What I Think People Should Watch, Beefcake Edition
December 18, 2008 in what you should watch
I have been getting myself in a holiday mood by re-reading Patricia Highsmith’s Ripley novels. Graham Greene called her the “poet of apprehension,” which has “holiday” written all over it to me. Tom Ripley remains one of the greatest sociopaths ever created. He makes The Joker look like the pussy-faced anarchist he is. The first novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a delicious deadpan story of a man taking what he thinks he deserves without remorse or one tiny pang of conscience. If you have ever thought of faking your own death or are a member of the so-called creative underclass who really just wants to have Ugo fix you that martini while you admire your latest acquisition from a Venice antique shop, Ripley is your man.
