Excellent!

Rating: 10/10 (20 August 2004)

When I first saw the trailer to this in the theaters, I was instantly interested in it, so I read the book before it's release. Although movies seldom live up to the respective novels in which their based, this one equals it, but in different ways. I have to hand it to Ted Tally for his script adaptation; his script keeps the core of the story while stripping away the more complex and unnecessary aspects of the novel and still makes it suspenseful and interesting. The acting is magnificent, Foster plays Clarice with what looks like such ease, and yet keeps the character complex, smart, strong, and comfortably flawed, and aware of those flaws. Hopkins is equally brilliant as Lecter: he is everything Clarice is but more charming and unaware he possesses any flaws at all. One of the things I love about the film is it's simplicity. The sets and clothes look normal, unimportant, everyday, cheap. Nothing's flashy or overly ornate looking. It still holds up very well after 13 years. Won Oscars for Best Actor, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Director, and Picture. Highly recommended.