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Rated: R
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, et al.
Director: Jonathan Demme Review
Based on Thomas Harris's novel, this terrifying film by Jonathan Demme
really only contains a couple of genuinely shocking moments (one involving
an autopsy, the other a prison break). The rest of the film is a
splatter-free visual and psychological descent into the hell of madness,
redeemed astonishingly by an unlikely connection between a monster and a
haunted young woman. Anthony Hopkins is extraordinary as the cannibalistic
psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, virtually entombed in a subterranean
prison for the criminally insane. At the behest of the FBI,
agent-in-training Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) approaches Lecter,
requesting his insights into the identity and methods of a serial killer
named Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). In exchange, Lecter demands the right to
penetrate Starling's most painful memories, creating a bizarre but
palpable intimacy that liberates them both under separate but equally
horrific circumstances. Demme, a filmmaker with a uniquely populist vision
(Melvin and Howard, Something Wild), also spent his early years making
pulp for Roger Corman (Caged Heat), and he hasn't forgotten the
significance of tone, atmosphere, and the unsettling nature of a crudely
effective close-up. Much of the film, in fact, consists of actors staring
straight into the camera (usually from Clarice's point of view), making
every bridge between one set of eyes to another seem terribly dangerous.
--Tom Keogh ------------ This is the fourth
version of the movie I've owned (VHS, w/s VHS, Criterion, MGM special
edition). And DVD is better than VHS so let's forget about those ancient
relics known as tapes. If you just want to watch the movie,
the MGM edition is best. It has the 5.1 sound, and the picture is much
nicer. However, the Criterion does offer a lot more insight into the film.
Criterion has a commentary track with Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster,
Jonathan Demme & Ted Tally, and the FBI agent that Jack Crawford was based
on. I found this to be very interesting and it really let you understand
the film better. Although the MGM edition's deleted scenes
fill in some holes (the John Hopkin's help, that card Clarice is holding
when calling Crawford, etc.) the scenes are far too short and only show
excerpts from what were probably full scenes. Criterion's deleted scenes,
again, help you gain a different perspective on the film.
MGM has a solid documentary about the movie, but Criterion has those
direct quotes from actual serial killers. The choice is a tough one to
make. Personally, I'm glad I have both.
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