Review of Hannibal (2001) by Andrew M — 12 Feb 2010

Poorly conceived, shallow sequel to the Oscar-winning "The Silence of the Lambs" based on Thomas Harris' lackluster book "Hannibal." Set 10 years later, FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) is disgraced after a botched drug raid and has become isolated after the disappearance of the cannibalistic serial killer, Dr.

Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Lecter has escaped to Florence, Italy where Starling tracks him down and the conclusion turns into a perverse take on Beauty and the Beast. Slickly directed by Ridley Scott from a script credited to David Mamet and Steven Zaillian, "Hannibal" lacks the psychological intensity of its predecessor, relying instead on scenes of grotesque violence.

Scott references Dante but this is pulp disguised as art. The movie revels in its own depravity. Hopkins turns Hannibal Lecter into a caricature - a Freddy Kruger for intellectuals. Julianne Moore shows us a Clarice Starling who is haunted by her failures and she adds a sultriness lacking in Jodie Foster, but the strength and vulnerability that Foster brought to the role is missing.

Starling is no longer a strong heroine so we have no one to root for. Lecter takes center stage reducing our involvement to waiting for his next gratuitous act. With Ray Liotta, Gary Oldman, Giancarlo Giannini, Frankie Faison, Zeljko Ivanek, Francesca Neri.