Cincinnati Babyhead

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CB’s Favorite Performances: Brian Cox – Hannibal Lecktor

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Ok it doesn’t get much better for CB than Brian Cox doing his thing in this role.  When I first saw it I thought “this guy’s not acting. He is a real nut job that they got to do the film”

Everything he does is truthful, not one false move. From the pasty look to the well mannered, educated dirt bag he is. A creep’s creep. Cox just makes him a real living breathing person. No bullshit craziness. When he starts quoting all the nasty things that God  has been up to and how he aspires to that, yeah you believe him. He’s only in 3 or 4 scenes but what scenes they are. Not a lot of range in emotion just down the middle nuts.

No fire breathing put on performance just madness from the core. Great stuff Brian, you made this character a hall of famer in the film world for me. The CB award of excellence.

“Dream much, Will?”

33 comments on “CB’s Favorite Performances: Brian Cox – Hannibal Lecktor”

  1. Heavy Metal Overload
    July 12, 2020

    He’s such a contrast to the whole stylised Miami Vice thing that’s going on in the rest of the film too.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  2. Yeah, Another Blogger
    July 12, 2020

    Hi CB. I know that you like movies and series that are dark and grim (I also know that your tastes go way beyond that, too). My wife and I have been watching Ozark, on Netflix. We like it. It’s filled with all sorts of nastiness. Have you seen it?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 12, 2020

      “Ozark”? Niel, you’re going all hillbilly on me. I’ve heard from some good sources (now you and your wife) that it’s well done. I’ll watch anything that’s good. “Nastiness” never hurts.
      So have you unsubscribed the “Hallmark” channel?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Yeah, Another Blogger
        July 12, 2020

        There are three seasons of Ozark so far. Ten episodes per season. We’re near the end of season two. One thing about the show is that you sort of have to watch all the episodes. Otherwise it’s easy to lose track of the story lines. See ya.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 12, 2020

        Thanks. I always start at the beginning.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. J.
    July 12, 2020

    Cox is brilliant, eh? I really like Anthony Hopkins, but Cox plays an entirely different character. Much more unsettling.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 12, 2020

      Man do I love hearing from on of my favorite guys from Scotland. Brian is “unsettling”. Imagine being suck with that guy in a snowstorm? Sir Anthony is really good. Different take but Coxy will always be that character to me.
      (Our buddy Ennio passed away. I dropped just a small thing on him. I wanted to send folks to that great piece you did on the GB$U soundtrack but you dissapeared. Watched ‘Once Upon a Time In the West’ last night. Fantastic) How you been? Cool I hope.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • J.
        July 13, 2020

        Yeah – they bring very different things to the role. Cox is just a wee bit more real. Maybe cause of the accent?

        (I make very rash decisions sometimes and pulling the plug on the blogs may have been somewhat rash… sorry about that). I’ve been good, CB. Thought it was about time I caught up with my friends, so here I am!

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 13, 2020

        I agree, e was closer to the bone.
        I get all that. Just miss your takes and input. Hope yer back for a while.

        Like

  4. Jim S.
    July 13, 2020

    Interesting. Never saw this one. I’ll have to check it out. It’s always something to behold when some actor goes deep into the evil space. Where’s this shit coming from you wonder?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 13, 2020

      I think you’d like the film Doc.
      The thing about Cox, it was like J said, ‘Unsettleling” because he plays it so straight. He doesnt play the back story just the moment. He could be your, prof, doctor he is so even keeled. The beauty of it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. badfinger20 (Max)
    July 14, 2020

    This is one I haven’t seen. I have seen Silence of the Lambs but not this. You know already I like off the rails evil…I think I’ll like this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 14, 2020

      Oh yeah Max. This was done before “Lamb” (which I liked). But this is a different kind of movie. I did a take on it because it was off the radar at the time. It holds up pretty good (cell phones as big as shoe boxes). Just watched it a while ago. I think you and the young fella would get a lot out of it. Cox is just part of a real good cast but his portrayal has always stuck with me. The film as a definite atmospheric vibe.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 14, 2020

        I had no clue the character was around before Lamb. This will be interesting.
        Those shoebox cell phones…they were status symbols then…if you had one…you had it going on.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 14, 2020

        The cinematography will grab the the young guy. Mann has a certain style.
        I didnt have one. I still used the phone booth.

