Chemistry in Cinema Part V

City Lights, Moonlightning and The Secret in their Eyes have been so far my picks for best chemistry on screen. Today it's time a fourth one and what a classic it is: the tale of Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice M. Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, one of only three movies who swept the big five categories at the Oscars.

Onf of the greatest films of all time, also has one of the best chemistry of all time

Granted that Anthony Hopkins appears for less than 20 minutes, the majority of that time is split between two frames: when he's with someone else, and when he's with Clarice Starling. Their relationship is quite complex and profound, despite the few encounters that they have and the short amount of time they share together. All in all, there are evident emotions taking place between the two of them and that's why I would like to explore them.

At first Clarice (brilliantly portrayed by Jodie Foster), looks at Dr. Lecter like a respectable, dangerous human being, but she also sees in him a superior entity. It takes only a few minutes for young Clarice to feel butterflies in her stomach out of sheer admiration for the man whom she's seeking help from. It all happens too fast because Dr. Lecter shakes her ground so bad, that he seizes control of the relationship and over her. This is a person that knows Clarice even better than herself and this is something that Clarice has never experienced before, not even at any level of her college education or her training at the FBI. Clarice is fragile, innocent, but not dumb by any means or easily impressed. She never discusses or shows any sign of personal emotion regarding love for someone, but if there is something quite clear is that the feelings she developed for Dr. Lecter worked to make her a better professional and a better person. The same applies for Hannibal.

There is no doubt Dr. Lecter lives a very boring life. Trapped in a cell with breathing holes and no visitors, no contact whatsoever and perhaps the last time he saw a female individual was when he voted for Ronald Reagan's presidential election. Would his reaction been the same had another female agent would have shown up at his cell instead of Clarice? It is possible, but the way the movie shows him, I deem it as unlikely. The first impression that Clarice makes on him shakes his ground too, just as good as he shakes hers. He smells her, he analyzes her clothing, and he becomes fascinated by her simplistic beauty. For Hannibal, being able to see Clarice for even one second is the highlight of his week. He brings out the best out of her and she does the same to him, even though the psychiatrist persona looks rude and not sympathetic.

Then we have their chemistry. The movie has exactly four instances in which Hannibal and Clarice are on screen together.

#1. When they first meet: this is a very formal introduction, where Dr. Lecter initially despises Clarice and tries to fold the bluff the FBI protege sent to study him. Then something happens when Dr. Lecter's cell neighbor does something disrespectful to young Clarice, and this then is the turning point that humanizes Hannibal and his feelings for her.

"Come closer.... CLOSER"

#2. Their second encounter: a major accomplishment for any individual to be granted a second meeting with Hannibal. One does wonder, has young Clarice broken through his tough shield and finally get to a personal level with him? Probably. If Dr Lecter accepted to help her it's because he feels correspondence for the first time in many years.

Dr. Lecter

#3. Clarice sends the Senator's proposal: a very interesting scene that has quite profound meaning. Clarice brings an offer that would transfer Dr. Lecter to a more suitable institution, which can be interpreted as an instrument of temptation that can be even traced back to biblical significance. She uses her feminine charm to get something she wants and he uses her charm to get something he wants.

The face of reflection

#4. Their last meeting: a memorable moment in the movie and a classic scene that transcends into cinema history. When Dr. Lecter rubs his finger against Clarice, you actually see for the first time the one and only sign of the connection the two of them share. Nobody notices this, but this is the unique time in which Dr. Lecter and Clarice have physical contact. It is enough to make an ever lasting impression on both of them.

"Goodbye Clarice...."

The Bonus: I'm not quite sure and I've never been able to completely figure out how Hannibal found the phone number for the FBI's ballroom, but perhaps this is an every day thing for a man of his intelligence, even counting in the time difference. The brief call is a perfect closure for a relationship that could have never been. I for one believe Dr. Lecter had a tough time hanging up the phone just as Clarice did, but the difference is that he didn't actually have a choice. It was either his survival or put in jeopardy his hard obtained freedom.

"Dr Lecter.... Dr Lecter... Dr Lecter...."
He's gone forever and that's how it should have been. Shame on that sequel.

Silence of the Lambs is mainly a crime/drama/mystery movie and it rightfully deserved any award it was nominated for and won. It is a realistic movie in the sense of two people who meet, get to know each other, end up liking each other and briefly, just briefly, fall in love. Like I said earlier, it is not meant to last, but it wasn't intended to. And that's the way how things are in life sometimes.

PS. As a side note, there is a lot of talk of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins brilliant performances; I also think Ted Levine was nothing short of genius in his portrayal of Buffalo Bill, and is one of the most underrated acting jobs of all time.

"Was she a very big fat person?"
That line is hilarious