Review of The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) by Pheromone — 07 Apr 2021

Although much of the film is shot upon or next to water, the character of Tom Ripley in the novel (of the same name by Patricia Highsmith) is actually afraid of water. This is reflected in Tom Ripley's behavior throughout the film.

During the beach scene where Tom first meets Dickie, Tom does not go far from the shore when he enters the sea and turns almost immediately back to the beach. He also refuses to join Freddie and Dickie in deep water from the sailing boat in the scene where Freddie and Dickie are play fighting.

At the beginning of the hired motor boat scene in San Remo, Dickie deliberately begins to rock the boat back and forth, much to the discomfort of Tom who shouts to Dickie to stop. He is clearly politely terrified of the boat capsizing.