        Liked by 1 person

      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 14, 2020

        I’m still blown away that this was BEFORE Silence of the Lambs…yea we will be watching this within a week.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 14, 2020

        It will be interesting to see if you can shake off the ‘Lambs’ influence and enjoy this. It has become a bit of a cult thing. J and I have been commenting back and orth on the Cox/Hopkins portrayals. Both good but Cox was the original (not always better) for me and he was sooooo good. Of course you’ll let me know how you like the film. You like this stuff as much as I do. If you like in the Gadda Da Vida, Mann uses it to pretty good effect in my book.

        Liked by 1 person

      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 14, 2020

        I will let you know…I’m hoping for a Thursday viewing.
        That is the only good thing I have got out of the world blowing up…that Bailey is home more because of college being online.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Tommy
    July 15, 2020

    CB, I’ve seen this one a bunch of times, and would always watch it again. I never focused on the Lecter character, so next time, I’ll pay closer attention. I do remember that it’s quite a different take on the character – probably much closer to a real sicko. Always love true crime stuff. Thomas Harris must have some nasty crap rolling around in his head.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 15, 2020

      Yeah the Red Dragon book was out there. I guess he got some of that “crap” out of his head. His Black Sunday was a good one also.

      Like

      Reply
  7. Tony
    July 16, 2020

    Oh man… I never really dug Silence of The Lambs but Manhunter… there’s something about Mann’s mood and vibe in this era that ticks a lot of boxes for me and Cox (in just his third film role) is really on it in this

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 16, 2020

      I didnt mind ‘Lambs’ but Mann’s film did it for me. I remember telling people about Cox (and the film) after seeing this film. 3rd role? When you have it , you have it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. badfinger20 (Max)
    July 17, 2020

    We watched it last night… first things first… I’ll never think of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida the same again. Loved the movie and yea there is no mistaking when it was made I loved it.

    It was some good performances all the way around. Tom Noonan’s performance of Francis was pretty damn creepy itself.

    William Petersen’s portrayal of Graham was low keyed…really low keyed but it worked well….and yea Brian Cox was out there and perfect for the role. I love the simple scene where he got Graham’s home address…the way he manipulated the lady over the phone.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • cincinnatibabyhead
      July 17, 2020

      I did a full take on the film earlier and talked about all the reasons I liked it. Noonan was perfect. You knew it was going to go bad with Allen. The four leads were all good. Bang on about Peterson.
      The low key style worked well and then Mann hits us with Iron Butterfly.
      What did Bailey think of Manns cinematic style?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 17, 2020

        He loved a lot of the shots. The blue looking bedroom at the start…the first thing he said was…I bet they shot that in the day with a filter…I said…ok…whatever you say lol.

        It wasn’t over the top 80s though as I thought it would be…the firery wheelchair came out of left field for me at that point…loved it.

        I also liked how they showed things like…
        Reba saving her own life by sleeping with him that night…cause she would have been a statistic if she didn’t.

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 17, 2020

        When it was released it was way under the radar. It has stayed with me all these years. I think it has a pretty solid following.
        Yeah the Cox chewing the gum and talking to the operator. How slick was that? He is so natural.

        Liked by 1 person

      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 17, 2020

        I totally get where you said he wasn’t acting.
        Very few times do I say that but I agree with you on this. The other one on top of my head is Welles in Citizen Kane… they become that character

        Liked by 1 person

      • cincinnatibabyhead
        July 17, 2020

        Inspiring when I see work like you mentioned.
        On the scene you mentioned when he was getting Will’s number. ‘Manipulating”, we’ve all done that so I could identify. It was co seamless. In other hands it might have been turned into a performance. Cox just stayed real to get what he wanted. Brilliant.

        Liked by 1 person

      • badfinger20 (Max)
        July 17, 2020

        And those performances don’t happen all of the time either.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. BuriedOnMars
    July 19, 2020

    The blu-ray for this one has been on my wish list forever and a day now. It just refuses to drop in price. I’ll nab it one of these days though.

    Liked by 1 person

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