Manhunter
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Movie Reviews of Manhunter
Movie Review: Manhunter remains memorable
Summary: 4 Stars
When it comes to the "serial killer genre," I suppose Michael Mann's 1986 film "Manhunter" began it all. One could argue for Richard Fleischer's superb The Boston Strangler in 1968, but no matter. Mann's tight and stylish version of Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon is a thoroughly fascinating work. To this day, I recall the terror felt during the early sequence when Will Graham (William Petersen) investigates the blood-soaked crime scene alone, practically whispering his version of the events into a tape recorder. It's a deeply chilling segment, and one of the first times I can recall such an investigative process shown on film.
Mann, early in his career here, still had his trademark Miami Vice: Season One & Two touches, stark colors, unique MTV-styled camera angles and the insertion of pop music at unexpected moments. The technique has dated the film, though his use of Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is brilliant.
I have grown to like Petersen as he's aged as an actor, but in "Manhunter," he was a bit too young and bland for my taste. I would have liked to seen a more established, brooding actor in the role. But the supporting cast, including Dennis Farina, Stephen Lang and Joan Allen, never disappoint. Tom Noonan gives a haunting performance as the hunted serial killer, but his work is so good it threatens to capsize the film. He does not enter the proceedings until midway in, and the film changes course en route to the shocking climax. His struggles are heartbreaking, and it puts an uncomfortably human face on a terrifying monster. But once the film changes focus, and a face is put to the killer, much of the suspense and fear of the investigation is lost.
I have never liked how the police arrive at the exact moment Noonan's character is about to commit a murder, and his house, an isolated structure that looks as if it were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, does not fit such a lonely and disturbed man. But this was 1986, and back then we were dancing to Rio by Duran Duran with Patrick Nagel prints hanging on the wall. So who am I to blame Mann for wanting to be hip?
"Manhunter" is perhaps best known for having the first film version of the Hannibal Lecter character, played with extraordinary coolness by Brian Cox. It results in pretty much just an extended cameo, but the scene plays with uncommon menace. Cox's Lecter is not be fooled with and, unlike Anthony Hopkins' portrayal, he is unremittingly evil.
After all these years, "Manhunter" holds up, with multiple scenes that remain memorable to this day. It's a fine work by a master director. While far inferior to Jonathan Demme's The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), it blows the remake, Red Dragon (Widescreen Collector's Edition) in 2002, out of the water. In terms of this often times repellent genre, this ranks as one of the greats.
Movie Review: "Time is Love."
Summary: 4 Stars
Wow. Before Sir Anthony Hopkins ever slimed and purred his way onto the silver screen in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS as Hannibal Lecter, the ever more repugnant and brilliant Brian Cox played him (originally Hannibal Lecktor) in MANHUNTER. No, you will not see the six-fingered hands or bright maroon eyes Hannibal the Cannibal possesses in the original novels, but I think Cox is ten times scarier than Hopkins was.
This 1986 offering is a treat on many levels. To be brief: the nutty retired FBI profiler Will Graham (William Petersen), who happened to capture Hannibal Lecktor, is approached to help solve a serious serial killer case. Dennis Farina turns a fine early performance as Graham's old pal Det. Jack Crawford--and being a Chicago native as Farina is, I loved seeing this thing set in Chicago, though it travels around a bit.
A weirdo serial killer (played by Tom Noonan and dubbed "The Tooth Fairy" for no reason we can ascertain) is causing trouble, and Graham is the only one who can put a stop to it. Det. Crawford goes to beg Graham to intercede one last time to help catch this sick bastard. Graham agrees. One of the first things he does is visit the evil Hannibal Lecktor in prison (I have no more idea why the name spelling is different than I have any idea why Cox does a North English accent, or why Graham visits him at all). It's a slip-up in the story, but...
This was 1986. MANHUNTER (originally titled "The Red Dragon" and released on tv with that title) was totally awesome and a breath of fresh air into cop films. This is the first time we see a film concentrating on the serial killer in a way so common today; it just wasn't done like that back then. The creepy atmosphere, the Goth soundtrack and realistic pace reminds me of many north European detective flicks of today. This film has teeth, and they were well ahead of their time.
The film was shot with some crisp, marvelous stock that almost makes it look new and hi-def. They just don't make pictures of this real-life, real-time quality today. Even the soundtrack is flawless, though it rings hollow when they speak loudly in a confined space. The colors are magnificent as is the cinematography. One thing I really love: MANHUNTER shows state-of-the-art police work from the mid-1980s. You don't see much of that.
Final kudos if I may return to this: Brian Cox is brilliant and spooky as Lecktor. With his snotty Northern-town accent and brutish face, he looks every bit the English thug until we remember that he was a shrink and a brilliant one at that. There is no hint of any cannibalism here, though he is locked up for doing "terrible things to female college students". He shows his wits plenty, then vanishes into prison, never to be seen onscreen again.
Today, we know the silence of the lambs is coming soon, so we don't sweat it as much. But imagine what it was like in 1986 to see the first glimpse of Hannibal the Cannibal....
Get it here, it's awesome and this small-budget sleeper can teach directors a thing or two about murder mystery and suspense filmmaking.
Movie Review: Gripping Psychological Horror Film
Summary: 4 Stars
"Manhunter" seemed familiar, then I realized it was the original version of "Red Dragon" the prequel to "Silence of the Lambs." This version was made in 1986 and the first to feature Hannibal Lecter. This is an almost forgotten movie, and I was surprised to find that Lecter (spelled "Lecktor" in this version) had a very small part.
The plot involves a former FBI Agent, Will Graham (William Petersen) who returns to action to hunt down a serial killer. Graham retired after catching Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox) and subsequently suffered a nervous breakdown. His skill is an uncanny ability to get inside psychopaths' minds and solving crimes. He is talked into helping the FBI again, although his sanity is fragile. Graham does not want to see anymore mass murdered families and he can tell this serial killer is insane and determined. The full moon and mirrors are the killer's initial clues. This is an engrossing cat and mouse game that is riveting and well done.
Movie Review: Red Dragon Goes Hollywood...
Summary: 4 Stars
Though I like the later version of RED DRAGON better, I still enjoy MANHUNTER a great deal, and believe it compliments RD enough to watch them both. William Petersen ("CSI", "The Beast") is every bit as good as Ed Norton in the Will Graham role. Brian Cox (The Ring) makes a decent Lecter, and Tom Noonan (The Roost) brings his own brand of menace to his Francis Dollarhyde / Tooth Fairy character. Joan Allen (The Ice Storm), Dennis Farina, and Kim Griest (CHUD) are also good. I hated Miami Vice in the 80s, and was expecting a similar Michael Mann take on Thomas Harris' story. Thankfully, he is a better director outside of the inane restrictions of network TV! Definitely worth owning...Movie Review: "One Of Michael Mann's Best!"
Summary: 4 Stars
William Petersen, Brian Cox, Dennis Farina, Joan Allen and Tom
Noonan star in Michael Mann's 1986 thriller. A Retired FBI agent
is sent to find a killer. This film comes 5 years before "Silence
of the Lambs" featuring Hannibal. It's definitely one of Michael's
best that's very underrated and so is Brian's great performance
as the original Hannibal. William and Tom are also great and I
think they should've kept Tom's scenes with the tattoos. This
dvd not only has good picture and sound, but the theatrical
cut with Graham's missing dialogue restored and the trailer.
I highly recommend this dvd because it's the best version.