A Lesson In Psychology

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2020)

The Silence of the Lambs based on the novel by Thomas Harris - featuring Dr. Hannibal Lecter, (played by Anthony Hopkins who steals the film and was deserving of his Best Actor award) who is perhaps the most iconic character in film history and Agent Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster who really holds the film together and her performance is her greatest in my view). The film is a rare example of where a film wins several Oscars for Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture. It is regularly listed by critics and fans alike to be one of the greatest and most influential films of all time.
The film has a timeless like quality to it, which from previous lessons, we are able to tell the year the film was made from the styles of clothing and also the production quality of the film. The storyline is enthralling throughout, which has a perfect mix of criminal investigation and criminal psychology. Jonathan Demme's, the director was superb, in respect to how the film is shot, it is shot with a unrelenting atmospheric dread throughout which never ceases, the suspense never drops. We talk about how ideas are in your head before they are put onto paper - even though this film was based on a book it still had to be brought to life without losing any of its atmosphere, that is the greatest test of all. The Silence of the Lambs, which in less capable hands may have just turned out to be another cheap thriller film. It is rather intellectual, a surprise given similar movies in the genre. It can be argued that it is more psychological than violent, even though there is a fair amount of blood.
The fact is that with the tense score, marvellous cinematography and with an almost bleak aspect in regards to theme and the aesthetics - just really all adds to what in the end is not only is the perfect thriller but the perfect movie.