"Hannibal" (2001) Review: Hunter becomes the Hunted

Hannibal (2001) Promotional Poster

Hannibal: Review

Released: 2001

Directed by: Ridley Scott

(SPOILERS)

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Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs" and it's subsequent sequels based on the critically acclaimed Thomas Harris novels could be seen as an iconic role in the horror genre, spanning from the 1990s all the way up to the early 2000s.

His eerie yet disturbingly relatable portrayal of the insane yet gentlemanly cannibal has intrigued generations of cinema-goers, and arguably revolutionised the horror genre by giving the audience a character to relate to, yet be disgusted by.

         

The plot revolves primarily around disgraced FBI agent Clarice Starling, who had gained prior fame for interviewing Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter in the case involving "Buffalo Bill" (a psychopath that skinned his victims), and subsequently catching him at the end of "Silence of the Lambs", before Lecter himself escaped in the conclusion to the cult classic. Her determination to catch Lecter in this film becomes a prominent driving force, and often seems like she's trying to catch fog with her bare hands as Lecter is presented throughout as extremely clever and manipulative, covering his tracks wisely throughout the piece (though despite this, it's inevitable that he was found). This is paired with the twisted determination of deformed psychopath Mason Verger to catch Hannibal for personal revenge (as Hannibal had enticed him to cut off his face after injecting him with drugs), so this twisted mirror of Justice and Personal Vendettas plays interestingly as the film progresses- from the face to face meeting between Starling and Verger near the start, all the way up to the vicious conclusion that saw Verger fed to his own pigs.

Still from Hannibal (2001), "The Verger Estate"

I personally enjoyed the rich and cleverly devised cinematography throughout the piece that gave the film a grandeur that I'm sure differs from it's predecessor (with the title character of this film in a prison cell almost throughout). The shots of Florence, the inclusion of fine arts and cuisine, as well as incredible locations such as the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina (used for Mason Verger's mansion) all left me in awe as a viewer. I particularly found the juxtapositions of lighting interesting, as America is often shown through Starling's perspective (usually her dingy basement office, blue low key lighting) whereas Florence in comparison is so much more full of life (high key and vibrant- perhaps alluding that Lecter's life choices are preferable to hers despite his flawed morality). The colour palette could have been more vibrant, but knowing the genre and content it's logical that these locations look drained from time to time, much like the flesh of the unfortunate lambs that have the misfortune to happen upon the fine doctor in the film.

Still from Hannibal (2001), "The Boat House"

This being the first film I'd seen of this franchise (excluding the NBC Television series, 2013-15), I was apprehensive about the cast and whether or not they would carry this type of story in a convincing way, as some horrors often rely on cheap jump scares and an excess of blood to make a story "good". Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised, particularly with the performance of Julianne Moore as Clarice Starling, establishing her character with a career diminishing moment helped build audience sympathy- before her long haul in the film to find Lecter. What I also found particularly refreshing is her character's admirable tendency to call people out and express her opinion in a sea of her unempathetic superiors in the FBI- a particularly memorable moment being when her boss not so subtly stated his interest to "go a few rounds" with her, to which she replied:

"In the gym. Any time. No Pads."

Still from Hannibal (2001), Julianne Moore as protagonist "Clarice Starling"

Of course, however, the attraction of the film is in the title protagonist, the cannibalistic doctor himself played by the masterful Anthony Hopkins. Personally, I feel that Hopkins brings a certain air of dangerous elegance to the role- as if he were a shark in a dining suit, ready to snap at the guests if needs be (which is an interesting image, I know, but think of it when you watch him chew a guy's face off and dear reader you may see an animalistic resemblance). His voice itself plays a crucial role in the film, as Starling often listens to taped recordings of her interviews with him throughout the film- although it could be said that these are presented as almost a comfort to her character, as Lecter, as psychotic and morally corrupt as he is, gives very clear and blunt advice to her (leading to her defying FBI protocol at the climax of the piece as Verger finally captures Lecter). His calmness is what strikes me as a viewer as the most disturbing, as it begs the question how he justifies what he does in his mind, and how his personality can be both horrifying (cannibalism and vicious violent tendencies) yet have grace and composure (shown mostly through his ability to remain civil, even to those who deceive or threaten him in the film).

