New On Video: 'Red Dragon,' 'Far From Heaven'
Hopkins' Presence Powerful Again In 'Lambs' Prequel
POSTED: 6:19 p.m. EST April 4, 2003
'Red Dragon' (R) Instead of taking the story of Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter any further after the "Hannibal," the owners of the franchise decided to go back to the beginning with "Red Dragon," a nerve-rattling thriller that pre-dates "The Silence of the Lambs."
Anthony Hopkins once again reprises his role of Lecter, the brilliant madman of a psychiatrist imprisoned behind a glass cell wall as he serves out his time for an unspeakable crime. At the heart of the story, though, is FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) who is picking Lecter's brain in an effort to solve a string of brutal murders by an elusive serial killer only known as the Red Dragon (Ralph Fiennes).
Graham's assignment to get Lecter's assistance is no easy task, though, as the detective and the doctor went toe-to-toe years earlier in a nefarious incident that nearly ended both of their lives.
Like "The Silence of the Lambs," "Red Dragon" isn't so much about Lecter as it is a detective that's in dire need of his help. Sure, Lecter's not the guy they're looking for here, but like before, Hopkins' performance is so powerful, that you feel his presence throughout the film.
While the ever-dependable Norton's performance doesn't quite match the intensity of Jodie Foster's shattered soul Clarice Starling in "Silence," it is memorable nonetheless. Fiennes is unnerving as the Red Dragon, a silently disturbed man self-conscious of his looks, who only finds solace in the company of a blind woman (Emily Watson). Phillip Seymour Hoffman ("Almost Famous") also turns up in the film, nailing his portrayal as a slimy reporter.
"Red Dragon" is actually a remake of the 1986 Michael Mann-directed "Manhunter," which featured "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" star William Petersen as Graham and Brian Cox as Hannibal. Of course, Hopkins went on define the role in 1991's "Silence of the Lambs," so that was reason enough to warrant the remake. But while "Red Dragon" was clearly re-made for the sake of Hopkins' involvement, it really doesn't explore Hannibal's roots of madness, with the exception of the incident in 1980 that got him arrested in the first place.
That's not to say that fans fascinated by this all-too-real film literary and film character will come away disappointed. On the Director's Edition version of the DVD, filmmaker Brett Ratner delves deep into Lecter lore with a bevy of bonus features, presenting several unique angles that will likely answer any die-hard fans' questions about the character's back story.
It starts with Lecter's case file -- which is literally loaded with file documents -- that gives a timeline of Lecter's life from childhood to present day. Hopkins himself turns up in the bonus features, to give his take on the character in an insightful interview about his life after he made Lecter a household name.
Also included is a fascinating interview with famed FBI profiler John Douglas -- the basis of Scott Glenn's character Jack Crawford in "Silence of the Lambs" (Harvey Keitel plays Crawford in this film) -- who gives the "Red Dragon" a realistic spin with details of his real life studies of serial killers.
Other DVD features include audio commentary with Ratner and screenwriter Ted Tally, and bonus materials that show Ratner's work on film, screen tests, makeup application, and more. (Universal Studios Home Video)
'Far From Heaven' (PG-13) Not only is melodrama "Far From Heaven" set in the 1950s, it actually feels like it was made in the 1950s -- thanks to beautiful cinematography, subtle direction by Todd Haynes, and memorable performances by Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert and Dennis Quaid.
The big difference between "Far From Heaven" and its melodramatic counterparts is that "Heaven" completely turns the 1950s film genre on its ear. That's because the film is set in a not-so-idyllic-world, where housewife Cathy Whitaker's (Moore) life crumbles after she discovers her husband (Quaid) is having an affair with another man. Cathy's world becomes even more complicated, however, when she finds comfort in the company of her black gardener (Haysbert), which makes her an outcast in an atmosphere of racial intolerance.
While Moore's performance has earned the most praise, Quaid ("The Rookie") and Haysbert ("24") are really the bookends that hold "Far From Heaven" up. They're terrific actors.
DVD Features: A "making-of" featurette, audio commentary with Haynes, a special segment featuring Moore and Haynes, and a dissection of one of the film's scenes. (Universal Studios Home Video)
'Secretary' (R) Unless you are oddly fascinated by the lurid world of sadomasochism, you may find the best place to file "Secretary" is in the trash. A hit on the independent film circuit, "Secretary" stars Maggie Gyllenhaal in the title role as Lee Holloway, a disturbed young woman who finds a job with introverted lawyer Edward Grey (James Spader) after she's released from a mental hospital.
Office relations are relatively low-key at first, but when Grey realizes that Lee is into self-mutilation, the two embark on an intense relationship that satisfies both of their bizarre fantasies.
Apart from creepily convincing performances by Gyllenhaal and Spader (does this guy play anything else?), the best thing "Secretary" has going for it is its unpredictable premise that drives towards an uncertain conclusion. That's normally the sort of thing I beg for with a movie, but this time around, I'll pass. Sure, it's a dark comedy, but it's a little too weird for my tastes.
