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Plot Summary
Retired
FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) is persuaded by his former colleague
to assist in the investigation of the brutal slaying of two families. The
FBI know that the same person committed the murders but have no clues to
identify that person. Will Graham has a special talent for looking at
evidence and finding clues that have been overlooked. He is convinced that
there is a link between the two families and that this link will lead him
to the murderer but he can’t find the link. The FBI decide to ask for
help from Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) the cannibal that Will
Graham put behind bars…
Review
This is the third “Hannibal
Lector” movie; first there was the exceptional thriller Silence Of
The Lambs then the dreadful Hannibal
and now Red Dragon. It’s not quite as good as Silence Of The
Lambs but it’s still a very good thriller. Based on the book by
Thomas Harris, Red Dragon is actually a prequel as it is set before
the other two movies. It is also a remake of Michael Mann’s 1986
thriller Manhunt.
The movie is intense and
unnerving with some gruesome and bloody images but overall it leans
towards detective-thriller rather than horror. It is obviously cashing in
on the cult character, “Hannibal the Cannibal”, but it doesn’t over
rely on the Hannibal character. The movie has a good plot with many
characters played by a top cast. Generally the movie follows the story in
the book but starts with an additional bit where FBI agent Will Graham
comes face to face with Hannibal before his arrest.
Anthony Hopkins looks like he
easily slipped back into the roll of the arrogant, intelligent and totally
insane Dr. Lector! He is not while as menacing looking as before but I
still won’t be putting any Hannibal posters on my walls!!
Edward Norton was good as FBI
agent Will Graham who was called in to catch the murderer that the media
dubbed “The Tooth Fairy”. Ralph Fiennes played Francis Dolarhyde aka
“The Tooth Fairy” and unfortunately for his victims he wasn’t called
the tooth fairy because he left money under their pillows!
There was good support from
Harvey Keitel, Mary Louise Parker and Emily Watson while Philip Seymour
Hoffman was excellent as a sleazy unprincipled journalist.
An
unnerving violent thriller that will have you checking the doors and
windows before you go to bed!
Reviewed by Niall Quinn,
Premier Movie Reviews
2002 |