Mirren's Sharp Turn as Highsmith Anchors a Noir That Stops Short of Thrilling
Anton Corbijn's first fiction feature in over a decade casts Helen Mirren as a viciously portrayed Patricia Highsmith, with Alden Ehrenreich as a Tom Ripley-like publishing agent. The film is a fictional, metatextual literary noir that pits the author against her own creation. While Mirren's performance is a standout, the sleek thriller ultimately fails to fully deliver on its premise.
The film marks Anton Corbijn's return to fiction filmmaking after more than a decade, following his earlier work in the medium. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where critic Guy Lodge reviewed it, noting the picture's sleek visual style and its playful, fictionalized treatment of Highsmith's legacy.
Mirren's portrayal leans into the author's notoriously difficult reputation, presenting her as a sharp-tongued recluse. Ehrenreich's character functions as a narrative foil, embodying the manipulative charm of Highsmith's iconic creation, Tom Ripley, while attempting to secure a final manuscript from the reluctant writer.
This film may reignite public interest in Highsmith's literary legacy, potentially driving new readers to her work. The metatextual approach could also spark conversation about how artists are portrayed on screen, particularly difficult or morally complex figures. Audiences may find the fictionalized treatment of a real author provocative, though the film's mixed critical reception could limit its broader cultural footprint beyond cinephile circles.