Film review: The Silence of the Lambs
Obscure titles such as the one for this film are always a bit confusing at first, and you tend to wonder if there is reasoning to it or if it’s just a vague metaphor. My first merit to this film is that the slightly unfinished revelation of this meaning unfolded beautifully, and that, along with many other small scenes, were just executed that bit more perfectly than the average film.
I cannot really say what credit I give to the film and what I do the book, but with Anthony Hopkins, it really felt like he’d read certain lines and wanted to convey tiny emotions, and, using body language, project any thoughts written into the book. The first scene with Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins was absolutely stunning in this sense, and so too was the cinematography which is perhaps the best I’ve seen in film. You feel a fascination watching it, similar to the fascination the two characters seem to have for each other. It was apparently the case that Hopkins had studied criminals in various settings first-hand, and his skills in manipulation and mannerisms make it quite scary to witness.
Perhaps a factor of this movie that never got the coverage it deserved were the performances of the smaller roles. In order to sell something scary or unnerving, you must convey genuine fear or uneasiness as an actor. The all-round fear from those in this film who are in certain situations are leaps and bounds ahead of the average performance from similar thrillers. Part of what sold a film where subtlety was the port of call, was that the terror acted out shook you to your core.
Having said all that, I really cannot finish without paying homage to the leading actors. Jodie Foster was just perfect, her emotion telling stories, fear that required every inch of her body and how she held herself when she was expected to be brave. At times it seemed like hidden cameras were following the victim of an elaborate prank, because as viewers you were fully invested in her. I needn’t say a lot more on Anthony Hopkins as his reputation is so universally known, but there are probably a few criminals out there who he conversed with, who’s skin crawled at his utterly iconic depiction of a serial killer. In my opinion, the best acting duo performance since Breaking Bad.
Direction, cinematography, acting, writing. All of this is done to an elite level in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. For those who have watched and for those who may do now, I believe Hannibal Lecter’s final line alone would knock this straight into the category of the finest moving picture productions of all time.
Rating: 9.5/10
