Red Dragon

Based on Thomas Harris’ novel, Red Dragon follows retired FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) as he attempts to track down and stop a psychotic madman (Ralph Fiennes’ Francis Dolarhyde) before he can murder an entire family – with Will’s efforts eventually assisted, albeit reluctantly, by jailed serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Filmmaker Brett Ratner, working from Ted Tally’s screenplay, delivers a progressively engrossing thriller that doesn’t, admittedly, hold much promise in its early stages, as the movie, which does kick off with a stirring pre-credits sequence, suffers from a fairly inert opening half hour that feels like it could (and should) be far more effective (and affecting) – with the watchable vibe, as a result, due to Ratner’s solid visuals and Norton’s predictably reliable efforts. The picture’s transformation into an increasingly enthralling endeavor, then, is triggered by a midsection littered with compelling set-pieces and stirring performances, with the latter reflected most keenly in Fiennes’ captivating turn as the complex Dolarhyde, and it’s clear, too, that Red Dragon‘s proliferation of appealing procedural elements paves the way for an unexpectedly gripping second half – with the tense, exciting climax undoubtedly ensuring that the whole thing concludes on an exceedingly positive note. The end result is a top-notch piece of work that generally fares much, much better than one might’ve initially anticipated, which is no small feat, certainly, given the strength of previous Harris adaptations The Silence of the Lambs and Manhunter.

***1/2 out of ****