| Hannibal (2001) -R-
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Mamet, Steven Zaillian
Adapted from the novel by: Thomas Harris
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Ray Liotta, Gary
Oldman
February 18, 2001
Skip the Fava Beans, the Cannibal’s Just a Gore Fest
by Judd Taylor
Ten years ago, Anthony
Hopkins scared the world with his best-known role as Hannibal “The Cannibal”
Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Now he’s back in Ridley
Scott’s latest gore fest, Hannibal, which lacks the wit of the original.
What made Dr. Lecter
so compelling in Silence was the psychology of his character, the
way he played around with Agent Clarice Starling. We already know
what Lecter can do to those he perceives as enemies; we saw that the first
time around.
So now in Hannibal,
we’re just waiting to see how Lecter kills his victims. Scott has
turned one of the most vicious terrifying serial killers into a typical
slasher flick killer. Moreover he’s turned Hannibal into a
typical slasher flick.
Don’t get me wrong,
I’m not very squeamish and a few parts made me cringe. But in the
end, we’re left with some very unbelievable situations.
Apparently Hopkins has a
big idea for producer Dino De Laurentis about a sequel. His big idea
is to reprise his role in a remake of Michael Mann’s Manhunter,
which is actually a prequel to Silence of the Lambs, based on the
book Red Dragon.
Hello, it hasn’t even been
20 years yet since Manhunter, made in 1986. Besides that,
Lecter isn’t much of a presence in that film anyhow. Mann also made
a decent film, there’s really no reason to remake it. But leave it
to Hollywood, where there’s a will, there’s a large paycheck.
Recommended Alternatives: Seven, The Silence of the Lambs (s:
Hopkins), Boogie Nights, Magnolia (both s: Julianne Moore), Manhunter,
Alien (d: Scott)
-In Theaters-
Check out these other Fidelio Film reviews:
Cannibal!
The Musical
Gladiator
Magnolia
Mission:
Impossible II |
