One of those characters you couldn't abide in real life, but was so majestically portrayed and devastating a cat among the pigeons I hung on every word he said and welcomed every re-emergence.
"Don't you want to *beep* every woman you meet, just once"
"How's it peeping Tommy"
"Horrible isn't it; so bourgeois"
And that out of tune piano playing. Philip Seymour Hoffman too good.
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Yes, PSH was, as usual, brilliant in his role. He was so impactful in such a small, yet important part. His character's one mission was to outsmart Tom Ripley, and he did it beautifully, up to a point.
shareJust as for Dickie, in Freddie's case, nemesis followed hubris. You need to be careful whom you step on in this world, because they just might surprise you.
shareI think PSH was brilliant, as usual although I disagree that his, "Character's one mission was to outsmart Tom Ripley". Freddy, a snob through and through, looked at Tom with about as much feeling as he would a piece of gum on the bottom of his shoe- he viewed him with utter contempt and disdain-he could care less about, "Outsmarting Tom" who, until the night of his death, was barely even a blip on his radar.
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean
Hoffman's role in this movie was beautifully acted, and I felt his portrayal was highly underrated.
By the way Hoffman completely embodies the Freddie Miles persona, you would think he was a born snob, a WASP of the stiffest and most flippant variety. Just brilliant.
His presence on screen is commanding. He takes over the scenes he is present in. When he first shows up he obviously brushes Tom off after barely a once over.
In the scene at breakfast he, using a narrative oozing with thinly veiled sarcasm, reminds Tom that he is an obvious mooch.
At the record store when he laughs in Tom's face, it is a pivotal moment, as you can see the anger, resentment and disappointment Tom is experiencing seeing that Dickie not only pawned him off, but sees Freddie's reaction and seems to agree with the sentiment rather than defend Tom.
When he drives the point home at Tom's apartment with all the antics Daniel-grigg dutifully detailed in his post, I doubt Freddie knew that while he was clearly out to push Tom's buttons, it would be his last time doing so.
That scene is one of the many where Hoffman shines in his versatility as an actor. It is just too perfect the way he plays that part. Something about his character and performance makes my favorite role he plays in any movie.
PSH was always brilliant in every movie in which he ever appeared. In the not-so remarkable TWISTER, Hoffman was a bright (and, very funny) light.
It breaks my heart to think of all the future wonderful roles we could have seen from him. Damn, but I miss him. What a shame.
-AnaElisa
But that is the best thing about PSH. His role was secondary in this film but extremely memorable. Even though Freddie was a jackhole, I loved his character the most. So eccentric, over privileged, and vile.
Tommy...how's the peeping...Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy...
YOU MADE ME PLAY SECOND BASE!
"Tommy...how's the peeping...Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy…"
That was great. Horrible character, played to perfection.
"If I'm late think what her husband's saying."
share"If I'm late think what her husband's saying."
Freddie's character was the quintessential "Ugly American". I just loved it when Tom iced his ass...!!!! Lololololol
shareFreddie was anything but perfect -- but hatable? I disagree. I find it rather impressive, actually, that he was the only one who saw through Tom essentially from the minute he laid eyes on him.
shareIt's interesting that neither Dickie, Marge or Meredith did, although Dickie did say that he had a bet with Marge that Tom had never gone to Princeton.
Tom presented himself to Meredith as Dickie Greenleaf, and it didn't occur to her that his mannerisms were not consistent with his stated identity.
"Horrible isn't it; so bourgeois"I can just hear the smarmy unctuous note in his voice... That was maybe the best part of the character, the voice that Philip Seymour Hoffman seemed to have invented for this exact role. share