Red Dragon Review
by Michael J. Gold (mjgold01 AT yahoo DOT com)April 14th, 2003
Red Dragon ***
Directed By: Brett Ratner
Written By: Ted Tally
Music By: Danny Elfman
Dr. Hannibal Lecter: Anthony Hopkins
Will Graham: Edward Norton
Francis Dolarhyde: Ralph Fiennes
Jack Crawford: Harvey Keitel
Reba McClane: Emily Watson
Molly Graham: Mary-Louise Parker
Freddy Lounds: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Dr. Chilton: Anthony Heald
Running Time: 2:04
Rated R (for violence, grisly images, language, some nudity and sexuality)
Reviewed by: Michael J. Gold
As "Red Dragon" opens we find Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) enjoying a performance of a symphony orchestra until he notices an inferior musician. We half expect Lecter to jump up and slaughter the man right there and then, however, Lecter would find it inexcusable to interrupt the other musicians with a murder. Besides, Lecter is a cold and calculating killer and not often given to impulsive acts of violence without provocation.
Sometime later, believing he has made a breakthrough on a case that Lecter is helping him with, FBI Agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) pays a call on Lecter. Graham has discovered that the killer is not cutting out parts of his victims as trophies, but he is, in fact, eating them. As Graham pieces together who the cannibal is, Lecter realizes that he has been discovered.
Several years pass and Graham has left the FBI scarred in more ways than one. Predictably, Graham's boss, Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) comes calling to try to convince Graham to come back for just one more case, a particularly malevolent serial killer known as "The Tooth Fairy," who slaughters entire families in their homes. Graham relents much to the chagrin of his wife (Mary-Louise Parker) and begins to examine the evidence and crime scenes, though we know that eventually he will find himself once more asking Lecter for help.
"Red Dragon" is actually the second time that Thomas Harris' book has been adapted into a film. The first was the Michael Mann film "Manhunter" that stared William Petersen as FBI Agent Will Graham and Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter. Mann's film has a very different look and feel to it than "Red Dragon" which very successfully parallels the style and atmosphere of "The Silence of the Lambs"
Many of the actors from "The Silence of the Lambs" return to once again play their characters, the most notable being Anthony Hopkins. After his Oscar winning role, Hopkins simply is Hannibal Lecter and do to this film without him on board would have been disastrous; audiences simply will not accept another actor as Hannibal Lecter. Scott Glenn is noticeably absent having Harvey Keitel take over the role of Jack Crawford.
Edward Norton does a fine job as FBI Agent Will Graham, however, something about Norton never quite felt right. Perhaps it's the boyish face that makes him seem too young to be the lead agent in several major investigations or maybe it's something as simple as me not being able to get past someone else, even an actor that I enjoy and admire as much as Edward Norton, taking over William Peterson's role.
Ralph Fiennes is also very good as the tortured soul who tortures his victims in a quest to become The Red Dragon. Fiennes uses a very subtle and understated approach in portraying Francis Dolarhyde. We never see Dolarhyde committing his atrocities and thus are almost able to feel sorry for him; certainly he was not born a monster, but was created by a childhood filled with abuse.
Overall, "Red Dragon" is a very satisfying film. It lacks the chemistry that existed between Starling and Lecter, but makes up for it by preserving the ambiance of the Oscar winning film. For the fans it will be like visiting an old friend, even if we won't be having him for dinner.
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