Movie #3: Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs: worth the hype

At #74 on the AFI list, Silence of the Lambs remains in my short list of most disturbing movies ever (Requiem For a Dream is at the top). It is a different sort of scary movie in its realism and its psychotics: Hannibal Lecter (played absolutely brilliantly by Sir Anthony Hopkins) and Buffalo Bill (played by Ted Levine) don't look like traditional slasher types like Michael Meyers or Jason Voorhees. I decided to pick this movie up around Halloween and gave it a watch. Here are my notes:

1) Just before Starling goes to see Lecter the first time, when Chilton says “you might have suggested this in my office, saved me the time” and she responds “yes, but then I wouldn’t have the pleasure of your company” shows a brief tongue-in-cheek moment, and a demonstration of her personal strength and character. It's Jodie Foster at her best.

2) Wonder what the auditions were like for the inmates…Miggs’ “I can smell your c---” line must have required a few reads-through, right? (by the way, Lecter'ss “I,myself, cannot” is the most underrated line in the movie)

3) Our first look at Lecter with the imposing music builds him up perfectly. The wide eyes in the first close-up…stunning. There are few times in the movies where the anticipation is handed off to pure dread and fear, rather than being scared.

Hair's are raising on my neck just searching for this picture...

4) For as famous as it is, the fava beans and Chianti line comes out only 20 minutes into the movie...sort of a big gun to bring so early. Still, a witty character, this Doctor Lecter.

5) The autopsy scene is particularly gross. As they turn the victim over, it unlocks a piece of the puzzle…which uncoincidentally kick-started my hatred for bugs. Woof.

6) The newscaster on TV who announces that victim in well…bellhop from That Thing You Do?/father/principal from Dawson’s Creek? (Update: Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, Obba Babatunde!)

7) What makes this a scary movie is that it is truly a disturbing movie…the “its rubs the lotion on its skin” scene is nuts, particularly when it reaches its climax of Katherine screaming as she sees the blood and such on the wall of the well. Just an avalanche of disturbia.

8) Lecter is tremendously charismatic, if offensive and erotic. Looks like an uber-creepy Bing Crosby…or Frank Gorshin.

9) Dr. Chilton is undoubtedly one of the most unlikeable characters in cinematic history.

10) Lt. Boyle, security guard, was also in…(update: RAMBO! He's Murdock! Also part of the innuendo sequence in the second Austin Powers movie. Thanks, IMDB.)

11) If it’s more possible to be as stylish and as brutal, I’d like to see it. You certainly don’t in anything this side of Talented Mr. Ripley.

12) "Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus is a pretty sweet song. Speaking of the tuck scene, all I can think of is David Lee Roth. I'm not THAT far off, am I? Also, nice ring collection.

Diamond Dave would never tuck.

13) The dead body in the bathtub was gross, of course. I’m not sure if it was more disturbing than, say, the fatsuit of skin that Clarice sees before her pursuit of Buffalo Bill in his basement. Again, the lack of corn syrup being sprayed all over the place makes this movie SO frightening.

14) Buffalo Bill in those night-vision goggles could have been stunt-doubled by Craig T. Nelson.

From a psychological and chill factor's perspective, Silence of the Lambs stacks up against any movie in history, in my opinion. Verdict: Fantastic.