I thought, for all of Hopkins' strengths in SILENCE, he was phoning it in for a paycheck this time around. But not as badly as Norton. I really disagree there. I know he can act, but damn, he felt like he was out of a high school theater production. I never got any sense of the internal struggle, that he was actually putting his soul on the line (not to mention his own family) by taking this job.
And no way did Noonan portray him as just another serial killer. Consider the entire subplot with Reba, how shy and meek he becomes around her, how this great monster suddenly becomes awkward and confused by her advances. Think about that look on his face as they have sex, and as they lie together in bed, his face contorting with terror and awe and, strangest of all, actual happiness.
And then consider that scene where he thinks he sees Reba kissing the other guy, and it's like Ralph Wiggum, you can actually pinpoint the moment his heart rips in half and the monster takes over completely. No subplot is needed. No superficial character history could give that any more depth. It's elegant, simple, and powerful.
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Re: I get to be the dissenting judge, woo-hoo!
Date: 2010-08-10 04:26 pm (UTC)And no way did Noonan portray him as just another serial killer. Consider the entire subplot with Reba, how shy and meek he becomes around her, how this great monster suddenly becomes awkward and confused by her advances. Think about that look on his face as they have sex, and as they lie together in bed, his face contorting with terror and awe and, strangest of all, actual happiness.
And then consider that scene where he thinks he sees Reba kissing the other guy, and it's like Ralph Wiggum, you can actually pinpoint the moment his heart rips in half and the monster takes over completely. No subplot is needed. No superficial character history could give that any more depth. It's elegant, simple, and powerful.