A long-retired FBI agent is coaxed out of retirement and must utilize the help of a deranged psychologist turned serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter to catch a serial killer preying on families. Red Dragon stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, and Mary Louise Parker.
Coming off the wild success of the franchise film Rush Hour 2, director Brett Ratner had many film companies attempting to get him to come and do another comedy, themselves hoping for lightning to strike again for the director. Instead, Ratner decided to deviate from comedy and direct the next installment in another moneymaking franchise, Red Dragon, the prequel to Silence of the Lambs and a remake of 1986's Michael Mann directed Manhunter. Why Ratner decided to follow one franchise film with another is a question that we will never know but, surprisingly, Ratner shows some skill in directing a dramatic film. Even with enduring the inherent pressure that comes with directing one of the most successful adult-oriented film franchises, Ratner and company have produced a high-quality film that easily surpasses Hannibal and comes close to being as well-done as the original Silence of the Lambs.
The plot of the film closely follows that of the 1986 Manhunter film except for a few key differences. Chief among those is the additional screen time given to the main attraction for anyone interested in seeing the film, Hannibal Lecter. In Manhunter Lecter's (spelled Lektor in that film) character as played by Brian Cox was given no more than what amounted to a cameo. Hannibal, obviously now being played by the man that made the character a cinematic legend, Anthony Hopkins, is given more scenes to flesh (no pun intended) out his character and the film benefits greatly from it. The film benefits because without Hannibal the film is nothing more than any other serial killer thriller, albeit one blessed with an unbelievably talented cast with 11 Academy Award nominations between them.
Speaking of the cast, they all perform admirably. In the pivotal role of detective Will Graham Edward Norton is good as he almost always is. He embodies the physically and mentally wounded character well and makes you feel Graham's pain at blowing his chance to rid the world of Lecter before he killed so many people. Speaking of which, Anthony Hopkins again plays his signature character with the droll and personality that makes the character such a joy to watch. As the other serial killer, Ralph Fiennes plays the quiet and withdrawn schizophrenic with the right amount of vulnerability and strength to make the character more than a cookie cutter serial killer. Fiennes Tooth Fairy character joins Robin Williams Sy the Photo Guy (One Hour Photo) and Walter Finch (Insomnia) as one of the best mentally unbalanced psychos of cinema this year. In supporting roles, Emily Watson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are also spectacular. Ratner's direction is surprisingly good for a man known for directing light comedic fare. He balances the character screen time so that each character is properly represented and is given enough screen time to fully develop their persona.
Overall, Red Dragon is a taut and gripping thriller complete with great performances across the board and solid direction by Ratner.
Rating: 90
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