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HANNIBAL by David Jardine
Just when you thought it was safe ? the Lambs are not silenced anymore - he is back - Hannibal.
The man who enjoys a good slice of liver with some favva beans and a glass of Chianti is back. Hannibal is the sequel to the Oscar-winning psychological thriller, 'Silence of the Lambs.' Anthony Hopkins stars as Dr Hannibal Lecter and Julianne Moore attempts to fill the shoes of FBI agent, Clarice Starling, played in the original by Jodie Foster. The supporting cast includes Ray Liotta, a totally unrecognisable Gary Oldman and some wild boars.
'Silence of the Lambs' ended in a way that was perfectly set up for the sequel. Hannibal was free and in playful form joking about having old friends for dinner while Clarice remained seemingly fixated on the charming cannibal. Set 7 years on, we see Hannibal has taken up a new life in picturesque Florence, Italy as a library worker under the name of Dr. Fell while Clarice's promising FBI career has gradually collapsed around her. Enter Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), Hannibal's only victim to have survived. Mason produces evidence to get Clarice back on the case so that he can find out Hannibal's whereabouts and make him pay for what he has done.
At times, the movie drags and there is far too much time spent on the story of a greedy Italian detective, Rinaldo Pazzi (Giancarlo Giannini) trying to reap huge financial rewards for uncovering Dr Lecter. Eventually though, he gets what we are led to think is his just reward. Hopkins is hypnotic and charming as the anti-hero whom we excuse for his man-eating habits. We find ourselves laughing as he tells Pazzi he is considering eating his wife and find ourselves taking his side and on occasions almost wanting him to kill people.
The psychological tension is never as great as the original and the Clarice and Hannibal relationship only reaches great heights at the very end. Ridley Scott (Alien, Bladerunner, Gladiator) directs and although the visual aesthetics are nice, the characterization is a little shallow and some characters may as well not be there.
In conclusion, it is an enjoyable movie to see. It is, overall, a bit silly but a handsomely staged movie, which fails to live up to its high expectations. Don't go to see this expecting to see another 'Silence of the Lambs' because it is an entirely different movie altogether. It's an OK film with some gore and a little bit of guns but pales into insignificance against the original. Also, be warned if you're of a weak stomach. I'm not going to tell you why because if you're of a weak stomach, you won't want to know. I'd give it 2 and a half out of 5.
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