Manhunter (1986)

LONG BEFORE IT WAS HIP TO BE LECTER

By KEVIN LUCERO LESS  Nov 23, 2005

Pros: DIRECTOR MICHAEL MANN

Cons: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

KEVIN LUCERO LESS - PROFESSOR OF CINEMA, TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART SCHOOL. MICHAEL MANN, BRIAN COX AND WILLIAM L PETERSEN HAD IT DOWN LONG BEFORE IT WAS HIP TO BE LECTER. "MANHUNTER" IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS FROM THE MID 80'S AND STILL HOLDS... THE KEY TO THE XEROX STYLE CRIME DRAMA. IN "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" THE TONE IS DARK AND COLD AND IS THE ONLY CINEMATIC ELEMENT THAT PULLS THE VIEWER INTO FEAR. THIS "STIMMUNG" IS NOT USED IN MANN'S "MANHUNTER" BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS, MUCH LIKE HITCHCOCK IN PSYCHO, THAT A BRIGHT WHITE CLEAN ROOM CAN BE MUCH MORE SCARY THAN A DARK MOLDY ONE, BECAUSE THE SUPRISE IS IN THE ACTIONS OF THE MONSTER INSIDE THE ROOM. BRIAN COX ALSO PLAYS LECTER WITH MORE TRUTH AND SKIPS THE GLASS LICKING CLICHE OF THE PSYCHO KILLER IN "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS". WILLIAM L PETERSEN IS NOW WELL KNOWN FOR HIS CSI CHARACTER, HOWEVER HE WOULD PLAY THIS ROLE ALMOST 20 YEARS EARLYER IN "MANHUNTER" AND IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR HIM TO BE CREDITED FOR HIS ACTING. MICHAEL MANN'S MANHUNTER IS THE BEST OF THE LECTER SERIES AND GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW FAR THESE "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" CLOWNS CAN GO, STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. Read more Less