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This Week's PCR Movie Review |
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"Red Dragon"
Movie reviews by: Movies are rated 0 to 4 stars
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Frontpage La Floridiana WooWoo Express Mike's Rant Archives 2002 2001 2000 Crazed Fanboy PCR 2002 Home | |
MICHAEL A. SMITH | NOLAN B. CANOVA | |
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In 1986, director Michael Mann, who was best known at the time as the creator of "Miami Vice," made a small film that has since been regarded as a small classic. That film was "Manhunter." Based on the novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris, it told the story of FBI Agent Will Graham, who is called out of retirement to help catch a brutal serial killer. In order to solve the case, Graham must call on a very minor character, another killer he helped put away, Doctor Hannibal Lektor. At least that is how it was spelled at the time. Lektor was played by British actor Brian Cox. A year later, Harris' next novel, "The Silence of the Lambs," was released. The film version went on to win the top five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, who played the newly spelled Dr. Lecter. After the success of the next film in the series, "Hannibal," producer Dino De Laurentis broached the idea of once again filming "Red Dragon," this time with Hopkins in the role of Lecter. I must tell you that hearing this idea coming from the man who remade "King Kong" scared me. Let me just say, Dino, that I owe you an apology.
"Red Dragon" is a very faithful adaptation of Harris' original story. And by adding an excellent prologue showing how Lecter was captured by Graham, we know more about their relationship and learn to understand their mutual respect for each other. Norton is excellent as Graham. With only the mildest of an expression or the slightest bit of body language, he is able to convey the mixed emotions he feels during his investigation. With the unenviable ability to slowly begin to think as the killer he pursues thinks, Graham is haunted by the images he is able to recreate. As the killer he pursues, Ralph Fiennes turns in his best work since "Schindler's List." As the physically scarred victim of years of mental abuse, his slow journey into madness as he becomes "one" with his demons is mesmerizing. Emily Watson is his blind coworker. Because she can't see his disfigured face, Fiennes knows that her affection is genuine and not pity. Yet even her love cannot save him from his own destruction. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is perfectly cast as a sleazy tabloid reporter who is taught a brutal lesson when the subject is truth in reporting. And having Anthony Heald reprise his role as the smarmy head of the Psychiatric Institute where Lecter is being held is a perfect segue' into "Silence." A film that can stand on its own, "Red Dragon" is one of the best thrillers I've seen in some time. If you haven't read the book, be prepared to be frightened. If you have, be prepared to be rewarded. On a scale of four stars I give "Red Dragon" |
Although I remember the fan buzz at the time, and I know I saw the 1986 Michael Mann film "Manhunter" when it was on TV years later, for some reason, I can't remember a lot of it, except for Brian Cox playing Hannibal Lecter (or "Lektor" at the time). I probably only paid attention after I'd seen "Silence of the Lambs" in 1991, and found the two films to be light years apart. Neither suffered, just way different.
Fast-forward to 2002. Based on "Red Dragon", the original Thomas Harris novel, I remember thinking it was in questionable taste to remake "Manhunter" so soon based primarily on Anthony Hopkins' wildly popular portrayal of the mad Dr. Lecter (now spelled that way) from "Silence of the Lambs", and inflating the role in "Dragon" to exploit same. I remember wondering if Brian Cox is even a little offended, winding up as the Pete Best of movie serial killers, and he deserves better. Further, apparently the game plan was for at least two of the actors, Anthony Heald (Dr. Chilton) and Hopkins, now 16 years older than they were in 1986, to play their younger selves, wrinkle comparisons and weight-gains be damned. The spectre of a previous Dino De Laurentis re-make on slippery ground, the tragic 1976 "King Kong", loomed large. No matter. Anthony Hopkins IS Hannibal Lecter, and for however the ludicrous set-up sounds, the fact is, it all works! Big time. The amazing Ralph Fiennes is Francis Dollarhyde, the looney in question this go-round (formerly Tom Noonan). A victim of ritual childhood abuse (sexual innuendos planted here), this is a man burdened by great sexual frustration, much like "Buffalo Bill" from "Silence" (and for whatever it counts, "Psycho"). And like "Silence", the Fiennes' character is obssesed with change. A mild disfigurement to his lips renders him incapable of feeling he is anything but ugly--he is virtually impotent around women. Over the years, he became a body-builder, and acquired a near-body-length dorsal tattoo of a mythical demon he calls "The Red Dragon" based on a 19th-century painting. He hears the voice of the Dragon tell him who must die next. How he chooses his victims is the central mystery. Enter special FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton), the agent who caught Hannibal Lecter, now being asked to come out of retirement and help with this new case by FBI director Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel). He reluctantly accepts, but soon finds himself over his head. He must consult with the one man who has more perspective on insane serial killers than he: Dr. Hannibal Lecter (this part in "Manhunter" was a relatively minor, albeit important, scene, but here is greatly expanded). The trick of giving just enough for the agent to solve the case himself, while not disguising his contempt, is Anthony Hopkins' absolute specialty. | |
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A stand-out performance by Emily Watson as Dollarhyde's co-worker, a beautiful and innocent blind woman who feels his inner vulnerability, suggests that he may have been savable but for the depth of his depravity. A reporter for the sleazy tabloid "The Tattler" (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman---great casting this), provides a tragic catalyst for entrapping the killer.
While everyone is crazy about Edward Norton, and he is certainly servicable in the role of Will Graham, I couldn't escape the feeling his screen presence is simply under-weight. Thin, youthful, and thin-voiced, I would have gone for someone more obviously battle-scarred and huskier, but whatever... Despite a few odd scenes left unresolved and the awkward juxtapositioning of older actors playing their younger selves, and despite the fact that I thought last year's "Hannibal" was a hoot when no one else did (just thought I'd throw that in), I recommend "Red Dragon" with a rating of | ||
