October 16, 2002

Watch your back, Hannibal is back
In the first chapter of the trilogy,
Red Dragon offers a gruesome look at a young lector

Chuck Sambuchino
Senior Editor

“Red Dragon”
Newswire Official Grade:B-
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes
Rating: R for violence, grisly images, language, some nudity and sexuality

Hannibal "the cannibal" Lecter, voted the number one villain of all time by Entertainment Weekly, is back in "Red Dragon," the acclaimed first submission of author Thomas Harris’ trilogy of novels.

This chapter of the suspense trilogy introduces us to a few new characters, and gives us a glimpse into Lecter’s life before his imprisonment as well as how he was captured.

FBI agent and forensic profiler Will Graham (Ed Norton) shows up late one night at Lecter’s (Anthony Hopkins) house to talk about a serial killer they have been working together to catch.

After Graham mentions he believes the killer is eating his victims and finds some unique cookbooks around, the jig is up. But a struggle quickly ensues, resulting in Lecter’s imprisonment and Graham’s hospitalization for serious injuries and psychiatric help.

The real story begins several years later, with Graham living with his family, long since retired. FBI agent Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) is dealing with another serial killer called "The Tooth Fairy" and desperately needs Graham’s help.

Graham, who with his time in the FBI caught two serial killers, is an eideteker — someone who has uncanny visual and mental perception skills. He can see and fantasize the images, motivations and thoughts of others.

The search begins for "The Tooth Fairy," who is working on a lunar cycle in his serial killings of families. Like Clarice Starling, Graham makes visits to Hannibal Lecter, asking for the genius’ advice.

Unlike "Silence of the Lambs," the story pays much more attention to its villain and his roots. "The Tooth Fairy" is actually Francis Dolarhyde, a shy bodybuilder who was abused by his grandmother and has a twisted obsession with a fantastical William Blake painting called "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun."

Dolarhyde is played powerfully by thespian Ralph Fiennes, who not only transformed himself physically for the role but endured long hours, having the character’s full body tattoo applied.

Dolarhyde is a tortured man, born with a harelip and never accepted. He spends his days working in a video/film developing station and his nights weight-lifting and taking applications for the next family he is going to "change."

When he finally finds company in a blind co-worker named Reba (Emily Watson), he must choose between his allegiance to the great Red Dragon, or his growing feelings for her.

Ted Tally, who received an Oscar for his screenplay adaptation of "Silence of the Lambs" also wrote this script. Brett Ratner (both "Rush Hour" films, "The Family Man") got the directing nod.

Harris’ novel Red Dragon was originally made into a film called "Manhunter" in 1986 by Michael Mann ("Heat," "The Insider").

While the more recent adaptation prides itself on remaining extremely faithful to the book and fleshing out Dolarhyde’s character, it lacks the overall impact of "Manhunter" and fails to give us an accurate look into the skewed mind of agent Graham.

Hopkins is his same creepy self as Lecter, but his horrifying projection is wearing thin. Norton’s performance is too subtle for such a dual, mystifying character and Keitel is a weak Jack Crawford.

Fiennes, especially in the last half hour, is the powerful driving force of the film. He is a man in agony, for the first time in his life finding someone who embraces him and gives him a reason to change.

He supplies all the tense moments, and provides much of the crackling dialogue — especially when he confronts sleazy tabloid journalist Freddy Lounds (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and makes him "atone."

The story, at its most basic, is about just how similar FBI agent Graham and serial killer Dolarhyde can be, but for the most part, too much attention on Lecter and too little on Graham make that connection impossible.

"Red Dragon" overall feeds on another incredible story by Harris and runs more smoothly than "Hannibal." The problem lies in director Brett Ratner, who ignores key facets to the characters, while giving lopsided emphasis on Lecter, who – like in the novel – should have remained a minor character.