Two guys and a movie: Part ll
“Hannibal” picks up 10 years after “Silence of the Lambs” left off. The story revolves once again around Dr. Lecter, now a successful art curator in Italy, and Agent Starling, who has become disillusioned with an FBI that is more about politics and less about catching crooks.
Relegated to a desk job after a drug bust goes horribly wrong, Starling resolves to capture Lecter when she receives a letter from him announcing that he intends to “come out of retirement and return to public life.”
The story spent much of its time explaining the character and personality of Lecter. Sometimes all that explanation seemed a tad unnecessary – pointing out what should already have been obvious to the careful viewer. As Starling picks up his trail, she chances upon some old characters from the first movie along the way. One of these is Barney, one of the orderlies from the asylum where Hannibal was jailed. Barney informs Starling that during his long conversations with Lecter he learned that “whenever possible he prefers to eat the rude.”
Thank goodness Lecter isn’t attending Utah State University. The friendly personnel at Parking Services wouldn’t stand a chance. I’m kidding, of course. They are, as they’ll tell you, just doing their job.
The fact that he eats only those who probably deserve it makes Lecter even more likable than in the previous film. I’m not surprised to discover that women even find him attractive. We’re given hints throughout the film that Starling is among them.
Although the character of Lecter is perennially guaranteed to hold audiences in thrall, this continuation of the story lacks the fascination and intensity of the first. There is something more awe-inspiring about keeping him in a cage than allowing him to run free on what, at times, was nothing more than a predatory rampage.
The story is, however, filmed in an interesting contrast between the beautiful and obscene. Lector loves that which is pure and beautiful, but never hesitates to destroy that which is not. He is even credited for killing and eating a flutist who couldn’t stay in tune. His justification: It made the entire orchestra sound better.
The special effects, although gory, were extremely effective. “Hannibal” marked the first and hopefully last time we see a person fed his own brain. As I watched the doctor trim away and sauté the non-essential portions of his victim’s gray matter I couldn’t help but be struck by the similarities between the sound effects I was hearing and those heard in a Carl’s Jr. “don’t bother me, I’m eating” commercial. And I’m not sure which of those is more unbearable to watch.
Fans of the evil doctor will most likely enjoy this film. Where it lacks in depth and intensity, it almost makes up for it by fleshing out the character that everyone is there to see. It’s extremely violent and probably should have merited the dreaded NC-17 rating for its graphic depictions of torture and gore. But if you didn’t already expect that, you are probably at the wrong movie.
Grade: B