Hannibal (2001)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Harris (novel)
David Mamet (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Break The Silence

Plot:

Hannibal returns to America and attempts to make contact with disgraced Agent Starling and survive a vengeful victim's plan.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Hannibal Lecter | FBI | Revenge | Eating Brains

Awards:

5 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Anthony Hopkins	...	Hannibal Lecter
Julianne Moore	...	Clarice Starling
Gary Oldman	...	Mason Verger
Ray Liotta	...	Paul Krendler
Frankie Faison	...	Nurse Barney (as Frankie R. Faison)
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Insp. Renaldo Pazzi
Francesca Neri	...	Allegra Pazzi
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Dr. Cordell Doemling
Hazelle Goodman	...	Evelda Drumgo
David Andrews	...	FBI Agent Pearsall
Francis Guinan	...	FBI Asst. Director Noonan
James Opher	...	DEA Agent John Eldridge
Enrico Lo Verso	...	Gnocco
Ivano Marescotti	...	Carlo
Fabrizio Gifuni	...	Matteo

Also Known As:

The Silence of the Lambs 2 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong gruesome violence, some nudity and language.

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Italian | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Mexico:C | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Malaysia:18SG | USA:R (certificate #38000) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (cut) (DVD rating) (uncut) | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:VM14 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Poland:18 | Austria:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R (re-rating) | Brazil:16 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) (special edition) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 (w) | Hong Kong:III | Hungary:18 | India:A | Ireland:18 (widescreen edition) | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (original rating) (cut) | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Asheville, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Dr. Lecter's Florentine alias, Dr. Fell, is taken from a rhyming epigram by 17th century English satirist Thomas Brown: "I do not love thee, Dr. Fell; The reason why I cannot tell. But this alone I know full well: I do not love thee, Dr. Fell." The alias is also a reference to the "Silence of the Lambs" book where Jame Gumb, a.k.a. Buffalo Bill, lived in Fell Street.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The typeface on Lecter's copy of the Washington Post is different from what the Post uses for their headlines and text.

Quotes:

Barney: Do you ever think he might come after you? You ever think about him at all?
Clarice Starling: Well, at least thirty seconds of everyday. I can't help it. He's always with me, like a bad habit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Let the Church Say, Amen (2004)

Soundtrack:

VIDE COR MEUM

You'll say Jodie who? as your take your first bite of Hannibal

While hard to compare to its predecessor (Silence of the Lambs was a true masterpiece) the reintroduction of Hannibal Lecter, M.D. has truly been worth the 10 year wait.

The film strikes a very different tone from the outset, and this is down largely to director Ridley Scott. He and Sir Anthony Hopkins are having fun with this character and Hannibal (film and character) is very funny, albeit with a dark slightly twisted sense of humour. Hannibal is, essentially, the hero here and you like him and route for him to the end (which is quite different from the book.)

I will not go into plot as most people have probably read the book and saying more could only work to spoil the enjoyment so I will now just tackle the actors and production. Needless to say the film looks spectacular. The Florentine sets are breathtaking, but what else would you expect from the director of Blade Runner, Gladiator and Thelma & Louise - we know Ridley Scott can deliver the visuals.

As for the actors, Hopkins delivers the goods as we have come to expect from him. But here he is having a blast with a character he clearly enjoys inhabiting and he is rarely more powerful and commanding a presence than he is in this film and Lambs.

An unrecognisable Gary Oldman (and uncredited it the opening titles and on posters) holds his own as subvillain Mason Verger, Lecter's only surviving victim and the flashback of his mutilation is well handled. The film does provide plenty of gory surprises.

As for the key question, what of Julianne Moore? We all know how good an actress she is (Magnolia, Short Cuts, Boogie Nights) but can she fill Jodie Foster's Oscar winning shoes? The answer is yes! You will not give Foster a second thought in this film as Moore is Clarice Starling from the moment she appears. She is not trying to be Jodie Foster, she IS Clarice Starling. Hannibal is more a cat and mouse chase than the one-to-one Silence of the Lambs and it is difficult to imagine Foster playing this side of the character. That is the key, showing a different side to the character gives Moore something to work with more substantial than just being Jodie Foster. Personally I love both actresses but I wouldn't want Foster in this role (having seen it) if you paid me. This is Moore's part and she equips herself well.

See this film, marvel and then see it again. It may not quite be the masterpiece of Silence of the Lambs but it's close and it's a lot more entertaining. You'll laugh, you'll sit on the edge of your seat, you'll say "now that's just plain sick!"

Enjoy!