Silence of the Lambs

This is the film that folks generally associate with Sir Anthony Hopkins, as Hannibal-the-Cannibal, Dr Lecter, Released in 1991.
Hopkins achieved his very first Oscar for Best Actor, at the age of 54.  The flick itself scooped up Oscar awards in all five classes. He achieved worldwide ticket office success, moving Anthony Hopkins to mythical standing and the final accomplishment of his boyhood dream to be a Hollywood star.

Thomas Harris's top selling novel of the same name was the muse for this motion picture, directed by Jonathan Demme. Hopkins plays the psychopathic serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter who is a lifer interned in a high security Baltimore jail for his detestable crimes ; carving up 9 folks, cooking and eating his favorite organs. Dr Lecter, takes pride in having once eaten the liver of a census taker with some fava beans and a pleasant cup of Chianti. Previously a respected psychiatrist, Dr Lecter is a perceptive, refined character, exuding wit, charm and ultimate control, making his seizures of violence more surprising to the spectator. A stunning well-crafted, modern suspense thriller where Hopkins gives a potent performance, opposite a similarly amazing Jodie Foster.

It's a dark film with the unsettling background music helping to build the part of suspense continuously, hard to watch on occasions with its ' upsetting scenes, yet very unlikely to switch off and an ending that leaves many doors open. A modern classic. It is difficult to credit Hopkins only has a total of sixteen mins film time in this motion picture but that's what Hopkins is so talented at, with him, less is unquestionably more.Jodie Foster plays the FBI fledgling agent who is allotted to a case to find another perilous serial killer who has kidnapped Catherine, the child of US Senator Ruth Martin.

Agent Starling is concerned to prove her worth to administrator Jack Crawford ( Scott Glenn ) and believing that Dr Lecter holds the clue to catch the killer, Buffalo Bill ( Ted Levine ), on the basis that 'it takes one to understand one ', she sets out on a voyage to try and gain Hannibal's trust, visiting him in the asylum. A deadly interchange and relationship develops between Dr Lecter and Clarice, one of mentor-student, where Lecter always has the advantage ironically, in spite of being in gaol.With the fascinating Clarice with her slow southern drawl embodying innocence and weakness with her determined persistence and aspiration to achieve success in her male controlled pro life.

Hopkins portrayal of the legendary Dr Lecter is most entertaining, he manages most convincingly to keep Lecter's grace in the solitary, spartan jail cell where he's confined for his terrifying crimes. His 'matter-of-fact ' air, smart sarcasm and charming charm enthralls as he slowly manipulates the young FBI cadet, always keeping ahead of her, digging deep into her psyche.Hopkins once expounded 'I am able to play monsters well. I understand monsters.

Lecter nevertheless guarantees Starling gets him the transfer he would like to new and better quarters with more liberty. Buffalo Bill, the serial killer sought by agent Starling.Dr Lecter was a previous doctor of this annoying personality. There's one special scene where you are sure to be on the fringe of your seat rooting for agent Clarice Starling as she's pursued by Buffalo Bill.

This film is the trilogy where Hopkins plays Dr Lecter, the other 2 being 'Hannibal ' ( 2001 ) and 'Red Dragon ' ( 2002 ), though 'Red Dragon ' was basically the first of the 3 books written by Thomas Harris in 1981 and the follow up being 'Silence of the Lambs ' published in 1988 and then 'Hannibal ' in 1999.