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The greatest horror thriller ever made. Jonathan Demme’s psychological horror thriller The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is a masterclass in creative filmmaking, poignant acting, and striking visual storytelling. Demme directs The Silence of the Lambs with an eye for visual metaphors whether it’s FBI agent Clarice Starling, played by the endearing Jodie Foster, standing meekly as a short female FBI student among her tall male co-workers. Demme keeps you gripped by showing you crime evidence photos, realistic corpses of victims, cuts to the killer’s activities, and showing consultations with an infamous cannibal doctor. Demme’s direction is intriguing with a constant unnerving representation of killers or their victims. You are forced to follow Starling’s investigation into the brutal killings of a madman named Buffalo Bill. It’s a creative cinema masterpiece as it remains always entertaining and genuinely chilling. Howard Shore’s score is unsettling with subtle eerie melodies and soaring scary themes rushing around the gruesome crimes herein. Shore composes memorable music for The Silence of the Lambs that continues to frighten any audience that dares to view this classic movie. Notably, Jodie Foster gives her arguably her greatest performance in The Silence of the Lambs, and she was in Taxi Driver! Foster brings a sincere warmth, sympathetic trauma, inspiring gusto, and engaging intelligence to her role as Clarice Starling. She’s an ambitious and cool FBI woman with top ranking in her class and a desire to become a real FBI agent. I love how Foster depicts the investigative process as serious and rational, especially in the face of crazy, seemingly random killings. Foster finds Clarice’s earnest approach to communicating with a flesh craving cannibal and brings Clarice a clarity of conscious and morality that is fascinating in every scene. I appreciate Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs more with each viewing of Jonathan Demme’s iconic film. Of course, most remember Sir Anthony Hopkins in his groundbreaking performance as serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter also known as Hannibal the Cannibal. Hopkins never blinks to throw you off balance in his imposing staring portrayal is simply marvelously creepy. Hopkins boasts a frightening stocky stature and suddenly violent physicality to his Hannibal that makes his Lecter even scarier than Brian Cox’s archetypal portrayal back in Michael Mann’s Manhunter. Hopkins plays the psychological torture by the doctor’s words toying with Clarice to perfection. He is curious and cruel with malicious intent and shocking again and again. Hopkins will never not scare me anytime I see him as Hannibal Lecter. I should mention Scott Glenn is great as the FBI head Jack Crawford. His accidental sexism is beautifully portrayed by the nuanced Glenn. He is steadfast as a lawman, but always belittles Clarice, while encouraging her work. It’s an interesting bit of acting and writing for an interesting character. Anthony Heald is so slimy and creepy and the sadistic narcissist Dr. Frederick Chilton. Last, but surely not least, Ted Levine is absolutely terrifying as the serial killer Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb. His feminine body language, effeminate voice, lithe appearance, brutal physicality, crafty killing, and playful attitude all culminate in the vicious atrocity of Buffalo Bill’s character. Levine plays up the fact that Bill thinks he’s a transsexual so well that you are fearful of his sudden changes in personality and masculinity. He embodies both masculine and feminine traits, thus creating a nebulous figure in Buffalo Bill. His character can be anyone and that’s what makes him so scary. Levine’s acting during the “tuck” scene as well as while meeting Clarice is just wonderful acting. Ted Levine is more versatile than I feel critics and audiences are willing to give him credit for as Levine is every bit a monstrous and scary as Hopkins’ Hannibal. Overall, The Silence of the Lambs demands to be seen and will haunt you forever after witnessing all its glorious filmmaking and stunning crime.Read full review
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Silence of the Lambs is one of my favorite films despite being labled a "horror film." For squemish folks like myself, the good thing is that almost all the gruesome stuff depicted occured offscree. What's left is a taut, well-directed & well-acted thriller. It's amazing how the laid back Hopkins could protray such menace and evil.. For those used to the dvd, you'll be amazed at the uptiick in detail and depth of the blu ray.. This recommended disc is definitely worth the upgraeee.
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The Criterion Collection Blu-ray of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is outstanding! The 4K digital restoration is worth seeing! Criterion has given THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS the Blu-ray treatment it deserves, seeing as this is one of America's greatest movies of all time! Highly recommended!
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A genuine frightening classic, The Silence of the Lambs uses every minute of its runtime to engage and bewilder us. Now we can let it enrapture us all over again in glorious 4K no less. Alongside some fresh bonus materials we finds everything from previous releases and all of this housed in a beautiful keep case with booklet. This is the ultimate edition every Silence fan ought to have
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Followed by Michael Mann's Manhunter, Demme's Silence of the Lambs remains the best of the Hannibal Lecter films.
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