The Silence of the Lambs

UK Release Date: 31st May 1991

A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims (www.imdb.com).

Director: Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, The Manchurian Candidate, Rachel Getting Married)

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn

The Silence of the Lambs is one of a kind. A genuine masterpiece with little trouble on its side. Jodie Foster's FBI 'agent in training' Clarice Starling brings the emotion and the gritt. She may look overwhelmed by the male presence around her, but in fact she's cool, calm and collective and stands high above those who think themselves better than her. She's pitted against the infamous cannibal Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). He's kept in a high security prison (see Red Dragon or Manhunter) and becomes infatuated with Clarice's past. In order for Clarice to catch Buffalo Bill, a serial killer who skins his victims, she must enter Hannibal in a battle of wits. Quid pro quo as Lecter says. Silence buzzes with electricity when either Foster or Hopkins is on screen. Hopkins is horrifying as Lecter, posing as a threat even behind bars with his vocabulary and his unwavering stares. Demme's debut as a director, has blown all expectations out of the water, turning a thriller into a dark, psychological powerhouse with its dark exteriors and messed up characters.

5/5 

Red Dragon

UK Release Date: 11th October 2002

A retired FBI agent with psychological gifts is assigned to help track down "The Tooth Fairy", a mysterious serial killer; aiding him is imprisoned criminal genius Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (www.imdb.com).

Director: Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, The Family Man, Rush Hour 2)

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvery Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Brett Ratner astonishes the filming world by taking on a daring project unlike any he's done before. Red Dragon is not the first attempt at capturing 'The Tooth Fairy'. Being a prequel to the successful The Silence of the Lambs, RD contains neither the deep frailty felt by Jodie Foster's Clarice Starling or the powerful atmosphere. What Ratner does do is provide us with a engrossing crime thriller. Anthony Hopkins fails to prove to us that he's younger than he was in Silence, but he slips into the role so easily that all is forgotten. His psychopath cannibal Hannibal Lecter sits finely on the edge of sincerity and flippancy. We're never sure which way he's likely to sway. Hopkins is the only actor to retain his role, and is joined by Edward Norton's Will Graham, the detective who put Lecter behind bars. He seeks Lecter's help in cracking The Tooth Fairy case. Norton's convincing in his portrayal, but fails to assure us of having a 'psychological gift'. Others fair just as well, with Watson's blind Reba being the most down-to-earth, giving Ralph Fiennes normality to his psychotic persona. Red Dragon beats Hannibal, but falls short of Silence. 

4/5

The Three Stooges (2012)

UK Release Date: 22nd August 2012

While trying to save their childhood orphanage, Moe, Larry and Curly inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality television show (www.imdb.com).

Director: The Farrelly Brothers (Shallow Hal, The Heartbreak Kid, Hall Pass)

Starring: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson, Larry David

The Three Stooges have been entertaining audiences for over 90 years now. Moee, Larry and Curly's slapstick comedy is widely known, but a younger audience of the 21st century won't be familiar with their antics. 2012's The Three Stooges does little for their reputation, as the Farrelly Brothers turn up their style of humour several notches. Their satire is repetitive and the laughs absent. By the second act, when Moe (Diamantopoulos), Larry (Hayes) and Curly (Sasso) reach the city to raise money to save the orphanage they grew up in, it starts to grate and tire effortlessly. The Farrelly Brothers have got the right idea, but it's down to a time worn trio and their outdated ways that render The Three Stooges as one for the kids

2/5 

Rush Hour 2

UK Release Date: 3rd August 2001

Carter and Lee head to Hong Kong for vacation, but become embroiled in a counterfeit money scam (www.imdb.com).

Director: Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, The Family Man, Red Dragon)

Starring: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, John Lone, Ziyi Zhang, Roselyn Sanchez

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are back for another easy-going stint of antics. The first Rush Hour was a surprising hit. Rush Hour 2 follows it in similar fashion, except this time the innocence of our unlikely duo is replaced with slapstick humour and race jokes. Wise-cracking LA cop James Carter (Tucker) takes a vacation to Hong Kong with Lee, China's finest detective, but they become embroiled in a money laundering scam. Tucker is slightly subdued than last time relying on wit whern he lacks in combat. Chan is again a joy to watch. Less naive this time and more charming. Rush Hour 2 won't wow anyone, but there is enough fun to be found as Lee and Carter traverse the globe causing more chaos.

3/5

The Sixth Sense

UK Release Date: 5th November 1999

Contains mild spoiler at the the end of the review.

A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist (www.imdb.com).

Director: M. Night Shyamalan (Unbreakable, Signs, The Village)

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette

Bruce Willis breaks out of his action mould to bring us his most compelling performance of his career. Playing a child psychologist with a cool attitude tests Willis's acting capabilities. He pulls it off in peculiar fashion aided by a wise yet extraordinary youth that has a sixth sense. Communicating with the dead is a taboo subject. Having an ability like Cole's (Haley Joel Osment) is captivating but hard to believe. Is it possible? Would anybody believe you? The Sixth Sense answers these questions through the young boy's abilities. An intelligent lad, Osment captures wonder and fascination easily. Director M. Night Shyamalan has us occupied in a wonderful line between anxiety and awe. And the ending, even if you've guessed the twist already, it's still a fitting way to close things. If you haven't, be prepared.

4/5 

Run All Night

UK Release Date: 13th March 2015

Mobster and hit man Jimmy Conlon has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, Mike, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, mob boss Shawn Maguire, who wants Mike to pay for the death of his own son (www.imdb.com).

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra (Orpahn, Unknown, Non-Stop)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Common, Ed Harris

Liam Neeson churns out action films faster than Starbucks make coffee. Initial instincts are 'oh great, another Taken or a Non-Stop film'. Neeson may be the front-man of Run All Night, but it's thanks to a very provocative supporting cast that stop this film blending in with his others. Think Heat meets Goodfellas; Jimmy (Neeson) and Shawn's (Harris) dinner meeting feels as tense as De Niro and Pacino's similar scenario. Having the events over one night adds to the madness and explosiveness of the narrative. Jimmy will stop at nothing to protect his son, Mike (Kinnaman) whilst Shawn seeks justice by killing him. The acting is pure and the characters are full of compassion and warmth towards their audience regardless of what they fight for. Neeson, Harris and Kinnaman all have family to fight for, which is, just like Heat, why they're all felt for no matter their outcome. New York comes to life through the editing, as we're taken on a roller-coaster around the city via fast panning camerawork that connects one scene to the other. A nice touch to this action-packed story.

4/5