Travis Simpkins: Anthony Hopkins

Showing posts with label Anthony Hopkins. Show all posts

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Chaplin (1992): Robert Downey Jr. Becomes Charlie Chaplin

When Robert Downey Jr. was cast to play Charlie Chaplin in a Biopic about the beloved filmmaker, there was a lot of skepticism. Prior to 1992, Downey was mainly known for his supporting work in some relatively low-brow 80's movies. The resulting film, Chaplin (1992), directed by Richard Attenborough and written by William Goldman, showed a level of maturity in Robert Downey's acting that wowed everyone, and admiration for his work continues to grow at the present. The film is a loving tribute to Chaplin and captures his life in stylish form. The supporting cast is excellent... Anthony Hopkins, Moira Kelly, Milla Jovovich, Diane Lane, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Rhys... and Chaplin's daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, plays the part of her own grandmother in an inspired bit of casting.

The film follows the life of Charles Chaplin from his life in England (the workhouse, his mother's insanity) and burgeoning stage career in Vaudeville. Chaplin comes to America and ventures west, first to Montana, then to Los Angeles, California where Hollywood is in it's infancy. Fascinated by the possibilities of the new art form, Chaplin immerses himself in movies. He creates his lovable trademark character, "the Tramp" and begins...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

first in small roles...

Chaplin. 1992

then larger ones, starring in dozens of Silent Comedies within the first couple years...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

Eventually he becomes a director and starts his own Film Company, builds his own studio, and forms United Artists with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

A lot of time is devoted to the women in Charlie's life...

Chaplin. 1992: Moira Kelly

He married several times...

Chaplin. 1992: Milla Jovovich

Chaplin meets J. Edgar Hoover and they become immediate enemies, forming a feud that lasts for the rest of their lives... Fittingly, much of the story is dedicated to Chaplin's dedication and love for the film making process...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

and gives glimpses of his sets, costumes, editing and composing techniques...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

Chaplin was a great Artist and led a big, inspired life...

Chaplin. 1992: Robert Downey, Jr.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Red Dragon (2002): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

Based on the very first "Hannibal Lecter" book by Thomas Harris, Red Dragon (2002) was actually the third in the film series to be made. The story had previously been adapted for the screen in 1986, as Manhunter, with lackluster results. With Red Dragon, young director Brett Ratner had some tough shoes to fill in the franchise, with his predecessors being Jonathan Demme and Ridley Scott. Ratner, who was primarily known for action films, did an admirably restrained job, letting the actors carry the film on their own ability. And the actors are great... including Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Hannibal Lecter, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) finds himself is a precarious situation. Having caught the ex-psychiatrist cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter several years ago, and being nearly killed by the madman, Graham is called out of retirement to help catch a new killer. The new fiend is elusive, has already killed two families is gruesome fashion and is due to strike again at any time. Graham knows that he needs to consult Dr. Lecter on the case...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

But the horrific memories make communication traumatic for him...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

Nevertheless, Lecter's expertise, though difficult, is one of the FBI's greatest tools...

Red Dragon. 2002: Edward Norton

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins

and may prove useful in catching the killer, who uses his victims for transformation and calls himself "The Red Dragon"...

Red Dragon. 2002: Ralph Fiennes

before it is too late...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

Hannibal (2001): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore

When the film, The Silence of the Lambs (1991), based on Thomas Harris' novel was released, audiences were already anticipating his follow up book. It would be another eight years before Harris completed it. During those interim years, The Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme, and the co-stars Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins all expressed their intent to participate in the sequel film. The resulting film, Hannibal (2001), based on Harris' new novel, ended up only having Hopkins return to reprise his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter. Both Demme and Foster declined due to the gory nature of the material. Demme was replaced by director Ridley Scott, and Foster was replaced by Julianne Moore in the role of FBI agent Clarice Starling. Decidedly different from it's predecessor, and naturally criticized because of it, the reception was somewhat mixed, though Hannibal did break some box office records (surely because of the high anticipation level). Reception aside, the film has a very stylish aesthetic and some particularly intriguing production locales... for example, the scenes shot in Florence, Italy are so beautiful, it makes one wish that the whole film had been made there.

Having escaped from custody, brilliant ex-psychiatrist, cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has successfully eluded capture for eight years...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

He is currently residing in Florence, Italy under an assumed name, hoping to be appointed the new curator of the Capponi Library, a position made vacant by an academic who disappeared under "mysterious circumstances"...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) has not stopped looking for Lecter during those eight years, however...

Hannibal. 2001: Julianne Moore

Neither has Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), a victim of Lecter, left disfigured many years ago. Verger, an extremely wealthy man, has a standing reward offered for Lecter's capture. He wants Lecter alive, though, so that he can be tortured and Verger can enjoy his gory revenge...

Hannibal. 2001: Gary Oldman

When Lecter's whereabouts is discovered, Clarice Starling is on a mission to get to Lecter before Verger does...

Hannibal. 2001: Julianne Moore

But Lecter will not be caught easily...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

and has some plans of his own...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster

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...

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...

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)...

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"...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins

Lecter's information, though intellectually disguised, does prove useful...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins

and Clarice Starling finds herself closer... much closer... terrifyingly closer... to catching Buffalo Bill...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Alexander (2004): Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie and Rosario Dawson. Alexander the Great

Co-written and directed by Oliver Stone, Alexander (2004) is a much better film than some would lead you to believe. Although the theatrical release was a bore and tanked at the box office, Oliver Stone made amends in his revisions, and subsequent cuts of the film are much more cohesive and entertaining. Epic in length and scale, the battle scenes and CGI work are amazing. Alexander the Great and his far-reaching ancient conquests are brought to life in style… battles, pillaging and all. The costumes and sets are well-designed, even down to the golden leaf crown worn by Philip of Macedonia that has caused so much provenance, restitution and looting debate in recent years. Angelina Jolie is ravishing as Queen Olympias. Rosario Dawson is sultry as Roxana. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great, Jared Leto, Val Kilmer, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Plummer and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.