When’s the last time you watched an adaptation of a novel or childhood favorite television show and thought, wow, this new show is so much better than the original? I’d hazard a guess that it’s rare. Recently, there have been two action movies from the early aughts, re-imagined as television series. Both series took the premise of a well-known film and expanded those ideas into a new, and I would argue, superior work.
For someone like me, who prefers her entertainment on the big screen, it takes a lot to entice me to stay home. When I heard that Donald Glover was directing a series based the 2005 film, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, I was intrigued. The film is mainly known as the vehicle that brought super stars, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie together. Wrecking their marriages to other people and causing a huge media firestorm, the resulting film was only mildly entertaining.
Donald Glover is a multi-hyphenate renaissance man. Glover started out as a comedy writer, landing a plum role at “30 Rock” with Tina Fey. After acting in the television series, “Community”, he went on to star in “Atlanta”. He has a successful music career as Childish Gambino. He and Francesca Sloane created and produced the “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” series. Sloane was the Showrunner and Glover stars in the series & directed the final episode (8) of the first season.
The Prime Video series takes the basic premise of married spies who’ve been hired to assassinate each other from the 2005 film. Glover and Sloane have expanded that universe. We watch as two loners sign their lives away to join an organization that will utilize their moral flexibility and weapons training to potentially make them wealthy…or make them dead. Glover and Maya Erskine are perfectly cast.
The first few episodes are the strongest as we get to know these two emotionally distant young professionals as they try to adjust to their partnership. There are some hilarious conversations, some inventive assignments and shifting loyalties. The international settings add glamour but it’s the exploration of what it’s like to leave your life behind to become a professional killer that resonates.
The 2005 film kept the action mostly confined to the couple’s home, which they destroy while trying to kill each other. The series lets the couple meet other spies, travel the world and then they destroy their luxe NYC apartment. In the end, they find that their relationship may have been manipulated but the feelings they share–that might be the only reality they can trust. The series is smart and sexy, and the series will be back for a second season…though not starring Glover and Erskine.
“The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) won accolades for the three leads. Matt Damon played the title character, and Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow are the golden couple that Tom Ripley destroys. The film features a sun-dappled Italy, and the gorgeous setting and beautiful people contrast with the emptiness of Ripley’s soul. The new Netflix series, “Ripley”, contrasts the emotional void of Ripley’s character with its stark black and white imagery.
Award-winning director, Steven Zaillian, created this new adaptation of the 1955 Patricia Highsmith novel. Zaillian leans into the noir aspect with the cinematography and uses the more expansive format to delve into the psychological underpinnings of the story. The talented Andrew Scott gives a nuanced portrayal of the damaged Ripley. Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn (British actor and singer) are the lovebirds, Marge and Dickie.
The 8-episode series provides the actors with more time to develop their characters. There’s more background revealed, and the portrayals are closer to Highsmith’s books. Once we know these characters, an aspiring painter and writer, we can understand their motivations. This makes the tragedy and betrayal all the more keenly felt. The production design is top-notch; framing Scott in windows and peering through doorways. He’s always looking for a way ‘in”; escaping into another person’s life.
The soundtrack is a bit much. There’s a constant feeling of dread or suspense amplified in the music. I think the series could’ve benefitted from some lightness. There’s a darkness to both the tale and the feelings the series evokes. This “Ripley” lingers in the mind. It’s not the beauty of Italy you’ll recall, it’s the look on Andrew Scott’s face as Ripley relishes his feelings of superiority over everyone.
Drinks with Films Rating:
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”: 3 vials of truth-telling serum shared between spies (out of 5)
“Ripley”: 2 1/2 glasses of expensive Italian wine while pretending to be someone you’re not (out of 5)
Drinks with films 