Review of Hannibal (2001) by Robert R — 20 Feb 2018

***.

This is a really difficult movie to review. Objectively, Ridley Scott's 'Hannibal' has some huge problems. It's overlong, it drags at points and there are some ridiculous moments thrown in throughout. The biggest issue, however, is the character of Clarice Sterling, played magnificently by Jodie Foster in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Here, it's not just that Julianne Moore can't match her performance, but the character itself just isn't really the same. You never get a sense of Clarice as a person, and as a result I could never get invested when she was on screen. This stands out in particular, because it was one of, if not THE, defining feature of the previous movie. This, in my opinion, is the movie's biggest downfall.

However, all that being said, there are some terrific aspects to 'Hannibal'. In terms of creating a tone, a mood - an atmosphere - this film succeeds with flying colours. It also manages to set a completely different tone to 'Silence', which was good, as it would have been very easy to try and copy that films success. Scott does make this movie his own, and whether it's Hannibal's scenes at the opera, or his 'dinner party' with Clarice at the end, there are some truly memorable moments littered throughout. Anthony Hopkins, this time featuring much more heavily, also shines. Whilst one feels his role was better suited to that of a supporting character, I truly think Scott and his team did the best they could with this particular plot-line. The film is typically well-made, and you are left with the eerie, lasting impact of what you've watched when the credits role.

So, even despite this movie's blatant flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It may be far from perfect, but you can't deny that it leaves you with a unique, memorable feeling. Impressive and flawed all at once.