1991.#65 / #74
Winner of 5 Academy Awards.
FBI recruit Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) interviews jailed serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to gain insight into a serial killer on the loose, "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine).
Eddie: Well, this film is great. I know I say that about pretty much every movie, but these are the hundred greatest American films here. There aren't going to be too many notable stinkers. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is undoubtedly Jodie Foster's best performance. (Sorry if I've offended any fans of the original FREAKY FRIDAY.) She deservedly took home the Oscar for Best Actress. The gem-like performance, of course, is Anthony Hopkins'. Hopkins spends only sixteen minutes onscreen (the second least screen-time for any Oscar-winning performance), yet he is the most memorable and recognizable part of the movie. The unrecognized spotlight of the movie belongs to Howard Shore, who composed the score. The film's music is chilling, hypnotic, and suspenseful.
Sarah: This is one of three films to win the big five Academy Awards, so you know it's worth checking out. I think what makes this a masterpiece instead of just another suspenseful horror is the complexity. With the help of Lecter, we get into a serial killer's mind, understanding his thoughts and motivation. Another layer of complexity is the Clarice/Hannibal relationship, which mirrors that of a mentor/student or a father/daughter. And if Lecter didn't have his... peculiarities, we'd want him to be our friend, too, because damn is he charming.
Why You Should See It: I'd say either the scene where we meet Hannibal Lecter or the scene where he breaks out of prison. You choose.
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