5150adios-blog

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#lowrider #daysgoneby #saltlakecity

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Childhood. Man school.

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Tangerine Dream did the soundtrack for Firestarter in 1984. I’ve seen a lot of synth revival stuff lately, some I’m a fan of (Neon Indian, Gunship), some is disposable.

All owe a debt to TD. This is cold as ice. Sounds like a phone call from somebody you know you’ll never see again.

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Manhunter (1986) Okay, there’s some blood. There’s just something about those outlines. And that broken mirror. And the wash of white. Cinematography elite, indeed.

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Manhunter (1986) Mann paints atmosphere.

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Manhunter (1986)

Manhunter (1986) is a film that I had only seen just as of this year. I remember liking it, but was a bit distracted on the first go-around. As a jury-is-still-somewhat-out candidate, I decided to make this the initial post here. Being the least-known member of the Hannibal/Serial Killer series of films based off of books and characters written by Thomas Harris, Manhunter is bit of an unknown commodity to most people only casually acquainted with the Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter side of things. Right off the bat, I will tell you there is more to remember from a single viewing than 2-3 viewings of it's remake, Red Dragon, which I remember having high hopes for based on it's cast. However, that movie struck me as utterly forgettable, and in turn, I have. That's up for a re-visit somewhere along the line though, so let's remain impartial and only mention that Manhunter is more or less the original Red Dragon. Let's get started, skeletal plot synopsis first.

Will Graham (William Petersen) is a semi-retired FBI agent who is living with his family in what is basically Vice City (1980's Florida) and is called out of a semi-retirement at the request of important people to catch the "Tooth Fairy" killer, played very well by the always capable Tom Noonan, while Hannibal Lecter acts as a seriously mischievous and less than helpful consultant in apprehending said killer. Themes of redemption and new beginnings come into play through the film and we see inner motivations and reasonings come to the surface. We also see Hannibal Lecter basically do what he does best and that is plot long and hard at fucking your shit up, major.

This is a Michael Mann film. Correction, This is an 80's Michael Mann film. Cinematography and presentation have always been the name of the game with Mr. Mann, and there are none better. Add to that that this film is the product of an extremely-image conscious period of time in American culture, made by an image-conscious, image-savvy filmmaker. It works. A movie is a visual medium first, and an auditory one second. You know a Mann film will have the first covered. In the case of Manhunter, the soundtrack is very much on point as well. Two of the scenes in this movie possess truly disturbing footprints and leave indellible imprints on a viewer. The bedroom scenes and the subsequent examination of the crime scene are among some of my favorite scenes in any movie because of the way the vibrant colors and the tense synth propelled soundtrack play off of each other. Nothing stains like bright white, and while this is no gorefest, Mann is able to cause you to smell the blood that you cannot see.

As good as Tom Noonan's deliberate, languid portrayal of the Tooth Fairy/Dolarhyde character really is, Lecter again steals the show, played here by Brian Cox. Truth be told I may like this Lecter incarnation best of all. Cox brings an actual sense of unpredictability into Lecter I don't get with Hopkins. I really feel like Lecter would gladly fuck up anything that moves in this film, given the chance. And just for the sake of doing so. Cox delivers forth a powder keg of danger and malice that oozes out of his dialogue and movements. The best, but worst, part of watching this movie for a lot of people is that I feel their opinion of Hopkins' Lecter may not fare favorably in comparison to the Brian Cox iteration. It's just something about the palpable violence in the way Cox says things like "Pray tell" that seals the deal. This dude will find a way to ruin your day. One way or the other. And notice I said all of this without saying anything negative regarding Hopkins' work. This performance rivals anything else in the Thomas Harris/Lecter family of films except possibly Ted Levine's insane Buffalo Bill, a personal favorite.

The verdict - 3 stars, mostly for the cinematography, soundtrack and Brian Cox's Lecter portrayal. Tom Noonan is admirable as Dolarhyde, but the set up of all of this and Cox's Lecter overshadow other aspects. This movie is underrated and oft-forgotten and that's probably to the benefit of the later, more popular films based on the source material. Watch it.