“Bowels in or bowels out?”
The Return of Dr. Lecter: A Sequel Ten Years in the Making

When Jonathan Demme declined to direct the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis began searching for a new director. After David Mamet's initial script was heavily rewritten by Steven Zaillian, Ridley Scott signed on to direct. Though Jodie Foster passed on reprising her role as Clarice Starling, Anthony Hopkins agreed to return as Dr. Lecter, with Julianne Moore stepping in as the new Clarice. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue the Hannibal Lecter series with a conversation about Hannibal.

Serving Up a Fresh Take on a Beloved Character

The film attempts to expand Hannibal Lecter from supporting player to lead character, which proves both successful and problematic. While Hopkins delivers another captivating performance, the story struggles to maintain the psychological depth of its predecessor. The controversial change to the book's ending and the treatment of Clarice Starling's character spark considerable debate between us about whether these alterations helped or hurt the final product.

Key Ingredients in This Gothic Feast

The Florence sequences featuring Lecter as Dr. Fell provide some of the film's strongest moments
Gary Oldman's unrecognizable turn as Mason Verger feels underutilized
Hans Zimmer's score effectively enhances the mood
The film's pacing issues and action sequences draw criticism
Ray Liotta's performance and character arc culminate in one of the more memorable scenes

Final Verdict

Though Hannibal successfully grossed over $350 million worldwide, we find it a significant step down from The Silence of the Lambs. While the film has moments of grotesque beauty and maintains Hopkins' magnetic presence as Lecter, the muddled story and uneven pacing ultimately result in a disappointing follow-up. With Pete liking this more than Andy but still struggling largely with the adaptation, we see this as a missed opportunity to further develop these iconic characters. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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