Enter The Dragon

Tomorrow, we'll have a review of Hearts in Atlantis. Today, it's my turn to write the review. It was about time for me to get off my lazy butt. Hope you enjoy it...

My Review of the Red Dragon script

After a decade long wait for the return of Dr. Lecter, his next cinematic appearance could surprisingly be next year. Ted Tally, the Oscar winning scribe of The Silence of The Lambs, has already penned an adaptation of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon. The first novel of the infamous Hannibal trilogy, it was made into a movie by Michael Mann (Ali) in 1986 called Manhunter. This project is a prequel to the first two movies as we see the capture of Hannibal Lecter. It is rumored that Sir Anthony Hopkins will come back along with perhaps Edward Norton or Nicolas Cage as Will Graham and Brett Ratner (The Family Man) at the helm. The script that I will be reviewing is dated April 23rd 2001.

The story begins with the capture of Dr. Hannibal Lecter by FBI Special Agent Will Graham. The good doctor had been helping Graham to capture the Chesapeake Ripper who finally turned out to be Lecter himself. After nearly being killed by Lecter, Graham retires from active duty and moves to Florida to live a quiet life with his wife and son. Cut to three years later, a strange killer dubbed 'The Tooth Fairy' has massacred two families. This murderer is synchronised with the moon. Time is running out before the next full moon, so the FBI asks Graham to help them. Investigating the murder scenes brings back haunting memories for Graham who almost goes insane. With the clock ticking and no real leads, he decides to visit his old friend Dr. Lecter, who could maybe point him in the right direction.

I would not call this script a third installment of the Dr. Lecter franchise. It's more of a spinoff of the profitable franchise. I could simply imagine MGM wanting to make Special Agent Will Graham solo movies after this one. Ted Tally has again written a beautiful script adaptation of previous material. His last screenplay, All The Pretty Horses, was a magnum opus. Disregard the movie; the 180 pages script he wrote was remarkable. Once more, he does a great job. Despite the fact that I very much liked Steven Zaillian's Hannibal work, this script is superior. With a good director, it will definitely be a great film. I don't know if Brett Ratner is the man for that job.

LECTER: You fear me, but still came here. Fear this shy boy, yet still you seek him out... Don't you understand, Will? Without imagination, we'd be just like all those other dullards. Fear is the price of your instrument. I can help you bear it.

The opening to this movie is fantastic. We begin with dinner at the Lecter Mansion where the guests are eating succulent amuse-bouche. Unknown to them is that they're made from human flesh but still exceptionally delicious. After the guests leave, Graham comes to see Lecter seeking help with his case. Something in his head clicks and the face-off between the two is magnificent. From that point on, Lecter is the sidekick, the messed-up Yoda-like figure to Graham's hero. Incarcerated for most of the film, he can't do much but he's still crucial to the plot. A very good role for Sir Hopkins, but it would make no sense for MGM to pay for 20 millions for two weeks of work.

GRAHAM: (Whispers) Eat This

Just wanted to put that in, because that's one hell of a cool one-liner. I'll leave you guys to imagine to who he says that before shooting him. Will Graham is an intricate character and whoever plays him needs dramatic depth. Don't give me Nic Cage or a George Clooney. I want Ed Norton or someone like him. Problem is, he can't be that young either. Graham has a wife and kid. He cannot be younger then thirty logically. He has shades of Clarice but much more dark than she was in Silence.

RED DRAGON: I am the Dragon and you call me insane? My movements are followed and recorded as avidly as those of a mighty nebula. Before me, you are a slug in the sun. You are privy to a great becoming and you recognize nothing. You are an ant in the afterbirth. It is in your nature to do one thing correctly: before me you rightly tremble.

The tooth fairy, or the Red Dragon as he calls himself, is downright insane. That role could turn a little know performer into a star. He has a physical presence and a really terrifying personality. Imagine Norman Bates in the body of Vin Diesel and you'll get the image of The Red Dragon. As for his blind love interest, they should pick someone beautiful yet innocent. I have no idea who could successfully pull that off.

Does anyone wanna bet again this project? It's a given blockbuster that could shockingly be good. PLEASE, MGM don't mess this up...

Stay tuned...

That's all folks...

Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)

Questions, comments, praises etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org

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Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in such major websites as Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.