HE CHANGED THE WAY I LOOK AT FILMS
It only took that one scene with Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling first meeting each other to get me hooked and fanatical about this film. Every word, every movement, every facial expression had me in a trance. Why does this character, his story interest and draw me in so much? Watching The Silence of the Lambs gave me a sense of how a great film could be more than just mere entertainment. You can lose your sense that the actors are actually celebrities, in as much as they immerse themselves into their roles. Once they have done so, convincingly and with grace, the magic of acting, and films really make their mark in American filmmaking. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, and even Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling have done exactly that - created performances that are so outstanding that the film will always be remembered for times to come. Face it, Hannibal Lecter is part of American pop culture forever. The acting, the script, the musical score, the sets - all of it emcompasses what filmmaking should be. A piece that moves us, makes us think, makes us feel; one in which you become a part of the film, rather than just a spectator.
Since watching this film, and having taken a few media criticism courses in college, I cannot watch a film without taking everything that goes into making one. First and foremost, a great story, followed by convincing and talented actors, music, sets, lighting, and the list goes on and on. The Silence of the Lambs, both the film and the Thomas Harris novel, are excellent. Besides the obviously great plot and the performances, I have to say that the musical soundtrack to the film is outstanding. It is absolutely chilling and briliant. While I was somewhat disappointed with Hannibal,in that it left out important elements from the stupendous and long-awaited novel from Harris, Hopkin's performance was above par and it was just great to see him back in action. No matter how great a film or performance may be, no film will live up to the best film ever and performance ever, The Silence of the Lambs and Dr. Hannibal Lector. Thanks for the whole new outlook on film.
IF ONLY I COULD...
Hannibal Lecter represents a side in each of us that most don't take to that level of sociopathy, however, the utter rage for people, places, and things, have driven all of us to our breaking points at times. Exactly where the line between sociopathic behavior or not is where the differences make everything interesting. How do we react to people who are so pathetic? Would we like to put them out of their misery? Sure, most of us just shrug it off and go on about of lives. But what drives people like Lecter to the point of sociopathy, and how do they get to the point where it is self-gratifying?
Great entertainment always has some escapism element that helps capture our attention. We're asked to suspend our disbelief and go into films with an acceptance of all we see. In this case, most viewers who've seen the film have a sort of admiration for Hannibal because of his wit and charm. We sort of root for him, kind of understand his motives in a way, in general adopt a "he's not that bad" mentality. In real life, we'd be terrified of men, or women, like him, and if caught, we would have no remorse. However we are grown to this man for more that just his wit, charm, and snappy comebacks and innuendos. He is truly escapism for us, in that if only one could do the things he does. It gives ones a release of sorts, venting, and getting frustrations out through him. He is human after all, and we can find ways to relate to Lecter. His anger, passion, love, understanding, and intellect, and more we all share.
Since we typically like who we relate to, it is not surprising that Hannibal could be someone we'd like to bring home to dinner. And that's just it. Hannibal Lecter, aside from eating his victims, is just like the rest of us. The film has drawn the viewer in through escapism, but has mixed enough realism as well, to make the viewer really think about what is going on, how an individual gets to be sociopathic. So, while on one hand we look at him and use him as an escape, the fact remains that it could be you.
Jeremy Michael Bennett
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