Good but not Great

Rating: 7/10 (7 March 2007)

There are a few items that perplex me regarding this film. First, a review posted in the IMDb on September 15, 2006 makes reference to "too much nudity" in the film on the part of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, yet there was no nudity in the film. That, in itself, baffles me... but I digress. The second is why the scene where the Deputy is crucified like a butterfly. Realistically, where would Lecter have had the time, and being that the deputy was a large man, where did Hopkins summon the strength? OK, with those two issues aside, "The Silence of the Lambs" is a good film. I think it was deserved of Best Picture for that year, 1991, as well considering its competition. I don't think it was a great movie, however.
I don't usually compare films with their novel counterparts, because films and books are really two separate beasts. Sometimes, such as with "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, I make exceptions, but that is more the exception than the norm. Because I have seen many reference made to "The Silence of the Lambs" the movie versus "The Silence of the Lambs" the book, I feel compelled to comment. I read the book and I found the book to be very shallow. The film was far better. And that is all I have to say about that.
"Silence" worked primarily because of Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter) and Ted Levine (Jame Gumb.) Jodie Foster did an above average job as Clarice Starling, but there is just something about Foster that rubs me the wrong way in the film. I can't quite place my finger on it, maybe her attempt at a southern accent or maybe her masculine mannerisms and boyish looks, but she "just didn't do it for me." As I have stated in my review of the film "Hannibal", I found Julianne Moore to be far better suited for the part of Clarice Starling. Perhaps it is mere preference, and that is all.
As I initially mentioned, there were some mechanical problems with the film. Overall, the film worked, though. It is a very dark and disturbing tale, and the atmosphere stays quite faithful to that premise with it's dark color tones and macabre soundtrack. There are few characters that earn the eerie and sinister reputation of Hannibal (the Cannibal) Lecter, and as already stated, this is a credit to Hopkins. The film's conclusion is both suspenseful and darkly comical. Some find themselves frustrated by the open-ended ending, but I found it perfect, especially how it made for an easy transition into the sequel.