One of the cornerstone rules in the world of cinema is that sequels and remakes do not equal the artistic and entertaining brilliance of the original work.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. As far as successful sequels go, “The Godfather, Part II” and “The Empire Strikes Back” take the cake. And in the remake department, “The Thomas Crown Affair” is certainly better than its original.
However, the film “Red Dragon” has the disadvantage of being both a remake and a sequel.
“Manhunter,” based on the 1981 novel by Thomas Harris, was released way back in 1986. An excellent film in its own right, it would make most people question if a remake, made some fifteen years later, could be as entertaining as the original.
And don’t forget about the sequel stigma associated with “Red Dragon,” either. Despite its pre-“Silence of the Lambs” plot, the film is nonetheless a sequel.
Even with all that pressure and weight attached to the film, “Red Dragon” is not only superior to “Hannibal” and “Manhunter,” but could even be better than “Silence of the Lambs.”
“Red Dragon” introduces audiences to Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a well-renowned forensic psychologist working with FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton, “Fight Club”) to solve a murder case.
Graham realizes far too late that Dr. Lecter is the murderer, and the two share a rather messy exchange with sharp objects.
Despite being lauded as the man to catch Lecter, Will retires from the FBI and retreats to peace and privacy in Florida with his wife and son.All that changes when Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel, “Reservoir Dogs”), Will’s old FBI buddy, shows up at his door talking about two horrific murders.
Crawford needs Will to come out of retirement and track down this new killer, aptly named the “Tooth Fairy” (Ralph Fiennes, “The English Patient”).
But for Will, coming out of retirement means getting help from the very man who made him retire in the first place: Dr. Lecter. This launches Will into the most arduous cat-and-mouse investigation of his career.
Not only must he contend with Lecter’s verbal sparring and taunting, he’s got to work fast to ensure that the “Tooth Fairy” doesn’t kill again.
Not enough positive things can be said about “Red Dragon.” This remarkable cast, centered around Hopkins and Norton, delivers.
Hopkins plays the role of Dr. Lecter to perfection, with just enough of that cunning and sly, dry wit that is sure to have audiences both afraid of him and rooting for him. He more than outshines Brian Cox’s portrayal of Lecter in “Manhunter.”
As for Norton, his role as Will Graham is another notch on his belt of great performances. More than equal to William Petersen’s performance in “Manhunter,” Norton displays great range as an actor. He gets to be a caring father, a determined detective, fearful and tough, all in one movie. It’s an actor’s dream come true.
Certainly, Fiennes deserves an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Frances Dolarhyde, a.k.a. the “Tooth Fairy.” He manages to eloquently capture the humanity trapped within this monster of a murderer, but not at the expense of his scariness.
This character dichotomy is one of the underlying themes of the film. One minute he’s sadistic and cruel, but shades of kindness still remain buried within.
Fiennes stands alongside Kevin Spacey from “Seven” as one of the most brutal and terrifying serial killers in film history.
With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emily Watson and Mary-Louise Parker as strong secondary characters, the film can be placed on the same level as “Traffic” and “Glengarry, Glen Ross” for having terrific ensemble casts.
The only complaint regarding the cast, however moot, is that Scott Glenn could not reprise his role as Jack Crawford from “Silence of the Lambs.”
It’s not that Keitel does a bad job, but it would have been better to see Glenn reappear in the same role.
However, Anthony Heald and Frankie Faison do return as the devilish Dr. Chilton and Barney from “Silence of the Lambs” and add to the continuity of the trilogy.
Danny Elfman’s dynamic score is soft and haunting when it has to be far better than the synthesized soundtrack of “Manhunter.”
Aside from a desire to see a deep focus shot here and there, the directing is above average. Ratner, director of the two “Rush Hour” movies, establishes himself as a director capable of doing serious, thrilling dramas.
The script is top-notch, with just the right blend of laughs and suspense. There’s even a small nod to “Silence of the Lambs” at the end.
“Red Dragon” is one of the year’s most thrilling films and certainly deserves consideration for any of this year’s awards or placement on top ten lists.
While his appearance is quite frightening, Ralph Fiennes as the Tooth Fairy still has not mastered the underrated art of making scary shadow puppets. Of course the fancy artwork displayed on his back doesn’t hurt this frightening image. (Universal Pictures)
