Certification. 18
Running Time. 1 hour 58 mins
Director. Jonathan Demme
Cast. Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, Anthony Hopkins, Kasi Lemmons, Ted Levine.
Rating. 92%
Now thirty years old, The Silence Of The Lambs still remains a seminal piece of cinema. Jonathan Demme's adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel is a benchmark for psychological thrillers featuring serial killers. It is atmospheric, tense and completely absorbing.
But what sets the film apart is the stunning performances of the two lead actors.
With a naive eagerness, drive and tenacity, Jodie Foster is outstanding as Clarice Starling, the promising young FBI operative sent to interview the incarcerated serial killer, Dr Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Foster creates a genuine empathy with Clarice as she struggles to establish herself in the blatantly masculine world of the FBI whilst trying desperately not to get embroiled in Dr Lecter's fiendish mind games.
Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Dr Lecter is terrifying. In a long and illustrious career (The Father, The Remains Of The Day, The Elephant Man), Hopkins produces a career-best performance. His extensive theatrical background and Shakespearian heritage anchored this tour de force performance. Chilling dialogue alternates between convivial pleasantries and soft-spoken riddles to emotionally charged outbursts. The high-impact close-up of Dr Lecter's serpentine face, intercut with close-ups of Clarice creates harrowing moments of climatic confrontation in the relationship.
The Silence Of The Lambs remains one of only three films to have won the Academy Awards' so-called 'Big Five' - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. The other two films were It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
I recently revisited and reviewed Manhunter, Michael Mann's prequel to The Silence Of The Lambs. Trust me, that's as far as you need to go - Manhunter then The Silence Of The Lambs. The open-ended nature of the film's conclusion sadly left things open for an excruciating franchise series, whereas Dr Lecter's final telephone call before the closing credits was the perfect way to end it.
"I've no plans to call on you, Clarice. The world is more interesting with you in it. Now, you take care now to extend me the same courtesy... ...I do wish we could chat longer, but, I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."
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