Hannibal (2001)

Release date: 2001-02-09
Country: USA|UK|Italy
Language: English|Italian|Japanese
Director: Ridley Scott
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentiis Company
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rating: 6.8/10
Length: 2h 11min

Storyline

The final chapter of the Dr. Hannibal Lecter quadrilogy, the murdering cannibal. He is presently in Italy, and works as a curator at a museum. Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore), the F.B.I. Agent who he aided to apprehend a serial killer, was placed in charge of an operation, but when one of her men botches it, she's called to the mat by the Bureau. One high ranking official, Paul Krendler (Ray Liotta) has it in for her. But she gets a reprieve because Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), one of Lecter's victims who is looking to get back at Lecter for what Lecter did to him, wants to use Starling to lure him out. When Lecter sends her a note, she learns that he's in Italy, so she asks the Police to keep an eye out for him. But a corrupt Policeman, who wants to get the reward that Verger placed on him, tells Verger where he is, but they fail to get him. Later, Verger decides to frame Starling, which makes Lecter return to the U.S., and the race to get Lecter begins.

Plot Keywords

italy, returning character with different actor, blood splatter, villain played by lead actor, exposed brain, violence, haunted by the past, woman in jeopardy, human monster, female agent, criminal mastermind, german shepherd, fbi, revenge, serial killer, police, reward, cannibal, snowglobe, hit by a car

Short Review

Hannibal doesn't seem to be about anything but its own swank decadence. Hopkins, with his reedy voice and effete airs, is still quite delicious in the part that won him an Oscar. But 10 years later, Lecter has become more camp than terrifying.