DVD Features: Audio commentary by director Steven Shainberg, Gyllenhaal and Spader. (Lions Gate Home Entertainment)
Anthony Hopkins once again reprises his role of Lecter, the brilliant madman of a psychiatrist imprisoned behind a glass cell wall as he serves out his time for an unspeakable crime. At the heart of the story, though, is FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) who is picking Lecter's brain in an effort to solve a string of brutal murders by an elusive serial killer only known as the Red Dragon (Ralph Fiennes).
Graham's assignment to get Lecter's assistance is no easy task, though, as the detective and the doctor went toe-to-toe years earlier in a nefarious incident that nearly ended both of their lives.
Like "The Silence of the Lambs," "Red Dragon" isn't so much about Lecter as it is a detective that's in dire need of his help. Sure, Lecter's not the guy they're looking for here, but like before, Hopkins' performance is so powerful, that you feel his presence throughout the film.
While the ever-dependable Norton's performance doesn't quite match the intensity of Jodie Foster's shattered soul Clarice Starling in "Silence," it is memorable nonetheless. Fiennes is unnerving as the Red Dragon, a silently disturbed man self-conscious of his looks, who only finds solace in the company of a blind woman (Emily Watson). Phillip Seymour Hoffman ("Almost Famous") also turns up in the film, nailing his portrayal as a slimy reporter.
"Red Dragon" is actually a remake of the 1986 Michael Mann-directed "Manhunter," which featured "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" star William Petersen as Graham and Brian Cox as Hannibal. Of course, Hopkins went on define the role in 1991's "Silence of the Lambs," so that was reason enough to warrant the remake. But while "Red Dragon" was clearly re-made for the sake of Hopkins' involvement, it really doesn't explore Hannibal's roots of madness, with the exception of the incident in 1980 that got him arrested in the first place.
That's not to say that fans fascinated by this all-too-real film literary and film character will come away disappointed. On the Director's Edition version of the DVD, filmmaker Brett Ratner delves deep into Lecter lore with a bevy of bonus features, presenting several unique angles that will likely answer any die-hard fans' questions about the character's back story.
It starts with Lecter's case file -- which is literally loaded with file documents -- that gives a timeline of Lecter's life from childhood to present day. Hopkins himself turns up in the bonus features, to give his take on the character in an insightful interview about his life after he made Lecter a household name.
Also included is a fascinating interview with famed FBI profiler John Douglas -- the basis of Scott Glenn's character Jack Crawford in "Silence of the Lambs" (Harvey Keitel plays Crawford in this film) -- who gives the "Red Dragon" a realistic spin with details of his real life studies of serial killers.
Other DVD features include audio commentary with Ratner and screenwriter Ted Tally, and bonus materials that show Ratner's work on film, screen tests, makeup application, and more. (Universal Studios Home Video)
'Far From Heaven' (PG-13) Not only is melodrama "Far From Heaven" set in the 1950s, it actually feels like it was made in the 1950s -- thanks to beautiful cinematography, subtle direction by Todd Haynes, and memorable performances by Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert and Dennis Quaid.
The big difference between "Far From Heaven" and its melodramatic counterparts is that "Heaven" completely turns the 1950s film genre on its ear. That's because the film is set in a not-so-idyllic-world, where housewife Cathy Whitaker's (Moore) life crumbles after she discovers her husband (Quaid) is having an affair with another man. Cathy's world becomes even more complicated, however, when she finds comfort in the company of her black gardener (Haysbert), which makes her an outcast in an atmosphere of racial intolerance.
While Moore's performance has earned the most praise, Quaid ("The Rookie") and Haysbert ("24") are really the bookends that hold "Far From Heaven" up. They're terrific actors.
DVD Features: A "making-of" featurette, audio commentary with Haynes, a special segment featuring Moore and Haynes, and a dissection of one of the film's scenes. (Universal Studios Home Video)
'Secretary' (R) Unless you are oddly fascinated by the lurid world of sadomasochism, you may find the best place to file "Secretary" is in the trash. A hit on the independent film circuit, "Secretary" stars Maggie Gyllenhaal in the title role as Lee Holloway, a disturbed young woman who finds a job with introverted lawyer Edward Grey (James Spader) after she's released from a mental hospital.
Office relations are relatively low-key at first, but when Grey realizes that Lee is into self-mutilation, the two embark on an intense relationship that satisfies both of their bizarre fantasies.
Apart from creepily convincing performances by Gyllenhaal and Spader (does this guy play anything else?), the best thing "Secretary" has going for it is its unpredictable premise that drives towards an uncertain conclusion. That's normally the sort of thing I beg for with a movie, but this time around, I'll pass. Sure, it's a dark comedy, but it's a little too weird for my tastes.
DVD Features: Audio commentary by director Steven Shainberg, Gyllenhaal and Spader. (Lions Gate Home Entertainment)Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
