Friday 15 March 2013

Film According to Mr Cinema review: The Silence of the Lambs, 1991


Jonathan Demme’s 1991 thriller classic: “The Silence of the Lambs” has undoubtedly earnt its title as a one of the greatest, most suspenseful movies made in (relatively) recent years. The film trails CIA trainee: Agent Clarice Starling who is required to match wits with the equally insane yet brilliant Dr Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins) to assist in the persecution of serial killer: Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb (Ted Levine) who was based on true life murderer: Ed Gein.

“The Silence of the Lambs” is a perfect mix of general technical filmic excellence, a genuinely gripping and disturbing tale and a completely intense mesmerising and feel about it. I was absolutely captured by the elements of philosophy (what is sanity and how is it measurable), dark thematic tones and the general all round brilliance that seems to have surrounded this picture. If there were one small gripe I had with this film, it’s that some elements could have been further extended upon; just to have an extra quarter of an hour added on to make more of the background story of agent Sterling or Dr Lecter. (although they revealed very little about Buffalo Bill’s past, his character was best left mysterious and menacing) also, have a lookout in this film for a brief cameo by George A. Romero.

Rating: 9/10

1 comment:

  1. Never seen it, I'm afraid, though I have heard of it. It's supposed to be a sort of nasty version of Sherlock Holmes with Clarice as Dr Watson.

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