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A Universal release. Written by Ted Tally; directed by Brett Ratner; starring Edward Norton and Anthony Hopkins. Released to DVD on April 1, 2003. Released to DVD on April 1, 2003. One might think that the all-star cast of Red Dragon, headed by Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel and Sir Anthony Hopkins, could inject life into the ailing Hannibal Lecter franchise. This is sadly not the case. Red Dragon, a re-make of Michael Mann’s Manhunter, is completely predictable and lacks any sort of engaging characters. Substituting star power for creative developments, this film is bereft of any remotely original ideas. Former homicide detective Will Graham (Edward Norton) is equipped with the unique ability to get into the mindset of a serial killer. When he rejoins the police force in order to aid the ongoing investigation of a serial killer who has killed entire families while they sleep, he quickly becomes frustrated by the pace and reluctantly enlists the help of former forensic psychologist. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to apprehend the killer. If this general plot set-up sounds familiar–a young detective collaborates with Lecter to capture a sexually troubled serial killer–it should. Red Dragon does not resemble Manhunter as much as it does The Silence of the Lambs, minus the excellent performances of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The normally compelling Edward Norton is bland and monotone as Graham; Hopkins goes through the motions as Lecter, and Fiennes and Watson are barely given any material to work with. Only Philip Seymour Hoffman brings an energetic survival instinct to his role as a tabloid reporter. Without dynamic performances to provide a distraction, it becomes only too obvious that one does not need to be brilliant to capture this killer. The Tooth Fairy is as subtle as a brick in the face. This bluntness can help in certain circumstances, but does not do so here. Obsessed with William Blake’s poem and painting The Red Dragon, a fact the killer has made known to investigative forces, our nut job decides to travel to the Brooklyn Museum of Art where he attacks a curator and aide in broad daylight in order to eat the painting. And things get worse from here. When market dynamics are the only creative forces behind a film, the result will be Red Dragon.
peter beck yes, it's true: The original star of Michael Mann’s Manhunter, William L. Petersen, is now the current star of CBS’ hit show, CSI. | |||||
