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The Silence of the Lambs

I once told my dad this was my comfort movie, his eyes widened and said "Get a new one..." LOL

What can I possibly say about this movie that hasn't already been said before. Incredible cinematography and direction. The use of direct eyesight to insinuate (more often then not) the intimidation Clarice feels being in her field surrounded by men. Short Clarice in the elevator with tall men, half of them staring. The iconography of butterflies throughout the movie. I seriously don't have that much to say because it is such a good adaptation and everyone knows it already.

The only thing I want in life is a quality white tee with "B 5160-8" printed on it. Gutted that this store doesn't deliver to the US!

I really enjoy reading tSotL's book to Stranger Things music. Here are my favorite tracks:

Bryan Fuller's

Hannibal

This is why you clicked this page, isn't it? LOL. My favorite TV show ever, and I'd say the best written out of anything else I like.

If you have not read the books yet, but love this TV show, I strongly encourage you to read the books. There are so. many. quotes. from the books. All four of them. They may be taken out of context (say, describing Clarice, when she's not in this show herself), but they are still used in excellent ways. You can tell the screenwriters were still so in love with Clarice and her adventures that they did their best to include the scenarios she was originally involved in. For example, Hannibal cutting open Will's forehead in front of Jack Crawford-- a scene that originally featured Paul Krendler and Clarice.

Favorite scene: S3E4 - Right after Will imagines the "alternate [best possible] world" where Will and Hannibal betray Jack Crawford: the scene when Will is working on a boat engine, melding metal together. The combination of music, slow motion, and micro-cinematography just gives me chills every single time.

Another scene I absolutely love is the long introduction to the Red Dragon in S3E8. This show knows it has two other adaptations that precede it. It knows that the Red Dragon is the fourth titan, among Buffalo Bill, Mason Verger, and, of course, Hannibal Lecter. The build up before this episode's opening animation, showing Dolarhyde with the magazine, getting a tattoo, getting dentures prepared, rigorously exercising, and worshiping William Blake's painting of The Great Red Dragon. *MWAH* chef's kiss.

Lastly, I theorize that before Hannibal was canceled, Fuller could have been planning a Miriam Lass vs. Chilton showdown mirroring Clarice and Buffalo Bill. Eventually I will post a page about my process writing fan fiction (in the format of screenplay to practice the medium) in how I imagine this scenario would go down. It's too detailed to be kept on this page LOL.

Manhunter

Steve Dain

First of all- I LOVE this movie. But, unfortunately I think this film's weak points are in Dolarhyde and Reba. Tom Noonan isn't very intimidating here -for me at least- nor does he give the Red Dragon interesting deliveries (something I think ends up working for him in the film Anomalisa, in which literally all supporting characters have his "boring" voice because the unreliable-narrator protagonist is apathetic to everyone but his love interest). And Manhunter doesn't give Joan Allen the focus she needs to really give us the touching and emotional side of Reba McClain-- outside of this film's Tiger Scene, of course.

On the other half, I really really love both betrayals of Graham and Lecter in this movie. Out of all actors for Hannibal Lecter, Bryan Cox's approach to Lecter is closest to how I imagine Lecter when I read the books themselves. And William Petersen delivers an excellent character who's focused on understanding the dark minds of others, while clouded in his understanding of himself. The scenes of William and Lecter conversing are outstanding to me.

While I don't think this film is critically/objectively the strongest title, it still holds a very special place in my heart. I can't explain it, but this movie makes me feel so manly LMAO. It's definitely something I channel when thinking of my future in transitioning to become a man. Maybe it's just because William Petersen in this movie reminds me so much of Steve Dain (last image) LOL.

But the main reason I love this film is for its photography and use of color and interior design. I'm a sucker for 80s noir.

moodboard

Red Dragon

And here is where I almost feel the opposite about Manhunter. In this movie, I actually find myself unimpressed with Edward Norton's Graham and, I'd hate to say it but, Anthony Hopkin's Lecter. I go back and forth on my opinions as Norton as an actor. I don't necessarily think he's a bad actor, I guess rather I think he's miscast in a lot of his roles. I thought he worked well in Fight Club because the point is that he's perceived more as a loser in contrast with Brad Pitt's character, but for some reason after that he kept getting roles of men meant to be powerful presences, and I just don't think he fills that (I think that's why he also worked out in Knives Out: Glass Onion). So unfortunately, this Will Graham falls short for me.

And as for Hopkins, I think something that really elevated him in tSotL is also the execution of direction, lights, and cinematography. It just feels like Brett Ratner (the director) didn't know the details of how to enhance Hopkins on set. Click the drop-down below to see what I mean.

Because of this, when I think of Red Dragon (2002), I really think of Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson. Absolute show stealers for me, really love their deliveries of Dolarhyde and Reba McClaine. The scene of Reba feeling out Dolarhyde's bathroom, blind to the broken mirror and dentures of Dolarhyde's grandmother (that he wears when he becomes The Dragon)! UGH! So good.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's Freddie Lounds is incredible, something about the way he slurs his words to portray a "I reeeally don't give a fuck about you, I just need your story for my job." really excellent details of mannerisms.

So to me, if I could stitch together my own movie adaptation of Red Dragon, it would have:

  • Petersen's Graham
  • Cox's Lecter
  • Fiennes' Dolarhyde
  • Watson's Reba
  • and Hoffman's Louds

THAT would make a bomb-ass Red Dragon movie to me.

tsotl vs red dragon

Silence of the Lambs

2 small light sources make sure the piercing irises of Hopkins' eyes are visible and magnetizing.

A soft under-glow makes it so that even though his face is hiddin in shadow, his eyes are still lit up. Him looking up from a tilted chin also gives an animalistic-preditory expression.

this harsh overhead light leaves his eye sockets hidden in the shadow of his brow, giving his face an almost skull-like look.

Red Dragon

No strong light source to make a statement, and his eyes have so many little lights and sparkles (something now associated with tearing up, or cuteness in animation) obscuring his irises and pupils.

His face hidden in shadow here could have been intimidating, but his eyes are lost and the fear-factor with them. Either a second source of light on his eyes, or his eyes being completely obscured in darkness, would be more unsettling.

This whole scene annoys me. Because its a flashback to "the good ol' days in the FBI", before Hannibal Lecter is discovered, the scene is given a warm tone. I can understand this decision, but lighting and atmosphere (at the very least camera angles) should have taken a drastic shift when Will realizes who, and what, Hannibal is. I'm not going to be scared when this warm tone makes me want to snuggle with a book...

Hannibal Rising

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Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis.

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Clarice

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Tempus leo eu aenean sed diam urna tempor. Pulvinar vivamus fringilla lacus nec metus bibendum egestas. Iaculis massa nisl malesuada lacinia integer nunc posuere. Ut hendrerit semper vel class aptent taciti sociosqu. Ad litora torquent per conubia nostra inceptos himenaeos. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque faucibus ex sapien vitae pellentesque sem placerat. In id cursus mi pretium tellus duis convallis.

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Hannibal (2001)

Hated this movie. Only saw it once and I'll never watch it again. I was going to say that Gary Oldman, one of the best actors of his generation, is the only redeeming feature, but his character has so much prosthetics that it almost feels like anyone could play this part.