Monday Minute – Hannibal Lecter

I was talked into watching all the movies about Hannibal Lecter, so over the last couple of weeks I watched them. Some were good, some were not so good.

Silence of the Lambs

Released: 1991     Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%     IMDB Score: 8.7

The FBI needs Hannibal Lecter’s help again to find a serial killer. 3rd in timeline.
Silence of the Lambs is listed as number 74 in AFI’s 100 Greatest Films.

Grade: A

Hannibal

Released: 2001     Rotten Tomatoes Score: 39%     IMDB Score: 6.4

Hannibal is on the loose. Clarice tries to hunt him down. One of Lecter’s victims tries to kill him. 4th in timeline.

Grade: C+

Red Dragon

Released: 2002     Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%     IMDB Score: 7.3

The FBI needs Hannibal Lecter’s help to hunt down a serial killer. Features several strong performances. 2nd in timeline.

Grade: B+

Hannibal Rising

Released: 2007     Rotten Tomatoes Score: 16%     IMDB Score: 6.0

Showcases Lecter’s childhood and early adult life. Incredibly boring. Does not have Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal. 1st in timeline.

Grade: C-

The Boondock Saints

Director:
Troy Duffy

Writer:
Troy Duffy

Cast:
Sean Patrick Flanery as Connor McManus
Normas Reedus as Murphy McManus
David Della Rocco as “Funny Man” Rocco
Willem Dafoe as Paul Smecker

Released: 2000
Studio: Indican
Box Office: $30,471

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 17%
IMDB Score: 7.9

Date Seen: September 7, 2009
Format: DVD

This movie is the definition of a cult classic. A film that was ignored in theaters and panned by the critics that later is discovered on DVD. I had heard about The Boondock Saints several years ago, but I just now got around to watching it. I’m glad that I waited until now. I think that I would have liked it, but I don’t think that I would have understood it if I had seen it a couple of years ago. Before I would have just thought it was a cool action flick, but now I realize that it is a study of what is wrong with our justice system and to what lengths righteous men would have to go to fix the shortcomings. I think this is epitomized by the tattoos on the brother’s hands, “Veritas” and “Aequitas”. Which mean truth and equity.

It’s about the McManus brothers who got into a bar fight with a couple of members of the Russian Mob. The mobsters come after them the next morning and the brothers end up killing them. They then have an epiphany that they should rid the city of all the scumbags. Willem Dafoe is the FBI agent brought in to investigate their killings. He eventually finds out the brothers are responsible, but decides to help them go after the mob boss instead of arresting them.

I liked this movie. The action was over-the-top and I could tell that it was shot with a limited budget, but it was an enjoyable film and very funny in parts. The two actors that played the McManus brothers did a good job and I really liked their Irish accents, but Willem Dafoe stole the show.

Favorite Performance:
Willem Dafoe as Paul Smecker

Favorite Quote:
McManus brothers: And shepherds we shall be, for thee my Lord for thee, Power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command, we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nomine patris, et fili, et spiritus sancti.

Grade:
A-

Recommendation:
See it.

I Love You, Man

Director:
John Hamburg

Writers:
John Hamburg and Larry Levin

Cast:
Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven
Jason Segel as Sidney Fife
Rashida Jones as Zooey

Released: 2009
Studio: Paramount
Box Office: $71,440,011

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
IMDB Score: 7.5

Date Seen: August 27, 2009
Format: Blu-ray

This was one of the few times that I didn’t like a movie as much the second time I saw it. When I saw I Love You, Man the first time in the theater, I thought it was one of the better comedies of recent years. But this time, I just didn’t think it was as funny. But by no means would I say it was not funny. Certain parts still had me laughing out loud, it’s just overall I didn’t think the film was as strong. I did feel a connection with Peter Klaven. I noticed several similarities between his personality and my own. We particularly connect with our love of the band Rush and the TV show Lost.

It’s about real estate agent Peter Klaven and the fact that he has no real guy friends. He goes on several “man dates” with different people. He then meets Sidney at an open house and they hit it off and become friends. Typical rom-com hi-jinks happen, Sidney gets between Peter and his fiancee, but they reconcile and all’s well that ends well. Although there is nothing wrong with a movie that follows a typical Hollywood formula. It’s all about how the movie portrays the little things. I have to say that I Love You, Man gets most of the little things right. The characters are believable and the situations they are put in are realistic.

Paul Rudd and Jason Segel play their usual characters and do a good job. The scenes with Jaime Pressly and Jon Favreau are priceless. I was only disappointed with Rashida Jones’s performance. I didn’t like her in The Office, and I didn’t like her in this movie.

Favorite Performance:
Jason Segel as Sidney Fife

Favorite Quote:
Peter Klaven: Slapping the bass! Slappa da bass! Slappa da bass mon! Slappa de bass mon!

Grade:
B

Recommendation:
See it if you want a good laugh.

Inglourious Basterds

Director:
Quentin Tarantino

Writer:
Quentin Tarantino

Cast:
Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Rayne
Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa
Melanie Laurent as Soshanna Dreyfus
Eli Roth as Sgt. Donny Donowitz
Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark

Released: 2009
Studio: Weinstein
Box Office: $73,022,841 (as of 8/30/09)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
IMDB Score: 8.7

Date Seen: August 25, 2009
Format: Theater

I rescind my previous statement about The Hurt Locker being the best film of the year. This movie was amazing. It was incredibly humorous and witty and brilliantly violent. Quentin Tarantino provides us with one of his finest films.

Tarantino threw the history books out of the window when he was making this movie. I like his version much better. Pitt is the leader of a small fighting force dropped behind enemy lines with only one objective, “killin’ Nazi’s”. They don’t take prisoners and don’t treat the enemy with any kind of respect. I guess in this version, the Geneva Convention never happened. But they act exactly as they need to act to survive.

I was surprised that a large portion of the movie did not feature the Basterds. A central character to the overall plot is Soshanna, a jewish girl who survived a raid by Col. Landa and has now assumed a new identity and owns a theater in Paris. Much of the middle part is about her. Those scenes and the first part of the scene in the pub, are the only parts of the movie that seem to drag. Although, I do see their importance to the story.

My favorite part of the film, and one that I wish more would do, is the fact that it was shot on film, and not digitally. It gives the movie a grainy feel, but still with rich and vibrant colors. Since most theaters now have digital projectors, they inserted the sound of and old film projector that can barely be heard in the background.

The acting was marvelous. Brad Pitt was spectacular. He gives quite possibly the best Italian accent I’ve ever heard. Cristoph Waltz should get an Oscar nod for his performance. I’m amazed at how he made his character seem intelligent, calculated, sophisticated, and gentlemanly, but also insane, mad, and delightfully evil all at the same time.

I think I have to agree with Lt. Raine that this might be Tarantino’s “masterpiece.”

Favorite Performance:
Cristoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa

Favorite Quote:
Lt. Aldo Raine: You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin’.

Grade:
A

Recommendation:
See it now. See it later. Buy it when it comes out on DVD. Watch it on TV. All of the above.