Hopkins was born for that role. Splendid.

Asked on a talk show if he'd been to watch Silence Of The Lambs at the cinema Hopkins said yes, he had.  He'd made a point of sitting behind a young couple.  When the film ended he leant forward and said "What do you think of the film?"   With predictably amusing results...

The heavy sweat stains in the armpits are a nice, realistic touch. He spent less than 5 minutes with Lector, but looks exhausted after. The fear and mental energy it took to get through that short interview knocked him out.

The fact that Hannibal doesn't blink often is terrifying. 😮😮😮

Never has the word "oodles" been uttered so chillingly.

"You had, disadvantages." "What disadvantages?" "You're insane."

Dr. Lecter looks much nicer, cooperative than my former boss.

Edward Norton is one of the few with the balls to play this character

"You stink of fear but you're not a coward."

The stark contrast with how he acts towards Graham compared to Starling is fascinating

I miss this level of cinema 🎥

3:05 Lecter, for even just a moment, seems seriously offended by this comment and I feel like this is why he goes into his tirade on Will, out of emotional defense. His eyes even get glossy for a split second, tremendous acting by Hopkins.

Hopkins never blinks. Thats cold blooded.

I love the clear difference between Will Graham and Clarice Starling through these scenes.

Starling is chasing her career, but she's also hanging on Lecter's every word. She has a sense about her where she needs Hannibal, and she doesn't know how to control the conversation or that she's on a string - but she's polite and well meaning, and she strikes Hannibal more like an injured bird that needs nursing than someone who fits his usual MO. He plays with her, he knows he can, but she doesn't rub him the wrong way like his victims do so he never really actively wishes her harm.

Will Graham is more like an equal, and when Hannibal tries to gain an advantage, Will gives him nothing. Hannibal wants to play games with him and Graham infuriates him, part because he was Hannibal's foil, but also because he understands Hannibal in a way others can't. He's not an idiot, he doesn't come treating Lecter like he can be unravelled for personal gains like Dr. Chilton - he treats Hannibal like a professional, he gives him respect, but doesn't let him have control.

Hopkins Is a legend

The best part of this is when Will says “you’re insane” and we watch Lecter process the honest response/insult, and then let his anger take control, deciding to unleash his nasty little rant.

Any time you see Sir Anthony Hopkins playing Hannibal Lecter, it is to witness a master of his craft perform with no wasted motion or emotion. Every movement calculated, every syllable purposeful, all directed toward being the dominant personality in the room, unnerving and unbalancing his intellectual foe in their eternal battle of wits.

I love how he checkmated Lector with a simple "you're insane"

Anthony Hopkins can play a myriad of characters convincingly. All the way from kind, gentle and loving to awesomely chilling, terrifying and seriously disturbed. One of several actors I love to watch.

I love the difference in how he greets Graham  in this movie vs Starling in Silence.  He stands for Starling but not for Graham, yet he treats Graham like an equal to some extent.