voiceover inSaltburn, Oliver informs the audience that he loves Felix but isn’t “in love” with him. He then details Felix’s admirable qualities that seem to put him on a pedestal of infatuation. There are also more pointed instances that would indicate that Oliver desires Felix as more than a friend, but those surprises are better left discovered and not spoiled.
In the end, there seems to be something much more sinister about his motives for even being in Felix’s orbit, even as it becomes increasingly clear that some kind of attraction is skewing these motives.
InThe Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom’s motives regarding Dickie are also more selfish and sinister than they seem. As he hangs out with his new friend, he takes many mental notes about his host, including his penmanship and speech patterns. Remember that Tom is a con artist, and the endgame appears to be to steal Dickie’s life, especially if he can’t have Dickie for himself. This is also complicated by an unrequited attraction towards Dickie, who is very promiscuous but also very straight. During the moment when Tom confesses his love for Dickie, he rejects him for being a “leech” and “boring,” something that sends Tom over the edge.
Both Films Dabble in Unrequited Affection That Borders on Unhealthy Infatuation
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A similar moment is featured inSaltburnwhen it appears that Felix has enough of Oliver when he sees that everything about him isn’t as it seems. Oliver has his own moment of admitting his desire to be in Felix’s life, and it’s an act of desperation that only shows how unstable he actually is. That being said, even though these things trip up Tom and Oliver in their respective films, there is always a sense that they are one step ahead and in control of the situation. You never feel that either has kept their eyes off the main prize.
There are also characters in both films that are immediately put off by these new individuals who are suddenly integrating themselves into the group. InRipley, it’s Dickie’s wealthy friend, Freddie Miles (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who treats Tom with complete contempt.
In some ways, it’s viewed as Freddie acting as if he’s better than Tom due to his wealth, which could very well be true, but he also gets the distinct impression that Tom isn’t one of them. He is wise to Tom’s deception almost immediately, and he does become a threat to Tom’s intentions when it comes to Dickie’s life.
InSaltburn, Farleigh Start (Archie Madekwe) is the character that is rudely dismissive towards Oliver. Farleigh, Felix’s American cousin, immediately clashed with Oliver during their time at Oxford. He senses that Oliver isn’t one of them either, and he isn’t afraid to make his disdain known through very snide comments. Farleigh becomes an obstacle to Felix’s affection and even the overall affection of Felix’s other family members, whom he wins over shortly after his arrival at Saltburn. Again, another obstacle that is very wise to something being off about this new person that has entered their lives.
There are apparent similarities between the story ofSaltburnandThe Talented Mr. Ripley, not only in how its story breaks down but also in how Fennell directs the project. Much like director Anthony Minghella did with the glossy direction of his film, Fennell givesSaltburna look of total opulence. It’s a beautiful world that she has created, even if thecharacters within it are very messy.
As an audience member, you find yourself viewing it as Oliver would. As a world that you have to belong to. Minghella did the very same thing withThe Talented Mr. Ripley, turning Italy and Dickie’s life into an image that you must fit into. Both films tap into a part of human nature that makes us want to belong and desire things that are just out of our reach. Luckily, with both films reaching their desired target audience and achieving respectable reviews, the similarities don’t seem to matter.
