Damon then portrayed antihero Tom Ripley in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), a role for which he lost . Damon said that he wanted to display his character's humanity and honesty on screen despite his criminal actions. An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel of same name, the film costarred Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett, and received praise from critics. "Damon outstandingly conveys his character's slide from innocent enthusiasm into cold calculation", according to "Variety" magazine. He played a fallen angel who discusses pop culture as intellectual subject matter with Affleck in "Dogma" (1999). The film received generally positive reviews, but proved controversial among religious groups who deemed it blasphemous.