|
|
|
|
Red Dragon is the most purely entertaining
movie I have seen so far this year. It is everything everyone wanted but
never got when Hannibal was released. People will soon forget that
Hannibal was ever made after seeing Red Dragon. This is probably as
close as we are going to get to the outstanding The Silence of the
Lambs.
In this, the latest chapter of the Hannibal Lecter trilogy, former FBI
agent Will Graham (Ed Norton) is enlisted by his former FBI boss Jack
Crawford (Harvey Keitel) to help catch a sadistic killer known as The
Tooth Fairy (Ralph Fiennes). Graham turns to the psychiatrist whose
services he once used to help him solve various cases for help. That is
until that psychiatrist tried to eat him with fava beans and a nice
chianti.
I'm not going to go too much into the story of Red Dragon for fear of
ruining the movie for anyone but I can assure you that you won't be
disappointed. Ralph Fiennes, who plays Francis Dolarhyde (also known as
The Tooth Fairy) is outstanding as the ruthless killer. There are
moments where Hannibal Lecter looks like a pussycat compared to The
Tooth Fairy. He really was a joy to watch. As for Hannibal Lecter, well,
he is as good as he ever has been. He is funny. He is creepy. He is ingenious.
He is everything you expect from a guy who eats human flesh for a
living. Keeping Hannibal locked up behind that glass window is probably
the best move the filmmakers could have made because we have all seen
what happens when Hannibal runs free. He starts eating people's brains
and things like that and it just isn't good. With Hannibal standing
behind that glass he is able to fuck with everyone's minds and that is
when he is at his best. In one scene, all Hannibal is doing is sitting
there, strapped up with that mask he wears while his cell is being
cleaned out. Just having him sitting there, doing nothing but staring,
is as scary as all hell.
As for the rest of the cast, well, they are all good. Ed Norton, Harvey
Keitel, Emily Watson (as The Tooth Fairy's blind girlfriend), and Philip
Seymour Hoffman (as an annoying tabloid reporter) are all very adequate.
Hoffman is probably the best of the bunch but Norton holds his own in
his several of his scenes with Lecter.
All in all, I cannot say enough good things about Red Dragon. It is a
well-acted, well-written, well-directed movie from beginning to end. It
has a few subtle references to the previous Hannibal movies that are
just great.
I had the pleasure of seeing this movie with a tough New York audience
and I don't think anyone left that theatre disappointed. Audiences are
going to eat this one up. This movie will make millions and millions and
I have already heard talk of another Hannibal movie being made. Sir
Anthony himself said if the right script was presented he would
consider. Judging from what they were able to do this time around, it is
not such a bad idea.
Long live Hannibal!
 
- 9.5/10
Brendan Cullin - Senior
Editor
More Reviews - Click
Here
|
|
|
|
|
