Two sided

Rating: 8/10 (27 October 2019)

On the one hand this movie has excellent acting, dialogue, and story. On the other hand it badly tries to be a 90s action thriller, with a bad script, and horrible editing.
For example, there is a lot of detail in the movie but the dialogue sometimes references events that are not clear as if the viewer would pick it up quickly. Another example is in one of the final scenes when the lead detective finds the empty house and realizes Clarice was in danger - but how could he have known. She merely stumbled upon the killer following up on an old lead in a cold-ish case, so I don't understand the reason for all the drama and that quick zoon in shot was horrible.
I think the novel is probably much better than the movie - the latter appears to have been hastily made. I do not understand why it got Oscars for best Movie and certainly does not deserve the best Adapted Screenplay. The acting was superb on both Foster and Hopkins' sides, with great delivery of the dialogue.
I taped this movie on the VCR and watched it a few times decades ago when I was a teen. Now re-watching it after more than 25 years - I am a bit critical.