I was sad to hear of Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme's passing today at 73.
Perhaps my best tribute would be to reprint the retrospective I wrote back in 2011 for the 20th anniversary of
The Silence of the Lambs, for my money still the most frightening and expertly crafted thriller ever made.
Originally published February 14, 2011
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Jonathan Demme's
The Silence of the Lambs, arguably the greatest psychological thriller ever made.
The film opened on February 14, 1991 (yes, Valentine's Day) to favorable reviews, featured two respected actors (Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster) and was based on a bestselling novel. But it's a safe bet that nobody entering the theater that weekend had even the slightest inkling of just what they were in for the next two hours.
Lambs tells the story of Clarice Starling (Foster), a young FBI recruit who is plucked from training in Quantico to interview incarcerated serial killer Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Hopkins) in hopes of obtaining a psychological profile on serial killer Buffalo Bill (aptly named for the hide he collects from his victims) before he strikes again.
A psychiatrist in public life, Lecter is more interested in analyzing Starling than being any help to the FBI. But the fresh-face trainee proves to be a worthy adversary and eventually earns the respect and affection of Lecter who begins to throw little morsels of clues her way on just who Buffalo Bill might be.
As Starling follows the trail, Lecter's knowledge soon comes to the attention of a U.S. senator who believes Bill is behind the abduction of her daughter. Lecter agrees to provide more information but only to the senator in person. Soon he is transported to her home state for a face-to-face where Lecter sets in motion his elaborate plan for escape.
From its deft screenplay by Ted Tally, chilling score by Howard Shore, atmospheric photography by Tak Fujimoto and unflinching direction by Demme,
Lambs perfectly balances crime, suspense and horror, enveloping you in a world few films of its type ever have. From Lecter's cell block to Buffalo Bill's lair, the film oozes such a raw creepiness that it holds you spellbound - mouth agape, heart in your throat - for the entire 118-minute running time. You want to to look away but you can't.
As masterfully crafted as the film is, it's the two lead performances that make it a film for the ages.
From her backwoods drawl to her youthful persistence, Foster embodies Starling heart and soul. She is our virgin eyes through this terrible world and we desperately need her to guide us to the light. At the beginning, Starling is just a raw recruit looking to make her dead father proud. By the end, she is a battle-tested veteran who's experienced things not even the most seasoned of agents could have ever imagined.
Hopkins' Lecter is quite simply the most terrifying and unsettling character in screen history. His evil is a subtle, refined one - cool, underlying, manipulative. You feel if you look or listen to him too long he'll have you doing things you never thought yourself capable of. But the character is so engaging and original that even as he's leaving a trail of carnage you can't help but root for him.
The Silence of the Lambs became a worldwide phenomenon, grossing more the $270 million and earning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay, the last film to sweep in all the top categories. The film spawned a sequel and two prequels but none of them came even close to duplicating the magic of the original.
So grab some fava beans and a nice Chianti, cuddle up with your Valentine and spend the evening with Hannibal and Clarice. (Yeah, my wife wouldn't go for it either.)
