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Old Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), psychiatrist and cannibalistic
murderer, and Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), a deranged mass-killer
and moth collector who wants to get much, much closer to women.
Stuck between the horrid pair is FBI trainee Clarice Starling
(Jodie Foster), who is picked from the classroom and asked
to get information that may help the case from the sealed-off
Lecter.
What follows is a tense psychological thriller that is worthy
of the five Oscars it won - film, director, actor, actress,
screenplay - and of being a contender for one of the best
films of its type.
Everything about Silence of the Lambs is just about
perfect. Scripting, photography, storyline, characterisations
and casting.
And what a lead couple - Hopkins and Foster. They may do
better work at some stage, but the performances in this are
their most sublime.
Hopkins' Lecter is truly one of the most suave, yet scary,
screen creations and he milks it for all it is worth. Under
a lesser actor it could almost have become a parody, but instead
the master makes the character even more frightening by allowing
him to be somehow likeable.
Foster's Starling is at once vulnerable and strong, and combined
with her intelligence, is able to deal with a situation far
beyond her training.
While Perkins may baulk at the word "chemistry", it is there
by the beakerful and you can feel the mental connection between
two great talents.
And, talking of actors, another accolade has to go to Ted
Levine who is simply brilliant as Buffalo Bill. It took a
lot of guts to take on such a part - where he not only has
to love carving women up, but also parades around with his
manly appendage tucked between his legs looking at how he'd
show up as a female.
Silence of the Lambs is creepy, a tad erky-perky in
places, violent, horrific and contains one of the most seriously
breathholding scenes ever filmed. You know the one where Starling
is hunting down Buffalo Bill and the lights go out - only
he's got night-goggles and can see her. Just sensational …
although it took me 10 years to grow my nails back.
This is a fantastic movie, with its chilling autumnal tones
and colours beautifully transferred on to DVD. The sound has
been remixed and adds audio depth to the whole, scary experience.
It also has a damn fine extras package.
A must.
Conclusion: Movie 95%, Extras 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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