Review of Hannibal (2001) by Chris W — 13 Aug 2010

It strives for Swarovski, but in the end achieves Mikasa as a piece of art cannot be manufactured no matter how skilled the coalition. Hannibal is every bit as polished and hollow as an empty wine glass, a showcase of potential, merely hinting at the nuances imagined possible.

The film suffers from a lack of strong supporting characters, the recasting of Clarice Starling, and not featuring more Hopkins. There is just an assortment of characters we feel no sympathy for, placed to consume screen time.

Julianne Moore really is an inadequate replacement for Jodie Foster and it seems as if the filmmakers know it, as her potency and experiences as a character are cut in half. Hopkins is simultaneously very impressive and curtailed, as his material does not by a longshot utilize his range or the dynamic possibilities of his character, as entertaining as he is.

Technically, the film is so polished that it feels cold and workmanlike with the cinematography and score detaching instead of engaging, once again, like glass. It feels even more like a TV movie than its predecessor.

It does nail a few moments though, and when it does, they hit nearly as hard The Silence of the Lambs. Unfortunately, those moments are really the only points of interest in what is otherwise a contract sequel to a breakout masterpiece.