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Silence Of The Lambs [1991]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on Thomas Harris's novel, Jonathan Demme's terrifying adaptation of Silence of the Lambs contains only a couple of genuinely shocking moments (one involving an autopsy, the other a prison break). The rest of the film is a splatter-free visual and psychological descent into the hell of madness, redeemed astonishingly by an unlikely connection between a monster and a haunted young woman.

Anthony Hopkins is extraordinary as the cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter, virtually entombed in a subterranean prison for the criminally insane. At the behest of the FBI, agent-in-training Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) approaches Lecter, requesting his insights into the identity and methods of a serial killer named Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). In exchange, Lecter demands the right to penetrate Starling's most painful memories, creating a bizarre but palpable intimacy that liberates them both under separate but equally horrific circumstances.

Demme, a filmmaker with a uniquely populist vision (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild), also spent his early years making pulp for Roger Corman (Caged Heat) and he hasn't forgotten the significance of tone, atmosphere and the unsettling nature of a crudely effective close-up. Much of the film, in fact, consists of actors staring straight into the camera (usually from Clarice's point of view), making every bridge between one set of eyes to another seem terribly dangerous. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

On the DVD: On disc one, the film itself looks clinically sharp in a faultless widescreen (1.85:1) anamorphic transfer, while the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack makes the most of the chilling sound effects and Howard Shore's masterfully understated score. Unlike the Region 1 Criterion Collection, however, there is no audio commentary at all. On the second disc, the all-new hour-long "making-of" documentary features contributions from the screenwriter, producer, composer, costume designer, make-up effects people and even the moth wrangler ("There were no moths harmed in the filming!") as well as Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill) and Anthony Hopkins, who talks at length about creating Lecter. Conspicuous by their absence are Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster. Aside from the usual trailers and stills gallery there are 21 deleted scenes, many of which are not whole scenes but deleted excerpts, a promotional featurette made in 1991 and an outtakes reel that proves the cast really did have fun making this scary picture. For those who want to scare all their friends, there's also an answerphone message from Anthony Hopkins "in character". --Mark Walker


It puts the lotion on it's skin...
Review date: 2008-11-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

"It puts the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again".

Words that have passed the lips of movie buffs for the past seventeen years with such ferver.

Clarice Starling is a student of the FBI academy in Quantico; bright, sharp, and eager to succeed. Her idol, Jack Crawford, asks her to interview a famous serial killer known as "Hannibal the Cannibal" Lektor in the hopes of learning some information leading to finding a serial killer known as "Buffalo Bill" who likes to kidnap women, murder them, then skin them.

Hannibal Lektor promises Clarice the chance to succeed at her task by providing her with the information she needs to capture the killer, but only in exchange for a chance to delve into her psyche.

Wonderful performances from talented Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, as well as some outstanding work by the incredible Ted Levine.

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Reviews


Overated but still a great film
Review date: 2008-09-09 Rating: 8 out of 10

Silence of the Lambs is a really good film but it is overated. I can't believe that it has all the attention it gets. Don't get me wrong, it is a very good film but I have seen better.
The performances by Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster and Ted Levine are top notch, with Hopkins as the brilliant Dr Hannibal Lecter.

Brilliant story but the time it takes to get to the point may put some viewers off. Also, this DVD has no special features despite what the Amazon description says, so if you want extras, buy the 2 disc version, but for the film alone, get this version.

Great film but slightly overated.

A pleasant suprise
Review date: 2008-08-11 Rating: 8 out of 10

'Silence of The Lambs' is an epic action-thriller boasting an all star cast of Hugh Grant, Sharon Stone, Chuck Norris, and Ted Danson.

Hugh Grant was given the honourable role of Hannibal Lector; a psychotic, cannibalistic train driver who's only desire to remain alive is so he may munch on innocent mens crotches, whilst dining Al Fresco in his back yard. However, his meals soon come to an end as he is caught by the FBI thanks to a peeping tom, and locked up in an All Female security wing.

Sharon Stone plays the sexual rookie Police Cop Starling, who has already bedded half the squadron and is worried that this is endangering her place as the only girl on the team, with the Lieutenant already tired of 'bribes at 11pm'. Quite coincidentally, she is also asked to do a psychological analysis on Lector, and so she has the perfect opportunity to discuss her sexual frustrations as a young impressionable female at breeding age.

