HANNIBAL at Wahnfried

at Wahnfried, McGregor

On Friday 17th at 5pm we have the last of the Lecter Trilogy, HANNIBAL (2h10mins).

A sequel to the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, Anthony Hopkins reprises his role as Lecter, while Julianne Moore replaces Jodie Foster as Starling and Gary Oldman plays Verger. Hiding behind a pseudonym, the sophisticated cannibal and methodical serial killer, Dr Hannibal Lecter, finds himself somewhere in Florence to pick up where he left off, ten whole years after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. However, as Clarice Starling is falling from grace, a disfigured benefactor and sole survivor of Lecter's atrocities brings her back on the case, intent on ferreting out the brilliant doctor. Now, the stage seems set for the perfect retribution scheme, as greed and ambition get the best of everyone involved in the hunt for the elusive virtuoso of death. But, do they have what it takes to kill Hannibal, the beast among men?

‘’ Many people were disappointed or flat-out disgusted by Ridley Scott's follow-up to "The Silence of the Lambs." I can certainly understand their disgust, but I preferred this to its Oscar winning predecessor. It had been a long, long time since a movie made me turn from the screen in genuine horror, and I didn't believe it was even possible. "Hannibal’s deservedly controversial climax took me by surprise. It may have been revolting but so few movies these days have any lasting impact and I appreciate that this one did. And it is, after all, about a cannibal, is it not? At some point in a series of films about a man of Lector's inclinations, we should see him at work.
Of course, the horror of the climax is effective because the rest of the film is so good. Hopkins, a little chunkier than the last time we saw him in this role, positively exudes menace especially in his final confrontation with Pazzi (an excellent Giancarlo Giannini whose sad eyes make him the most sympathetic character in the film). Then there's Gary Oldman's Mason Verger who is so contemptible that he never elicits sympathy no matter how he suffered at the hands of Lector. And Julianne Moore is an improvement over Jodie Foster who I have always believed was overrated.
But the best thing about "Hannibal" is the atmosphere in which Scott and his team envelop the story. A cloud of dread hangs over this film, and beautiful Florence, Italy, though still beautiful, appears haunted by Lector's very presence in the city.’’ IMDb reviewer