Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)

reviewed by
Chad Polenz


The Silence Of The Lambs Chad'z rating: **** (out of 4 = excellent) 1991, R, 118 minutes [1 hour, 58 minutes] [mystery/thriller] Starring: Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling), Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Hannibal Lector), Scott Glenn (Jack Crawford), written by Ted Tally, produced by Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt, Ron Bozman, directed by Jonathan Demme, based on the novel by Thomas Harris.

There have been a lot of mystery movies over the years, but none so grim and calculated as "The Silence Of The Lambs." This is one of the most suspenseful films I've ever seen, as we are placed into the investigators' shoes and try to put the pieces together. The film also adds a strange, but powerful element of taking us inside the mind of one psychopath to study another. The fact such difficult storytelling devices are used as well as they are here is a sign of genius.

Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a potential FBI agent who is about to complete her training. Because of her impressive records she is called in to help out on the case of serial killer known as "Buffalo Bill." Her superior, Jack Crawford (Glenn), informs her of the facts surrounding the case, and right from the get-go it seems like a scary and dangerous project. But the film does not have a straight "thriller" mood to it, its hook is its off-camera graphicness. Just hearing what Buffalo Bill has done establishes everything. Not only does this create a great desire for justice, but it also makes for a subtle Gothic mood.

Starling is sent to interview the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lector (Hopkins), a psychiatrist who has a fetish for cannibalism. The way Hopkins portrays him is very frightening because it is so believable. The atmosphere itself adds to the drama, as we are just as afraid of him as Clarice is. Lector analyzes the case and sends Clarice away with hints and clues. He is purposely making her do more work than she has to do just to experiment with her mind.

Most of the film involves detailed detective work by Starling and the FBI. We do meet the killer, but he does not become a vital character because he isn't nearly as cunning or vile as Lector. It's interesting to watch Starling track down clues and sources, and most of those on slim leads and hunches.

Starling thinks Lector knows who Buffalo Bill is, but in order to get him to talk she must tell him about her own life. Lector gets inside her mind by analyzing all the details of her life. If anything, the film works as a great character study and terrific interaction between these two actors and their characters.

Although the film had been a great drama and mystery, the actual ending tops it off and and defines the genre of "thriller." Of course justice is ultimately served in the end, but perhaps something even worse than Buffalo Bill happens...

"The Silence Of The Lambs" works so well because of its mood factor alone. Films that can be this emotional, disturbing, and exciting by using typical mainstream mystery elements don't come along everyday.

Please visit Chad'z Movie Page @ http://members.aol.com/ChadPolenz E-mail: ChadPolenz@aol.com (C)1997 Chad Polenz


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