Based on Thomas Harris' brilliant 1988 novel of the same name, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) became only the third film in history to sweep the Academy Awards (after It Happened One Night (1934), and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), picking up every major Oscar that year. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it is consistently listed amongst the greatest American Films of all time, and has a devoted following. Part of what makes The Silence of the Lambs so intriguing is it's ability to pull the viewer into the story, making the tension and uneasiness seem all the more real. This is accomplished by way of a simple cinematic technique in which the actors frequently look directly at the camera, engaging the audience, and adding a personal element. Jodie Foster is excellent as Clarice Starling, and Ted Levine is expertly disturbing as Buffalo Bill... but indeed, it is Anthony Hopkins who steals the show as Hannibal Lecter. In his portrayal of Lecter, Hopkins created one of the most iconic, terrifying, intriguing and bizarrely admirable screen villains of all time. The Silence of the Lambs is a masterpiece all around, and deserves every iota of it's acclaim.
FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is taken away from her schooling by her boss Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) and given a strange task... |
| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster |
Crawford sends Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an incarcerated ex-psychiatrist, cannibalistic serial killer with soul-crushing perception, intellect and brilliance...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins |
Lecter toys with Starling, speaking cryptically in riddles, until the true reason for her being sent to him is revealed...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins |
The FBI needs Lecter's help, advice and expertise in order to catch a new brutal serial killer known to them only as "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine)...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Buffalo Bill |
Lecter agrees, but insists that Clarice Starling provide him with information about her personal life in exchange for his information about the case, "quid pro quo"...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins |
Lecter's information, though intellectually disguised, does prove useful...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins |
and Clarice Starling finds herself closer... much closer... terrifyingly closer... to catching Buffalo Bill...
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| The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster |
