I refuse to argue whether Anthony Hopkins or Brian Cox made the better Hannibal Lector, but I have some respect for both interpretations and have been more or less a fan of the series since I first read the original novel. In the last book there was some indication of Lector's backstory and this film develops it into a full and generally satisfying prequel. Since it was written by the original author, Thomas Harris, one can't quibble too much that the picture is not faithful to his vision. Generally the information we have had previously is fleshed out and we are led to understand how he became the "monster" that he did. Surprisingly, the viewer is even left with some sympathy for his character, given the horrific unfolding of events. Without giving away too much, one already knew that his sister had been eaten by starving soldiers during World War II; here we discover how the human part of him was destroyed at the same time and how he swore to take his revenge. That this subsequently developed into a taste for human flesh is not at issue here.
If I have any quibbles with this movie, it is with the casting. A relatively unknown (which is OK) French actor, Gaspard Ulliel, plays the teenaged Lector and a pretty convincing job he makes of it. However there is no way on earth that he could have grown up to be either Hopkins or Cox for that matter. I admit this may be nit-picking. The next problem I have is with the choice of Gong Li to play his uncle's widow in France, Lady Murasaki; not that she isn't a fine actress, but why in the world does her character have to be Japanese when she is Chinese. (I know, the viewer is not supposed to notice such small discrepancies!) However my final problem with the 'name' cast is finding Rhys Ifans as the big, bad, sadistic main villain; he carries too much baggage as a feckless, slightly goony creature to be the least bit believable here. However, all that apart, I see no reason why this entry will not generally please Lector's fans.
2 comments:
Gong Li is a beautiful actress. The movie was average.
Is not the taste for human flesh in part, at least, because he had eaten his own
sister? Gong Li was first-rate and was probably in the film to add weight since
I doubt many Japanese actresses have box-office potential in the West. I did
think Rhys Ifans made a good fist of his role - had you not seen him at the front
door in his sagging briefs in 'Notting Hill' might you not have thought the same
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