The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is taut, suspenseful and a hugely psychological thriller. Director Jonathan Demme's stylistically-crafted, horrofying film is dark, moody and truly frightening, yet strangely exhilarating. Ted Tally's screenplay was based on Thomas Harris's 1988 best-selling novel. Before this however, the more stylish and slick Manhunter was directed by Michael Mann and was based on Harris� novel, Red Dragon, the first in the Hannibal trilogy. This film was made back in 1986 and still remains to this day to be unknown of as �the first Hannibal movie� as most believe that, due to Silence�s true Hollywood fame, that that one was the first. In Manhunter we see Hannibal as a young, intense psychopath, superbly played by Brian Cox who pulls of the first fa�ade of Hannibal to great effect. Despite Manhunter being overlooked somewhat, it still exceeds Silence in some areas, but both Manhunter and Silence are similar as the story of Hannibal helping an agent to find a killer was the plot of both the first movies.
Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, faces off with British Academy Award winning Anthony Hopkins as Lector helps Clarice track down a viscious killer who skins women. Not surprisingly, this film originally was based on the true story of small town murderer, Ed Gein.
The film was a major commercial and critical success. It was a five-time major Academy-Award winner, sweeping Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Director (Jonathan Demme), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ted Tally). |
