Red Dragon (2002)

Directed by Brett Ratner. Starring Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Watson, Harvey Keitel, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary-Louise Parker, Anthony Heald, Frank Whaley. [R]

Hopkins’ third go-around as the notorious Hannibal Lecter is a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs, based on the Thomas Harris novel that first introduced the character, with most of the major script revisions fulfilling an unspoken obligation to give Lecter a more central role and impact on the narrative. Story details retired FBI profiler Will Graham (Norton), who’s lured back into service to thwart a sociopathic serial killer known as “The Tooth Fairy” (Fiennes), and his consultations with imprisoned Lecter for insight into the killer’s psychology and methods. The shadow of Lambs hangs over these proceedings as much as the earlier sequel (Hannibal), with a gratuitous epilogue introducing an eye-rolling segue between both stories, and a performance from Hopkins that borders on camp parody at times while playing into audience expectations (a good sport, that one). The most effective scenes often involve sleazy tabloid reporter Hoffman, and the chilling “relationship” that blossoms between Fiennes’ deeply disturbed killer and a blind co-worker played with restrained sensitivity by Watson. Previously filmed in 1986 as Michael Mann’s Manhunter, but comparisons are unfavorable even though nearly every major role in the new version is filled by a more accomplished actor; the chief failing (besides déjà vu) is that director Ratner simply doesn’t have Mann’s instincts or stylistic control. Norton’s gifts are underused, and Parker (playing his wife) is a non-entity until the script decides the movie needs a potential victim with built-in sympathy. Last Lecter film to date with Hopkins in the role, though another movie prequel would be produced a few years later: Hannibal Rising.

62/100