Best Actress: Jodie Foster II
"Make the lambs stop crying!" Me after making the monumental blunder of watching this late at night.
I'd forgotten how totally uncomfortable it is to watch this film, and of course I made the mistake of watching it late at night, so that was a fun evening overall. It's been a decade-plus since I last watched The Silence of the Lambs and trust me when I say that I'd be fine with never seeing this again.
The role of Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee who meets with the calculating, charming cannibal/serial killer Hannibal Lecter in order to crack the case of another serial killer, was always one that would win its actress an Oscar. Jodie imbues her with humanity; at times, Clarice is steely and cool and at other times she looks like a porcelain doll who's about to crack. Watching her face, I was reminded at times of Kirsten Stewart (they played mother and daughter in Panic Room, so that tracks).
I'd forgotten so much of what happens in The Silence of the Lambs, and definitely inflated how long Sir Anthony Hopkins is on screen. In my memory, he's much more visible and much more central to the story than he winds up being (I'd also forgotten the ending phone call!). He haunts the narrative, but Clarice's actions control it.
The Silence of the Lambs was the third—and most recent—film to win the Big Five at the Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress and Best Screenplay. They definitely earned them all.
Jodie Foster was nominated against Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon (both for Thelma and Louise), Laura Dern (Rambling Rose) and Bette Midler (For the Boys). It would be impossible to have rewarded The Silence of the Lambs with all those awards and not award Jodie; of course she deserved it!
DID I LIKE THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS? I am in no real rush to watch this (ever) again but I can appreciate Jodie's and Sir Anthony's performances!
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Did you like The Silence of the Lambs? What are your thoughts on Jodie Foster's second Oscar win?
Keep up with all my Rewatching the Best Actresses posts here!
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