Manhunter - Special DVD Edition, 1986

Just finished watching the prequel to Silence of the Lambs, Manhunter (1986), directed by Miami Vice creator Michael Mann. This is a strange film to review. On the cover of the DVD, Entertainment Weekly boasts that it is "Superior to Silence of the Lambs".

Never in my life have I ever heard a more loaded, off the wall statement about a movie.

Michael Mann himself is a strange director. I see no real direction in his movies. He seems to get good scripts, and then lets the actors act and the dp direct the camera. At least, that's how it seemed in Manhunter.

Taken from the incredible novel Red Dragon (which was just remade by Brett Ratner in 2003) by Thomas Harris, Michael Mann adapted the novel into a more condensed and sometimes slack version of the novel. The whole history of The Red Dragon, for instance, is completely wiped out. The same thing with the ending, completely taken out and re-worked to a lackluster ending. I think this is just a case of Mann getting to do the story he always wanted to do and getting to have his pick after the wildly successful Miami Vice (1984), he chose this.

Personally, the story directed itself. If you've ever read Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs, the novels read like movies. Thomas Harris, who was in the FBI for a number of years, wrote what he wanted to see. It comes out simple, clean and very visual.

I could say there were moments of greatness in the film, but none of them would be Mann's responsibility. Everything came from Harris. This can be said of many adaptations of novels... but usually, especially when the director is the writer, there are certain personal additions to make the script, and the film, theirs. Mann did neither.

I've never been a fan of William L. Petersen, who played the roll of Will Graham, the retired FBI criminologist. He's had a spotty career, albeit a long one, going from movies to TV to movies and now he is back to his old haunts again, in television, playing a forensic specialist in what is supposed to be this seasons big surprise hit C.S.I.

I found his acting to be forced, much of the time, though not as forced as his work on To Live and Die in L.A.. I'm sure, at the time this movie came out, that the forced bravado was in style, just like his white ties were... but this is one of the main problems with the film. It's dated.

There's a dated feeling to everything about the film, which is one thing Silence of the Lambs has going for it. It feels completely timeless.

Brian Cox, who played Hannibal Lecter, did a better job then Petersen did, when it comes to the acting of the film. One got a sense of serenity while watching Cox, who has had an incredible 33 year acting career, and who has been in such films, lately, as Braveheart, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Rushmore, For Love of the Game and the soon to be released The Bourne Identity, based on the Ludlum novel.

Two other notable actresses in the film were Kim Greist and Joan Allen. Greist, as you will remember, was Jill Layton in Brazil, probably her most popular role (her second). Her first role was in C.H.U.D., which I just pre-ordered on DVD. Joan Allen has had a wonderful career, from Tucker: The Man and His Dream to Nixon to The Ice Storm, Face/Off and Pleasantville. She was also in one of this years oscar contenders, The Contender.

The last two notable actors in this film were Dennis Farina and Tom Noonan. Both did fine jobs, though I don't think anyone will contest that Scott Glenn did a much better Crawford then Farina did.

Noonan was an excellent villian, especially the last few moments of battle with Graham and the police officers. He's always had a creepy way about him, from Manhunter to Robocop 2 to Last Action Hero.

Dante Spinotti was the cinematographer who did a fine job, especially with the visual forensic work with the lasers and infra-red and with the Lounds flaming wheelchair bit. He's been doing incredible work since, working on the majority of Michael Mann's films (Last of the Mohican's, Heat, The Insider) and also DP'ing some of the great films of the last ten years, such as The Quick and the Dead (I love Sam Raimi), L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys and the upcoming Bandits.

I will say this. They did an excellent job packaging Manhunter. I watched the 'director's' cut (an additional 3 minutes that I didn't even notice) and did not peruse the additions the added, including two featurettes, but I'm sure they are insightful in-so-much as the actors are involved. Michael Mann has no commentary, no interview, nothing.

As a side note to continuity, make sure you pay close attention to Graham and his son in the grocery store. It's one of the funniest things I've seen captured on film.

If I were to give this a rating (which I hate doing) I would have to rate this film at a B-. I think it could be re-made very well, although it would probably upset too many people, including Mann himself, so won't be done for quite some time. I think, taken directly from the book, dealing with issues of Francis Dollarhyde and Will Graham, the characters would be much more well defined, the audience would not be thrown into a guessing game and they would enjoy themselves much more.

At least, that's my take on it.

J.P.

go to top of page