We all remember the super preppy movie/book The Talented Mr. Ripley, right?Every time I watch this movie, it reminds me that we all have a little Tom Ripley in us. I mean come on, we all would have whacked Freddie if for nothing else than his limp wristed mannerisms. Plus, you know Dickie had that oar to the face coming to him! Seriously, all jokes aside, I think we all desire to be something we are not! Whether it be Princeton, or one's desire to be a billionaire, we all desire to be someone else from time to time. Many accuse me of pretending on this blog, but this is truly who I am. Sure, I wish I had attended an Ivy. And, I wish I had ten times more money than I have, but don't we all! If nothing else, the opening line of the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley should help us with self reflection. Be who you are, but don't be afraid to dream! Well, that wasn't exactly what Tom said, but that is what he meant!
18 comments:
Interesting, ol' chum. I haven't seen the film. I don't care which way people swing, as it were, but I for one don't have "a little Tom Ripley inside me". I'd tell you if I did. I assure you.
I agree with Fogey. Bisexuality, lying, cheating, stealing, murder and deceitfulness are not values to which decent people of all ilks aspire.
You desire to be Princeton?
In the movie, Dickie stated that Tom should visit Battistoni to pick up a sport coat. Now there's a great tailor. I have to admit that I do not actually own any Battistoni sport coats, although I do have a number of ties. In case anyone is looking, you can usually find them at the Century 21 in lower Manhattan. Even the New York Times called them the "handsomest ties in the universe."
Also, a shout out to Old Nassau.
Here's the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/style/tmagazine/11ticons.html
LBF _ I can certainly tell you that I do not posses all Tom's characteristics. The only one of his traits I was referring to was his desire to be someone else.
Nothing screams "I am not the genuine article" quite like screaming "I am the genuine article." As an old salesman, I might suggest a little more "showing" and a little less "telling" if you want people to buy what you're selling them. Don't tell them that you went to an Ivy League school; present yourself as an old Ivy Leaguer and they'll just assume you have the degree.
Frank
Aspiring to something isn't necessarily misplaced or immoral. America was built on noble aspirations!
How should "fakery" be defined? It's "phoney" when a guy invests in clothes "above" his station? Social climbing? WTF?!?!
The folks who post their criticisms on some of these blogs really miss the point, IMHO. Some of you guys need to get out more.
And the movie dealing with actual impersonation was Catch Me If You Can.
Richard,
I believe we have made a breakthrough. Let us explore this admission further. Now that it is fully acknowledged we can determine the root cause. What about yourself do you wish to leave behind? You're in a safe place so let it all out. Please name some specifics about your desire to be someone else. What specific characteristics or heritage would you rather have. Just relax and tell me all you can when I count backwards from fifteen.
Richard,
I've read a little bit of your blog--enough to get the impression that you really regret not getting into an Ivy. Let me tell you (as an "insider") that they aren't quite the romantic never-never lands your imagination would have them be. Moreover, they aren't for everybody, as many sad souls realize once they've arrived. I'd venture the guess that you would have fallen in that category of "Ivy regretter" if you had gone Ivy. Those schools (maybe not Brown, Dartmouth, or Penn) are pressure-cookers, exciting for only those people who thrive in such rigorous academic environments. You seem like you would have been more at home in more of a southern-fratty kind of school, where it's all about lifestyle. My brother went to W&M--whew! what a different college experience he had! So, this longwinded comment could have been boiled down to this: don't fret the lack of Ivy credentials; you just aren't the Ivy type. That's not a bad thing! Celebrate what you are!
Cheers!
Prakash
It doesn't matter to me that I didn't attend an Ivy League School. As stated before, I don't think these institutions are the dreamlands we bloggers play them up to be. Institutions like Virginia, Hampden & Sydney, etc. are far more preppy than the Ivy institutions.
Richard,
I only thought you wished you had gone to any Ivy League school because your post says, "Sure, I wish I had attended an Ivy."
So why do you idolize those schools in your blog? Why not just talk about UVA or Duke if that's the ideal?
Cheers!
Prakash
If one had to choose, would you be Worthington or Crawford?
Great movie, Richard! But I have to disagree with you about something. Jude Law is absolutely FANTASTIC in the film!!! His style and manner is VERY WASPy and I'm a little surprised you don't think so. After all, it's Matt Damon who's the "pretender" and Jude Law who's the "real thing"!--Carlton
Richard ~ I was referring to sodomy.
Carlton_ I think Tom was actually the better WASP, even though he was a pretender.
Prakash_ I suppose I am referring the the Ivy Schools we all love from the hey day!
The only thing that I envied about Tom Ripley was his all expense payed mission to Italy! Personally I'd prefer taking a bath with Marg:-)
I have a desire to do more - become what I would call a better person - not someone I am not.
I like these two quotes from Thoreau:
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
Henry David Thoreau
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau
I liked the senery in Ripley, the sailing sloop & the Alfa- but not the story line.
Dickie and Tom are so my style icons.
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