"You feel like it's your duty to protect the sheep, they don't."

Still from Hannibal (2001), Hopkins respectively as "Dr. Hannibal Lecter"

The rest of the cast similarly produced very three dimensional characters. From primary horrifyingly disturbed antagonist Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), to Ray Liotta's portrayal of Paul Krendler (who, like the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, likely desired a brain by the end of the film), to arguably minor characters like Cordell- every character felt purposeful and fit in the dark world painted by Ridley Scott.

In regards to genre, obviously the horror elements played out, but I felt like this isn't a piece to be scared of- rather a sick type of horror that would intrigue an audience rather than disgust, linking with the likeability of the title character. The blood was plentiful, the gore was varied, and the rare jumps in the piece made me feel as the creators intended me to feel as an audience member- but what really struck me personally is the story, as it could be seen as going against many conventions by creating an intelligent antagonist (or "protagonist" depending on how one perceives Lecter) that's layered, intricate, and has an almost kind nature that makes one question the dark side of the character existing at all.

Imagery used in the film, and opportunities taken with the plot were excellently thought out, and generally brilliantly creepy. A memorable moment from the back half of the film saw Lecter tie Italian Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi up, and calmly interrogate him over who he was working with to capture him. Pazzi's subsequent death, as gruesome as it was, served as a brilliantly powerful and iconic image added to by the foreshadowing of his ancestor suffering the same terrible fate. Hopkins really outdid himself with this scene, even placing his hand on Pazzi's shoulder in the prior scene, physically marking him and sealing his fate.

Another moment I particularly enjoyed was the moving conversation between Starling and Lecter in the shopping mall, and the instance when Lecter actually touches Starling's hair without her noticing- creating almost a ghostly presence of himself in the brilliantly creepy inclusion. The use of Crucifixion imagery, however, remains the most powerful in my opinion- particularly Hannibal's fate of being eaten alive by Mason's pigs, as he's raised with his arms facing out into the air, connoting with Christianity and perhaps presenting him as some sort of martyr through this choice of shot.

I really need to praise the composers and everyone involved in creating the soundtrack of the film, as it made the film feel even richer and gave it more depth. The soft piano acting as comfort (perhaps juxtaposed with murder, less so), and the more grandiose orchestral pieces mapping out the world as one of light and dark, vivid colour and persons of interest for the viewer to explore in the running time is interesting to experience, and no doubt inspires me as a film-maker as the music is just so fitting, yet equally uncomfortable (a horror convention that the film rose spectacularly to). 

Still from Hannibal (2001), Lecter (Hopkins) and Starling (Moore) in silhouette.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed Hannibal. Being the first full film of the franchise I have seen, I was unsure what the piece would be like, but with the striking vision of director Ridley Scott, spellbinding performances by the cast (particularly Moore and Hopkins), and the disturbing pairing of horror and beauty playing as a major theme throughout the piece- I can safely say that this will be a film to look back on in nostalgia.


Quotes:

"If you work with me, then your so called Career here might improve, if you don't then all I have to do is draw a line through your name, rather than under it." - Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta)

"I wasn't speaking to you, Mr. Krendler. When I speak to you, you'll know it because I'll look at you." - Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore)

"As your mother tells you, and my mother certainly told me, it is important, she always used to say, always to try new things." - Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins)

"When the fox hears the rabbit scream he comes a-runnin'... but not to help." - Mason Verger (Gary Oldman)

"Okie dokie, let's drag these down. They must be as heavy as bodies." - Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins)


Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHSYth2wSEk&feature=youtu.be

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Lecter_(franchise)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212985/


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