Hannibal, Season 1 Review

Hannibal, and you can bet this isn't a TV series based on the Carthagian commander of old (although that too would be worth a watch), it's a name synonymous with a brilliant psychiatrist turned serial killer with a certain appetite for human flesh. I was kind of familiar with the books by Thomas Harris but never sat down and read one through properly, it was in the incredible film The Silence of the Lambs that first introduced me to the Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Played to absolute perfection by the great Anthony Hopkins who gave a truly chilling yet mesmerising performance, despite being on screen for only 24 minutes or so, he really put the character on the map. Yet, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought of what lead up to him being incarcerated at Baltimore State Hospital? Peaking through his cage of a cell mocking Clarice Starling's Southern drawl or enjoying a census taker's liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. What was he like prior to being that infamous serial killer? What were his crimes exactly and how did he eventually get caught? These were juicy questions, then some years later I hear a buzz around my workplace about this show called Hannibal that explores the character's past and thought well I cant really refuse now can I?

True to their word, Hannibal is exactly that and I was immediately hooked within the first few episodes. It is a gripping and grisly (no shocker there) psychological thriller/horror series with a stellar cast and a really striking visual style that I haven't really seen on TV before. I literally watched about seven episodes in a single night which is quite rare for me, but it's so absorbing and thrilling that you can't help but lose yourself in it. The first season mainly follows gifted, but troubled criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) who is cursed with a gift, he can see directly into the minds of serial killers often at the cost of his own sanity. He is asked by the head of the Behavioral Sciences division of the FBI Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) to assist in investigating the disappearances of several young girls. Inevitably, the bodycount starts to stack up and they get involved in some pretty bizarre and gruesome cases. Bringing Will Graham back into the field though poses risks to himself, namely his ability to directly empathise with killers so Jack Crawford enlists the help of none other than Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) to watch over Will and his mental state.  

The menu of the first season and it's main offerings: Will Graham, Dr Alana Bloom, Special Agent Jack Crawford, Special Agent Brian Zeller, journalist Freddie Lounds, Special Agent Beverly Katz, Special Agent Jimmy Price and Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

The Hannibal Lecter we meet in Hannibal is a calm, collected, cultured culinarian, a lover of the fine arts and an accomplished psychiatrist. You may know Hannibal Lecter, but you haven't seen him quite like this before, this is how he started out before his rise to notriety. Mads Mikkelsen really does bring a lot to the role, he oozes sophistication, charm and a razor-sharp intensity yet deep down under the veneer of this well-adjusted, intelligent, seemingly benign exterior is a monster lurking and waiting to pounce. The relationship between a vulnerable Will and Hannibal is at the heart of this show and the chemistry between them is perfect. You can really feel the tendrils of Hannibal's subtle psychological trickery slowly affecting Will, manipulating and influencing events, this is the Hannibal you know. I have to praise Hugh Dancy for taking on such a challenging role, he too captures Will's fragility and brilliance so well and his decent into the minds of these various killers is one of the highlights of the show. He has this unique insight into their methodology, possible motives and psychology, he can think like them and with all the consequences that come with that. You can see him slowly losing his grip on reality and of all the people to try to bring him back he has the most gifted serial killer of all to turn to, this makes for some truly compelling television.

Will sitting down with Dr. Lecter. As gruesome and weird as the cases become it's still all about these two. This criminal profiler whose discerning eye and mind can visualise and at times predict criminal behavior can't see the one sitting directly across from him...

The supporting cast are also great, you have the lovely Dr Alana Bloom who was a student of Hannibal's and a psychology professor who is also Will's colleague and friend. She has a certain affection for Will despite his issues and their relationship becomes tested throughout. Laurence Fishburne is also really good as Jack Crawford, a hard-nosed and assured leader who brings Will Graham back into field. You've got the gutsy journalist Freddie Lounds who like most journalists is the typical self-seeking opportunist, played by a woman this time around which I thought was an interesting choice but she nails the character. The FBI squad are also on hand to provide good banter with some comic relief here and there in what is quite an all-round serious show which is always welcome. It really captures the atmosphere of that nail-biting, goosebump-inducing psychological horror that The Silence of the Lambs did so well. Due to it's rather...explicit nature it won't be for everyone, for someone whose become somewhat desensitised to TV violence from watching shows like Game of Thrones, True Blood and American Horror Story, it still did disturb me at some parts. If you love gritty shows like Criminal Minds, Homeland, Dexter, The Following etc. then you'll definitely like Hannibal. 