However, he will only diverse such guidance if he is allowed out into a less-secure holding unit. She promises the action, but it is all a lie! And so, there starts a sudden crotch-munching rage after a rat tells him of her confession to the other Police men. Being rather peckish, he eats the rat too.

Hannibals presence among the little community is stronger than ever, and is testified further after the wise Jedi master Yoda predicts a change of Force in the wind. He was in fact compromised; Starling had merely bottom-burped.

But like any good-old-fashioned thriller, all things must come to a gripping end, and so 3 hours 42 minutes later, Lector surprises us all as he reveals himself to be a Cybernetic Organism from 2042. His mission was simple; to kill Starling at all costs and prevent her un-born son (The father, quite emphatically, the Lieutenant...) from solving Global Warming, so that robots can survive all mankind.

A few un-screwed nuts and bolts later, an anal probe was engaged back at the FBI lab and reveales Lectors fetish for munching on people to be an abnormal gene-strain that Fox Mulder (taking a guest appearance from The X Files) considers to be too estranged for even the super-intelligent life on planet Zog, which he went to in the long running series, and came back with photo's for Scully.

Theirs also a surprise outing for Chuck Norris who plays a clown called Bo-Bo, who comes to visit the cell-inmates at the mental institution. His performance isn't as high octane as "Delta Force", but it shows the other side to Chucks qualities as a depressive clown with no goal in life. I personally wanted to see a bit more kick boxing from him.

Their are plenty of twists and turns too that will have you gasping for more. One unfortunate scene see's Starlings brother, Rick, get the Crotch treatment as Hannibal peruses the young cop. This heart breaking moment means he will no longer be able to produce children. The way the director suddenly captures this moment is breath-taking, and beats any Rambo torture scene hands down, let along the "never let go" moment at the end of Titanic. I was bawling with tears; unable to cope with the situation.

I also felt Hugh Grant was a fantastic choice for a psychotic killer Hannibal. His manic smile and constant "Oh! I'm going to fall over! Oh! I've spilt something! Oh! Watch out!" is inspiring and should put to shame such poor actors as Tom Hanks. What was he thinking in Apollo 13? And Kevin Sausage too...

All in all, Silence of The Lambs is a truly ground breaking performance that boasts wit, determination, and proves what can be achieved through bribes of a Channel X nature, and unlimited ammunition in weaponary. It covers all the common problems of life for a young person, from dealing with psychopathic murderers, to not having enough money to pay the bus driver. I defy any human being to surpass the genius of this film.





(Well... I've written 458 Reviews - Surely one can stray "a little"...)





Overated
Review date: 2008-07-29 Rating: 4 out of 10

I watched this just recently-I found it very overated, particuarly Hopkins performance which was somewhat embarrassing. Did he have to talk in slow motion throughout the film-it was like bad theatre

I ate his liver with a nice Chianti.....
Review date: 2008-04-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

Truly terrifying, this film certainly lives up to its fantastic reviews. Hannibal Lecter is a brilliant villian who you come to like by the end of the film - yes he's a demented cannibal, but he's also witty and very funny in his totally unique way.

Jodie Foster also plays a part in making this film brilliant - I have to say that this is the best film I've seen her in. You can really believe that she's her character - her fear right at the end of the film when she's stuck in the same room as Buffalo Bill and has no idea, and how uncomfortable she becomes when Lecter grills her about her past make her character very believable.

I think I'm the only one out of my friends who has ever seen this film, and though I'm trying to convince them to see it they all refuse, saying that it sounds absolutely terrifying. Indeed it was the first time I saw it (I made a point to watch it in daylight), but it's so clever and gripping for a horror film, and the fact that it's so realistic makes it more scary.

I recommend this to people who are looking for a real classic film and don't mind horrors too much - those who get scared easily probably wouldn't enjoy it as much as they should!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Anthony Heald
Anthony Hopkins
Jodie Foster
Ted Levine
Scott Glenn

Creators:
Jodie Foster (Primary Contributor)
Anthony Hopkins (Primary Contributor)
Edward Saxon (Producer)
Gary Goetzman (Producer)
Grace Blake (Producer)
Kenneth Utt (Producer)
Ronald M. Bozman (Producer)
Ted Tally (Writer)
Thomas Harris (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070007060
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-02-24
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 113 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1991-02-14
Language: English (Original Language)

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