Plot: What’s it about?
Well deserving of it’s 1992 Best Picture award, this is the story of Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI cadet in training who is trying to solve a case of a serial killer. Sounds run of the mill, doesn’t it? What is so gripping about this movie is that the characters are some that you actually care about. Jodie Foster is in her best role, as far as I’m concerned. Also, stars Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter) and Scott Glenn (Jack Crawford) as Clarice’s instructor.
This movie, obviously, is a psychological thiller and delivers. Clarice is recruited to join an ivestigation involving a mysterious rash of murders of whom they know is named “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine). What the FBI can’t get is the help of imprisioned psychairist, Hannibal Lecter…that’s where Clarise comes in.
Forming an unlikely “friendship”, Lecter provides the FBI (Starling) with the evidence that they need (or does he) to catch the killer.
Words really can’t describe this movie, as it is one you will just have to see. The plot is simple, but yet you have to pay attention to details or you may get lost. A strong plot and great acting will make this one to remember…and own!
Video: How does it look?
This is dual-layered, but not 16:9 enhanced (which Criterion has just recently started doing). The picture is crisp and clear, but the film is starting to show it’s age. Still, there are quite a few darker scenes and they look not too bad. The outdoor scenes suffer only lightly from artifacting. All in all, the best available copy out there. I detected a layer switch around the 30:00 minute mark? Oh well, I could be wrong.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original sound mix was in Dolby Surround, and since Criterion doesn’t believe in “messing” with the sound, that’s what we get. This is mainly a movie driven by plot and dialogue, but surround effects are used occasionally. A nice, even mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
For true fans of the movie (and I am one), a feature lenght commentary with director, Jonathan Demme, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins adds to the splendor of this movie. There are also quite a few deleted scenes, most of which are just extentions of scenes alredy in the movie. Also included is a storyboard compairison and an FBI crime classification manual. A lot of extras for a great movie. You’ll get your money’s worth out of this…