The horror elements are like a delicate mix of Hitchcockian suspense with all the surrealist, macabre imagery that wouldn't look out of place in a David Lynch/Eli Roth film or a Stephen King novel. It's unique aesthetic, namely Will's reconstruction of a particular crime through the eyes and actions of the killers he is investigating is striking and very effective. The imagery is deliberately unsettling but intriguing and it draws you in right from the first episode. 

The Verdict
Hannibal is an engrossing and grisly blend of edgy psychological thriller and horror with a great cast and a unique style. It's suspenseful with some choking tension and packed with some memorable moments and a finale that will leave you hungry for more, I certainly can't wait to get stuck in to season two. This is a hidden gem that's unfortunately been somewhat overlooked in favour of some of the more mainstream shows, but there the ones who are missing out. You have an appointment with Dr Lecter, don't be late and this is not for the faint of heart, one of the best of shows on TV right now.

Interstellar Review

 

So with Interstellar director Christopher Nolan wanted to boldly go where he has not gone before. For it's apparent grandiosity and spectacle though, Interstellar might be Nolan's most personal film to date, using the wonderment and visual splendour of science merely as an effective vehicle to drive the very human core of the story. I guess I'd classify it more as a human drama set in space with some fanciful science exposition to weave it all together, and with all it's talk of interstellar travel, wormholes, black holes, Einstein's relativity, it's ultimately about one man's journey through literally space and time to save his daughter. If your looking for an epic all-out sci-fi action film then this really isn't it, although it does boast incredible set-piece moments that will leave your mouth agape, the crux though of the entire film is that family bond which brings it all right back down to Earth instead of becoming lost in space. It is at times numbingly ambitious, deeply profound, genuinely enthralling, exhilarating, and incredibly poignant. I would go as far as to say it's Nolan's best film to date, in fact I would go even further and say Interstellar is one of the finest feats of filmmaking I have seen in the past decade. Not only does it work from a technical standpoint which is something Nolan is known for, but it succeeds completely at a raw and visceral level more so than any film I've seen in years. I left the cinema almost in a daze, at a loss for words, but the one word that eventually came to me was “incredible”, and it truly is. If you want the full experience though I'd definitely recommend seeing it in full 70mm IMAX, it's the only way it must be seen. 

Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is a former NASA test pilot who now lives a very agrarian life with his family, father-in-law Donald, a son Tom and his daughter Murphy. However, the Earth's crops are dying, freak dust storms are becoming more frequent and it's resources are becoming increasingly scarce. Humanity is now on the precipice and it's up to Cooper along with a group of scientists, Dr Amelia Brant (Anne Hathaway), Romilly (David Gyasi) and Doyle (Wes Bentley) to venture beyond the stars in an attempt to save humanity. To say any more than that really would spoil it, but know it's an extraordinary, roller-coaster of a journey backed up by some amazing and at times heart-breaking performances particularly from McConaughey, Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and the ever impeccable Michael Caine who plays Dr. Brant's father. The entire ensemble though is fantastic and I must give extra credit to the girl who plays Murph, her and McConaughey really do lay down the emotional anchor of the entire film, their relationship is at the heart of this epic tale and without that the film as a whole would have not nearly been as effective. Where Inception was I think more about it's grand ideas backed up with strong performances and one man's chance of redemption and absolution from guilt, Interstellar is more about the indomitable, infinite nature of paternal love backed up with some extraordinary visual flair and ambition. Like the film itself, it reaches to infinity and beyond, yet remains firmly grounded in just raw emotion which punches surprisingly hard throughout the 169 minute run time. It came as a bit of a shock to me and I'm sure many in the cinema how emotional Interstellar actually is, I gurantee there was not a dry eye in that room by the time the credits rolled and there's no shame in that...much. If there is one minor gripe I can level at the film is that it may come across as overly sentimental at times, one particular moment might leave eyes rolling, but this in no way hurts the overall experience, it's just worth mentioning.

Cooper and crew on some strange, new world, taking a simple dip most probably...nothing important.

From a technical standpoint it's simply outstanding, and everything you've come to expect from a Christopher Nolan film. There are some sequences towards the second and final act that are truly breathtaking, and it's possibly the most cinematic film he's done. It's dizzying almost particularly towards the end and while I suspect he's taken some artistic license with the actual science used similar to the dreams in Inception, it's used very effectively though and will certainly leave you gasping in awe. There are several homages and nods to sci-fi films of the past like Event Horizon, Contact, Solaris and certainly Kubrick's 2001 which you can tell was a huge inspiration. I would argue that Interstellar may very well be the 2001 of this era; thought-provoking, daring and incredibly grand in scope and ambition. As ludicrous as some of the more fantastical science may seem in this film, it's rooted in actual science with theoretical physicist Kip Thorne serving as executive producer and consultant. Visually though it's on another scale (tried to avoid the tired 'out of this world' pun), it has to be seen to be believed really and I've never seen anything quite like it in a film.  The soundtrack by the legend that is Hans Zimmer is also beautifully haunting yet epic at the same time, with a surprising emphasis on the organ here which I think works perfectly particularly in the more tender and affecting scenes. It hits all the right emotions and everything from the beautiful cinematography, the performances and sound, it just really comes together in this majestic coalescence.    

