THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!
I admit, I am one of those come-lately fans who did not read Thomas Harris' novels until after the movie "Silence of the Lambs" was released. And I read _Silence_ before reading _Red Dragon_.
I didn't see Manhunter until February of 2004, well after the video release of the newer film "Red Dragon." I was looking forward to seeing this "stylish thriller" that so many critics, amateur and professional, said was much better than the newer version.
What movie did these critics SEE? Much has been made of the 80's feel of "Manhunter." Obviously, it was made IN the 80's, but did Every! Single! Location! have to be hi-tech white? Graham's home, the victim's homes, and Dol(l)arhyde's home (which was his grandmother's huge old house full of antiques in the book.) even the prison (No, real prisons aren't as atmospheric as the cell in "Silence of the Lambs," but neither are they pristine and white like "Manhunter's" location.) all seem to be filmed on the same white soundstage, with few props and nothing to make them look like real locations.
I remember 1986, and my life did not look like a set from Miami Vice, nor did I have cheesy love songs playing at inappropriate moments.
Overall, I thought that the film was far too rushed. I was disappointed that "Red Dragon" did not show the book's flashbacks into the horrific childhood that made the serial killer prey on families like the one that abused him, (I can see why not, though; this would have been traumatic for a child actor.) but "Manhunter" left out MUCH more of the book, including important scenes that gave insight into investigator Graham and the grown-up serial killer.
Yes, Anthony Hopkins went over the top in "Silence" and "Dragon." He's playing an erudite serial killer trapped in a cell, with nothing to amuse him but his books and a very rare visitor to scare. If it weren't for Hopkins' performance, no-one would remember that Brian Cox played Hannibal Lecter (Strangely enough, spelled "Lecktor" in this movie.), because his performance is as dull as the rest of "Manhunter."
William Peterson's acting brought out none of the likability of the Will Graham in the book.Part of this is in the writing: for example, the scene where he hugs blind Reba--never touch a blind person without letting them know--and tells her "I'm Will Graham"--which means nothing to her--has none of the sensitivity of the Edward Norton version of Graham's gentle speech about how "you didn't draw a freak, you drew a man with a freak on his back."
Tom Noonan tries as the serial killer, but isn't given much to work with. I was particularly irritated by the fact that his character is said to "avoid sibilants and fricatives," seconds after he delivers a line full of them! This is BAD writing; scriptwriters need to pay attention to their own words. Joan Allen is the one who comments on the his odd speech pattern, about two minutes after her character, Reba, meets Noonan's Dollarhyde. This is too bad--in the book and the movie, time has passed and they are actually in her house when she delivers this line. Their relationship is an important part of the book and the "Red Dragon" movie, but, like the rest of Manhunter, it feels rushed. It's a pity that Joan Allen wasn't given more to do--she gives a lovely performance, understated without being wooden.
There were many, many minor details that made "Red Dragon" seem real and human and "Manhunter" seem like a made-for-TV movie. One example that sticks out in my mind is the home movies. In "Red Dragon," we see the families that were killed, and feel, with Ed Norton's version of Will Graham, sadness that such sweet loving people have died. As in true home movies, the families talk to the camera, make self-conscious jokes and seem very, very real, though not glamorous or exciting. But "Manhunter's" home movies show silent actors ignoring the camera. O1ne scene where the whole family was in front of the camera eating breakfast made me wonder who was filming and panning around the table. It's a small detail, but yet another thing that made the movie far too stylized and not nearly as interesting as its source material. It was much more like watching video surveillance than watching genuine human emotion.
If "stylish" means "stark and slow," Manhunter is, indeed, stylish.
I admit, I am one of those come-lately fans who did not read Thomas Harris' novels until after the movie "Silence of the Lambs" was released. And I read _Silence_ before reading _Red Dragon_.
I didn't see Manhunter until February of 2004, well after the video release of the newer film "Red Dragon." I was looking forward to seeing this "stylish thriller" that so many critics, amateur and professional, said was much better than the newer version.
What movie did these critics SEE? Much has been made of the 80's feel of "Manhunter." Obviously, it was made IN the 80's, but did Every! Single! Location! have to be hi-tech white? Graham's home, the victim's homes, and Dol(l)arhyde's home (which was his grandmother's huge old house full of antiques in the book.) even the prison (No, real prisons aren't as atmospheric as the cell in "Silence of the Lambs," but neither are they pristine and white like "Manhunter's" location.) all seem to be filmed on the same white soundstage, with few props and nothing to make them look like real locations.
I remember 1986, and my life did not look like a set from Miami Vice, nor did I have cheesy love songs playing at inappropriate moments.
Overall, I thought that the film was far too rushed. I was disappointed that "Red Dragon" did not show the book's flashbacks into the horrific childhood that made the serial killer prey on families like the one that abused him, (I can see why not, though; this would have been traumatic for a child actor.) but "Manhunter" left out MUCH more of the book, including important scenes that gave insight into investigator Graham and the grown-up serial killer.
Yes, Anthony Hopkins went over the top in "Silence" and "Dragon." He's playing an erudite serial killer trapped in a cell, with nothing to amuse him but his books and a very rare visitor to scare. If it weren't for Hopkins' performance, no-one would remember that Brian Cox played Hannibal Lecter (Strangely enough, spelled "Lecktor" in this movie.), because his performance is as dull as the rest of "Manhunter."
William Peterson's acting brought out none of the likability of the Will Graham in the book.Part of this is in the writing: for example, the scene where he hugs blind Reba--never touch a blind person without letting them know--and tells her "I'm Will Graham"--which means nothing to her--has none of the sensitivity of the Edward Norton version of Graham's gentle speech about how "you didn't draw a freak, you drew a man with a freak on his back."
Tom Noonan tries as the serial killer, but isn't given much to work with. I was particularly irritated by the fact that his character is said to "avoid sibilants and fricatives," seconds after he delivers a line full of them! This is BAD writing; scriptwriters need to pay attention to their own words. Joan Allen is the one who comments on the his odd speech pattern, about two minutes after her character, Reba, meets Noonan's Dollarhyde. This is too bad--in the book and the movie, time has passed and they are actually in her house when she delivers this line. Their relationship is an important part of the book and the "Red Dragon" movie, but, like the rest of Manhunter, it feels rushed. It's a pity that Joan Allen wasn't given more to do--she gives a lovely performance, understated without being wooden.
There were many, many minor details that made "Red Dragon" seem real and human and "Manhunter" seem like a made-for-TV movie. One example that sticks out in my mind is the home movies. In "Red Dragon," we see the families that were killed, and feel, with Ed Norton's version of Will Graham, sadness that such sweet loving people have died. As in true home movies, the families talk to the camera, make self-conscious jokes and seem very, very real, though not glamorous or exciting. But "Manhunter's" home movies show silent actors ignoring the camera. O1ne scene where the whole family was in front of the camera eating breakfast made me wonder who was filming and panning around the table. It's a small detail, but yet another thing that made the movie far too stylized and not nearly as interesting as its source material. It was much more like watching video surveillance than watching genuine human emotion.
If "stylish" means "stark and slow," Manhunter is, indeed, stylish.