I recently happened to see Michael Mann's movie Manhunter, which is based on Thomas Harris' novel 'Red Dragon.' Any comparison with the latter movie is a foregone conclusion for three good reasons:
1. Ralph Fiennes.
2. Edward Norton.
3. Anthony Hopkins.
I mention this list in the order they were important to the film. To give Mann his due, he probably had a much harder job on his hands than Brett Ratner. Mann's best point is also his worst: the soundtrack. An excessive on the soundtrack to create a palpable atmosphere of tension works, but it does so all too well. The background music distracts from the actual movie and that dooms the film. Having said that, Red Dragon benefits immensely from the acting skills of the protagonist (also Harvey Keitel, lets not forget him).
The larger question, which I shall explore later is the following: why does great cinema always chronicle events of a harsh and brutal nature. Why don't feel-good movies also become great movies? I also happened to see another Thomas Harris adaptation: Black Sunday some time ago. This has an Israeli Mossad agent desperately hunting down a Palestinian terrorist who is planning some kind of truly horrific attack on US citizens with the help of someone in the US. Such a movie could perhaps only be made properly by John Frankenheimer. Bruce Dern is very convincing as Lander, the brilliant, but insane Vietnam war vet who will have his vengeance no matter what. The best performance, by far is Robert Shaw (yes, him! remember him from Jaws.. the slowly rocking Orca in the ocean, waiting for the great white..?). Understated, but strong, it is a true please to watch him as he closes in slowly, but relentlessly on his target.
1. Ralph Fiennes.
2. Edward Norton.
3. Anthony Hopkins.
I mention this list in the order they were important to the film. To give Mann his due, he probably had a much harder job on his hands than Brett Ratner. Mann's best point is also his worst: the soundtrack. An excessive on the soundtrack to create a palpable atmosphere of tension works, but it does so all too well. The background music distracts from the actual movie and that dooms the film. Having said that, Red Dragon benefits immensely from the acting skills of the protagonist (also Harvey Keitel, lets not forget him).
The larger question, which I shall explore later is the following: why does great cinema always chronicle events of a harsh and brutal nature. Why don't feel-good movies also become great movies? I also happened to see another Thomas Harris adaptation: Black Sunday some time ago. This has an Israeli Mossad agent desperately hunting down a Palestinian terrorist who is planning some kind of truly horrific attack on US citizens with the help of someone in the US. Such a movie could perhaps only be made properly by John Frankenheimer. Bruce Dern is very convincing as Lander, the brilliant, but insane Vietnam war vet who will have his vengeance no matter what. The best performance, by far is Robert Shaw (yes, him! remember him from Jaws.. the slowly rocking Orca in the ocean, waiting for the great white..?). Understated, but strong, it is a true please to watch him as he closes in slowly, but relentlessly on his target.
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