Plot: What’s it about?
The 90’s brought us some great films. And though it might be argued which are great and which are truly great, well that’s a debate that has no definitive answer. Some of my personal favorites from the decade are GoodFellas, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Shawshank Redemption and, of course, The Silence of the Lambs. Based on Thomas Harris’s novel, this wasn’t the first time we’d seen the character of Hannibal Lecter on screen – that honor falls to 1986’s Manhunter (starring William Petersen). The film would also spawn two sequels: Hannibal in 2001 and Red Dragon the next year. There is now a television series simply entitles Hannibal. Suffice it to say that Dr. Lecter has been around for over thirty years. But this film is the one that gets all the attention and rightfully so. It’s a study in how to make nearly the perfect film. Great performances, directing and writing all culminate to this. This is film in its most pristine form.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is in the midst of her FBI training when she’s chosen to help out with a high-profile case. There’s a serial killer on the loose that goes by the moniker “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine) who skins his victims. In an effort to catch him, Special Agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) selects Starling to interrogate and already imprisoned serial killer – Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Believing it to be a dead end, Crawford figures that the presence of a female might be able to assist with the investigation. The two play a game of psychological cat and mouse, but will Lecter’s assistance be too little too late?
It might be argued that The Silence of the Lambs might be one of the most perfect films to come out of Hollywood in the last four decades. There’s nothing to dislike and features strong performances from every character in the cast. Apart from that, it’s also a very strong feminist film with the character of Clarice Starling having to prove herself time and again in a male-dominated society. Foster once remarked that “Jonathan Demme is my favorite feminine director” in that some of his better films have revolved around strong female leads (Silence, Rachel Getting Married and Beloved to name a few). Sadly Demme passed away at the age of 73 in 2017.
Video: How’s it look?
There’s an existing version of this film issued by Criterion that came out in 2018 and it looked great. There’s also a 4K version put out by Kino in 2021 that improved on that image quality. Well, now we’ve got the “best of both worlds” and find that Criterion has gone back and given this film a proper 4K transfer. This edition of The Silence of the Lambs offers a noticeable improvement over the 2018 Blu-ray, building upon the earlier release with a 4K-scan-based restoration with a new 4K presentation featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10. The added resolution brings out finer textural details in the film’s 35mm photography, from facial features and clothing to the production design, while the natural film grain remains intact. HDR expands the range of highlights and shadow detail, giving the film’s frequently dimly lit interiors and subterranean settings greater depth without sacrificing the deliberately subdued visual palette. Skin tones remain natural, and the improved contrast lends additional dimensionality to Tak Fujimoto’s cinematography. The 2018 Blu-ray remains a solid presentation in its own right, but the new 4K transfer delivers the more refined, nuanced image, making this a worthwhile upgrade for fans looking to experience this acclaimed thriller in its best home-video presentation to date.
Audio: How’s it sound?
To compliment the video, we’ve got a DTS HD Master Audio soundtrack that manages to stand on its own. The film has never been an audio powerhouse, but this 5.1 mix does have a few instances in which is really shines. Vocals, an important part of this (and, well, every) film are crisp and pure. Just hearing the “fava beans…” line sends chills down my spine. Surrounds are used sparingly, yet efficiently but the front stage supports the vast majority of the film. It’s a strong, well-balanced mix that’s sure to please. Absolutely no complaints here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Criterion’s presentation of the film spans three discs with the feature being on the first and second disc as well as a smattering of supplements and the third disc is purely supplemental material.
Disc One (4K)
Disc Two (Blu-ray)
- Audio Commentary – Recorded in 1994, this is the same track that’s been featured on previous DVD’s and Blu-ray’s. It was no-brainer to include it and it’s a shame that a new one wasn’t recorded prior to Demme’s passing. Still, even if you’ve heard this one before, it’s a bit sparce and screen specific, but it’s a nice inclusion to have nonetheless.
- Deleted Scenes – Nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes are presented and though the quality varies (and is certainly not up to the standard set by the feature film), these are nice to have included.
- Maitland McDonagh – This feature, produced exclusively for this Criterion Blu-ray release in 2017, features film critic Maitland McDonagh as she explores the cultural fascination with serial killers and, more to the point, The Silence of the Lambs.
- Theatrical Trailer
Disc Three (Blu-ray)
- Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster – A 2005 documentary is presented in three parts. Produced by Laurent Bouzereau, this features interviews with actor Jodie Foster and director Jonathan Demme.
- Inside the Labyrinth – This 2001 documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz features interviews with director Jonathan Demme, actors Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins; screenwriter Ted Tally; production designer Kristi Zea; editor Craig McKay; studio executive Mike Medavoy; producer Ron Bozman; costume designer Colleen Atwood; Demme’s mentor Roger Corman, who has a cameo in the film; and many others.
- Page to Screen – As featured in the 2002 Bravo television show, this features key members of the film’s cast and crew discussing Thomas Harris’s source novel and the production.
- Scoring “The Silence” – An interview with the film’s composer Howard Shore. This is circa 2004.
- Understanding the Madness – This program, made in 2008, features interviews with retired FBI agents Richard L. Ault Jr., Roger L. Depue, James R. Fitzgerald, Robert R. Hazelwood, R. Stephen Mardigian, and Michael R. Napier.
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette – The “oldest” feature on the disc dates all the way back to 1991, the year of the film’s release, and is a pretty standard look at the film. Featuring interviews with the cast, it’s a straight-forward look at the film, its influences and inter-spliced with some scenes from the film.
- Storyboards – I’ve never been much for storyboards, but if you are then there are plenty of them to choose from, in varying forms of “completion.”
- Illustrated Booklet – The only real “new” supplement here is an essay by critics Caden Mark Gardner and Willow Catelyn Maclay titled Reckoning with Jame Gumb. It examines the film’s portrayal of transgender identity and its treatment of the character, an aspect of the film that has drawn criticism over the years.
The Bottom Line
This is one of three films to win the “Big Five” Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay) – the other two are It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. If, for some reason, you’ve never seen Silence, by all means stop what you’re doing and go get it. This is the preferred version, but find it on demand…whatever! Just watch it!
