Hannibal (2001)

Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Julianne Moore, Anthony Hopkins, Giancarlo Giannini, Ray Liotta, Gary Oldman, Željko Ivanek, Frankie Faison, Francesca Neri, David Andrews. [R]

Much-hyped sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, adapted by David Mamet and Steven Zaillian from Thomas Harris’ follow-up novel, has oodles of sinister atmosphere and beautiful Florence scenery, but seems more interested in designing grotesqueries than crafting a juicy plot for them to inhabit. The unfocused particulars of the new adventures of cannibal serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (still played by Hopkins) and FBI agent Clarice Starling (recast with Moore taking over the role) keep them apart for most of the film; each is a little older, a little duskier, and still committed to that which they do best. As in the other Lecter stories, he’s not the prime antagonist, though—that label belongs to the disfigured Mason Verger (Oldman), a depraved Lecter survivor with a grudge that promises to end with someone getting devoured by hungry pigs (doesn’t it always?). And yet for such artsy camp that has man-hungry pigs—and disembowlings and exposed brains and so on—it’s an astonishingly inert showcase that bathes in its baroque atmosphere without delivering a real thrill or managing even a fraction of the ghoulish interest in two characters that paired so fantastically a decade prior; it sure ain’t a flaw in the recasting. Oldman went uncredited in the theatrical release, but his name was added in the home video editions. Followed by a prequel, Red Dragon.

54/100