Hannibal (2001)

‘Silence Of The Lambs’ Movies With Anthony Hopkins

This is the movie that people universally link with Sir Anthony Hopkins, as Hannibal-the-Cannibal, Dr Lecter.  Released in 1991, Hopkins achieved his first ever Oscar for Best Actor, at the age of 54.  The movie itself scooped up Oscar awards in all five categories and attained worldwide box office success, propelling Anthony Hopkins to super-star status and the definitive achievement of his life-long dream to be a Hollywood star.

The best-selling novel by Thomas Harris of the same name was the inspiration for this movie, directed by Jonathan Demme. Hopkins plays the monster psychopathic serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter who is a lifer locked up in a top security Baltimore jail for his wicked crimes; carving up nine bodies, cooking and eating his favourite organs. Dr Lecter, prides himself on having once devoured the liver of a census taker with some fava beans and a nice glass of Chianti.  Formerly an eminent psychiatrist, Dr Lecter is an smart, refined individual, portraying humour, charm and supreme control, making his outbursts of violence yet more shocking to the viewer.    

A shocking well-executed, contemporary suspense thriller where Hopkins gives a potent performance, opposite an evenly excellent Jodie Foster.  It is a shady film with the gloomy background music helping to build the facet of suspense in stages, demanding to view at times with its’ disconcerting scenes, yet impossible to turn off and an end that leaves many doors ajar. A modern classic.  It is hard to believe Hopkins only has a total of 16 minutes film time in this picture but that is what Hopkins is so skilled at, with him, less is categorically more.

Jodie Foster plays the FBI fledgling agent, Clarice Starling, who is assigned to a case to hunt down a different dangerous serial killer who has kidnapped Catherine, the child of US Senator Ruth Martin.  Agent Starling is keen to show her worth to boss Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) and believing that Dr Lecter has the clue to snare the killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), on the footing that ‘it takes one to know one’, she embarks out on a journey to try and gain Hannibal’s faith, visiting him in the asylum.  A precarious exchange and liaison develops between Dr Lecter and Clarice, one of mentor-apprentice, where Lecter always has the upper hand incongruously, even though being behind bars.  Psyche games between the two are central to the film, with the good-looking Clarice with her deliberate southern drawl embodying innocence and defenselessness along with her dogged dedication and aspiration to do well in her male dominated professional life.  Hopkins portrayal of the notorious Dr Lecter is most amusing, he manages most credibly to keep Lecter’s dignity in the lonely, austere jail  cell where he is confined for his horrific crimes.  His ‘matter-of-fact’ air, witty sarcasm and appealing charm enthralls as he slowly influences the juvenile FBI trainee, always keeping one step ahead of her, delving profoundly into her mind.   Hopkins once stated ‘I am able to play monsters well.  I understand monsters.  I understand madmen’.  Hopkins talks in riddles to the young FBI agent, riddles that result in positive leads for Starling.  Lecter however, ensures Starling gets him the transfer he wants to new and better accommodation with more lack of restrictions.

Buffalo Bill, the serial killer sought by agent Starling is a sexual deviant who skins his female victims.  Dr Lecter was a former physician of this distressing creature.  There is one particular shot where you are sure to be on the edge of your seat rooting for agent Clarice Starling as she is chased by Buffalo Bill.

This movie is the first of the trilogy where Hopkins plays Dr Lecter, the other two being ‘Hannibal’ (2001) and ‘Red Dragon’ (2002), though ‘Red Dragon’ was in fact the first of the three books written by Thomas Harris in 1981 and the sequel being ‘Silence of the Lambs’ published in 1988 and then ‘Hannibal’ in 1999.  The book ‘Hannibal Rising’ written again by Harris in 2005 was also made into a film, about the formative years of Dr Hannibal Lecter.

To read more about Anthony Hopkins, including unique movie reviews, buy DVDs, books, see movie clips, news and pictures visit http://www.anthonyhopkinsmovies.com.

About the Author

I have followed the career of the great British actor, Anthony Hopkins for many years now, having built up a vast collections of his movies, biographies and books relating to various movies.  I want to share my passion with others so they can discover for themselves what a versatile, clever actor he is.  To read more about Anthony Hopkins, including news and unique movie reviews visit http://www.anthonyhopkinsmovies.com

Hannibal Lecter 3: Hannibal (2001) Trailer

Hannibal: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2001 Film) $6.51 Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer has created a blood-pumping dramatic score for Hannibal that pulses with Wagnerian intensity. Sir Anthony Hopkins's monologue on three tracks adds a dimension of hair-raising eeriness to the already deeply affecting and suspenseful instrumental backing. (Just hearing him first enunciate on the opener "Dear Clarice" sets up the Pavlovian sense of dread.) H...

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Hannibal [VHS] $0.01 Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody...

Hannibal [VHS] $0.01 Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody...