In this eye-opening Q&A, the accomplished actress dishes about the process of making The Silence of the Lambs. ( Red Dragon and Hannibal are both available on Netflix.) Jodie Foster Talks ‘Silence of the Lambs’ Hopkins only reprised the role once, in the prequel Red Dragon, but his character was revived in the 2007 film Hannibal Rising and the NBC TV show, Hannibal. And, upon second look, it’s a nod to the incredible world-building by Jonathan Demme and the rest of the cast. And while it may seem like a Hollywood fluke that Hopkins could earn best lead actor for less than twenty minutes of screen time, the outcome is actually a testament to the unparalleled power of his performance. The Silence of the Lambs earned big at the box office and went on to the major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Actress for Jodie Foster, and Best Adapted Screenplay for screenwriter Ted Tally, based on Thomas Harris’ beloved novel. Rather than chasing Lecter around the globe, Starling can look right at him… from across the asylum’s security barriers. Like an inverted game of cat-and-mouse, this cop-like drama pits its primary investigator squarely against the villain - in actual space. It’s hard to believe, as the pair seems to work off each other’s energy so naturally. Hopkins himself was only on set for about a week. How Anthony Hopkins Filmed ‘The Silence of the Lambs’Īs the film centers primarily on the FBI Agent Clarice Starling, Jodie Foster filmed many scenes that contained no interaction with Anthony Hopkin’s Hannibal Lecter. Having escaped, his final phone call to Agent Starling ends The Silence of the Lambs in something like a draw. Meanwhile, with his unparalleled intellect, Lecter bests his federal imprisonment. Buffalo Bill) and emerges the victor of this underlying narrative. Having learned from Lecter, Agent Starling overcomes her own trauma to overpower Jame Gumb (a.k.a. Lecter generally retains his power - over Clarice Starling, over the asylum, and over his own situation - despite appearances. Although Lecter tries to belittle her and occasionally succeeds, Jonathon Demme’s camera shifts constantly between their two faces, re-centering and re-leveling each character as power dynamics continuously shift. Of course, Starling still maintains her ground. “Closer, closer” he instructs as she raises her FBI badge. He appears to welcome Clarice Starling calmly and throws her off balance by insisting to see her credentials. And yet the criminal who awaits there seems so… put together. The inmates that Starling passes on her way to Lecter confirm our anticipation that the man at the end of the hall must be, all out, the most insane one of them all. (Watch above.) His character haunts of the corner of the movie, even when he is not present. The Closer Look offers a really concise analysis of how the film crafts Lecter’s air. The undercurrent pride layers the tension and builds out expectation as Starling makes her way to Hannibal Lecter’s cell. The asylum warden tells Clarice Starling, “He’s a monster, pure psychopath.” His tone is not so much disturbed, as utterly fascinated. The psychological horror movie is still considered a career-best for Hopkins, who did win the best actor Oscar at that year’s 1992 Academy Awards.Īfter all, who else could pull off a line like “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti…?” So it may shock you to learn that Hannibal Lecter only appeared on-screen for 16 minutes! Also, he and co-star Jodie Fosternever even spoke! As a suave sociopath, Lecter’s unique charm seeped through prison barriers and our movie screens alike. The role was unforgettable and terrifying. It was Anthony Hopkins’ distinct performance in The Silence of the Lambs which first introduced us to a cannibal serial killer with such personality. That means it’s been three decades since Hannibal Lecter sidled into our collective consciousness as the most chilling villain of all time. Hopkins had been nominated five times previously, first for his performance in The Silence of the Lambs which turned 30 years old this year. At the 2021 Oscars, Anthony Hopkin won the evening’s final award: best actor for his role in The Father.
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