The Talented Mr Ripley is the long awaited new picture from Anthony Minghella, the writer and director who brought us the academy award winning The English Patient.

The film is adapted from Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of the same name.

The film version of Highsmith's complex novel is about the exploits of an extremely intelligent, amoral sociopath.

The film begins with a typical case of mistaken identity.

Tom, a low class piano player, borrows a colleagues Princeton University jacket, and is thought to be a friend and Princeton graduate and is offered a $1000 by shipping magnate, Herbert Greenleaf (played by The Games James Rebhorn) to go to Europe and fetch his spoiled, self-centered son, Dickie (Jude Law).

Tom, who's a chronic liar and is desperate to belong to the world of privilege and wealth, and with nothing more than a lowly bathroom attendant job holding him back, accepts the task with enthusiasm and begins to mimic Dickie's persona.

When Tom arrives at the Italian village that Dickie is staying, Tom meets him and his gorgeous writer girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Dickie obviously doesn't have any recollection of him, but Tom is so manipulative and believable, that he is welcomed into their circle of friends.

Everything seems to be going well - that is, until the day when Dickie grows increasingly tired of Tom.

What ensues from that point is a story of murder and falsifications that has Tom putting his three talents (signature forgery, lying, and imitating individuals) to work for him in a battle with Dickie's cynical and insightful buddy Freddie (Philip Hoffman), a hotshot private investigator (Philip Baker Hall) and the Italian cops.

The character of Tom Ripley is the authentic anti-hero, the serial killer with seemingly just motives, the felon who the audience is rooting for in the end.

This film revitalizes the recent dull thriller genre that has been repetitive and formulaic in the last few years.

With the minor exceptions like Seven, The Usual Suspect and Primal Fear, movies that cease your breathing have gone amiss recently.

The Talented Mr Ripley does not quiet rank with Primal Fear and Seven.

But it's certainly the best thriller you will see this year.

Damon acquits himself very well as Tom, conveying both the emotional vulnerability and cold calculation of this intricate character.

Damon, in yet another role that uses his innocent prep school face as counterpoint for gradually unfolding complexities, was an inspired choice for the lead role.

The rest of the young cast including Kate Blanchett and the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow, are honest as the films secondary characters.

Like Minghella's The English Patient, the film goes well over two hours (139 minutes to be exact).

In this case, it is not necessarily a good thing.

The film is visually divine and aptly acted, but far too long.

The plot build up seems to drag on far too long before the thrill factor kicks in.

The scare effect doesn't linger too long after the end of the flick.

But this elegant psychological thriller is a twisted, taut and terrifying experience while it lasts.

Don't mistake The Talented Mr Ripley for a thriller version of The English Patient, one of the benchmark romantic motion pictures of the decade and a film that does linger.

But it still sends a chill down your spine, as a quality suspense thriller should.

Rating: 7 out of 10. Recommended.

By MIDN Daniel Armstrong