Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Anthony Hopkins | ... | Hannibal Lecter | |
Julianne Moore | ... | Clarice Starling | |
Gary Oldman | ... | Mason Verger | |
Ray Liotta | ... | Paul Krendler | |
Frankie Faison | ... | Nurse Barney (as Frankie R. Faison) | |
Giancarlo Giannini | ... | Insp. Rinaldo Pazzi | |
Francesca Neri | ... | Allegra Pazzi | |
Zeljko Ivanek | ... | Dr. Cordell Doemling | |
Hazelle Goodman | ... | Evelda Drumgo | |
David Andrews | ... | FBI Agent Pearsall | |
Francis Guinan | ... | FBI Asst. Director Noonan | |
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James Opher | ... | DEA Agent John Eldridge |
Enrico Lo Verso | ... | Gnocco | |
Ivano Marescotti | ... | Carlo | |
Fabrizio Gifuni | ... | Matteo |
The final chapter of the Dr. Hannibal Lecter quadrilogy, the murdering cannibal. He is presently in Italy, and works as a curator at a museum. Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore), the F.B.I. Agent who he aided to apprehend a serial killer, was placed in charge of an operation, but when one of her men botches it, she's called to the mat by the Bureau. One high ranking official, Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta) has it in for her. But she gets a reprieve because Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), one of Lecter's victims who is looking to get back at Lecter for what Lecter did to him, wants to use Starling to lure him out. When Lecter sends her a note, she learns that he's in Italy, so she asks the Police to keep an eye out for him. But a corrupt Policeman, who wants to get the reward that Verger placed on him, tells Verger where he is, but they fail to get him. Later, Verger decides to frame Starling, which makes Lecter return to the U.S., and the race to get Lecter begins. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
I wrote about HANNIBAL when it first hit TV, but having just seen it again, I figured it's worth a second visit. This time around, Hannibal Lecter (a sadly aging Tony Hopkins) is being pursued by a victim who survived Lecter's loving ministrations but is badly disfigured (an unrecognizable Gary Oldman in a flamboyant role that does not do him justice). FBI agent Clarice Starling (a miscast Julianna Moore) is in serious trouble over a bad shootout, and is being hounded by a lecherous Feeb named Krendler (Ray Liotta, also oddly miscast). An Italian detective (the wonderful if very old Giancarlo Gianini) is hot on Lecter's trail. The action swings from Italy to America. The book was a hastily written disgrace, for which I have never forgiven the author. The movie is a loose adaptation of the novel and is maybe a notch above the book in quality. What director Ridley Scott is good for is creating atmosphere. The movie is a bit slow-moving but this actually plays in its favor. Lots of shadows and eerie lighting and odd angles abound. The violence and gore are extreme for a non-horror flick, although maybe we should view this Hannibal as just a nattily attired and coiffed Jason Vorhees or Michael Myers. He kills folks brutally and nastily. Highlights, for those so inclined, include brain-eating and a close encounter with a pack of 500-lb., long-tusked, man-eating hogs. Gorehounds may feast. All others beware. This is not SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and Jodie Foster is sorely missed.