Now with all this gushing you might be quick to label me a Nolan "fanboy", or whatever that means, I'm really not. I'm just a lover of a great film and Interstellar certainly is that, but with someone like Christopher Nolan directing it sure I had higher expectations for it. He's clearly established himself as this auteur director, and he's demonstrated that he is among one of the most gifted of his generation. But I went into this film very much the same way I did when I first saw Batman Begins back in 2005, never knew who Nolan was at this point, had not heard of his previous work and thought it may be a cool, new Batman film. Despite Interstellar's long run time of 169 minutes, remarkably it never felt like it was plodding along which is a good thing, maybe not good for cramp though just saying, but I was engaged for the full 169 minutes. It does get going quite quickly and once it takes off (quite literally) it never really lets up after that so buckle up, sit tight and prepare for the greatest trip of the year by far. I hope this will inspire as well as inform cause it is one of those rare films that combines thought-provoking ideas with that inate fascination in us all, I certainly walked away with as many questions as answers which is a good thing. It begs to be analysed and I imagine it will for months maybe even years to come.  

The Verdict

Interstellar is an extraordinary achievement both on a technical scale and on a purely emotional level, it perfectly blends the breathtaking spectacle with a hard-hitting profoundity rarely seen in film. Featuring fantastic lead performances, twists and turns and an incredible soundtrack, this is without question the best film of the year and Nolan's finest work to date, tied with The Dark Knight. I'm going to go on the record and say it is one of the best films I've ever seen and which will stick with me for a long time, heck I can't stop thinking about it. Interstellar is out of this world! Yeah, I caved.

"The Lion and the Rose" Ep. 2 Preview

Nice day for a Royal Wedding. This episode will see the villainous King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) marry Margaery Tyrell, what could go wrong?

So, after a very strong start, it seems that Season 4 could already be building into what could potentially be a huge episode on Sunday night (Monday night for us here in the UK). First and foremost we will see the marriage of Joffrey, the mad-boy king we just all love to hate and Margaery which will no doubt be a grand and lavish affair, and we're all invited, ah I just love weddings don't you? However as we all now know, weddings are anything but predictable and pomp in Game of Thrones, so prepare for the unexpected. Also, according to the plot summary, we will be dropping in on Bran and the gang (Hodor, Jojen and Meera Reed and his direwolf Summer) who have finally ventured beyond the Wall. There will also be an update on Stannis (and no doubt the ever present Melisandre) back at Dragonstone where he has brought Davos back into the fold, despite his 'blasphemous' words and earlier impetuous act against Melisandre, to prepare for their march to the Wall to assist the Night's Watch against the real threat of the White Walkers. It's fair to say there will be A LOT to talk about in this episode, so you can expect a full, in-depth, spoiler-ridden review after it airs Monday night folks! Til then, I've uploaded a promo clip of the upcoming episode which is only about 30 seconds or so long but sets the stage for what many people are already calling as "Episode 9 material" in terms of spectacle and shocks. I can hardly wait, bring on episode two! Beware the internet, those sensitive, for it is dark and full of spoilers, but those who have already read the books will know what's coming.

Game of Thrones Season 4 Ep. 1: "Two Swords" Review

Yes, that's right! Dispatch the ravens immediately, rally all Thronies cause the HUGELY anticipated fourth season to the phenomenal Game of Thrones is finally upon us. The first episode premiered on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, but since I couldn't wait that long and with the real possibility of spontaneously combusting from sheer excitement, I decided to watch it earlier this afternoon through the NOW TV app on my console. As we all know, season three had left us all reeling from the bombshell that was the infamous Red Wedding, which spawned a thousand YouTube reaction videos. We gasped, we screamed and in some cases yes..we cried (I know I did, *sniff*), yet we all left with an overwhelming sense of where the series could possibly go from here. Finally, after an agonising wait of nearly a year, season four is now here and boy does it start with a bang. Some key spoilers will follow as I will be discussing several of the plot points and notable character interactions. As I booted up the episode I was greeted with, "This programme contains Strong Language, Strong Violence and Adult Themes.", hell yes you know what that means, Game of Thrones is back baby!

The impressive and symbolic first scene really does set the stage.

The opening scene has the ancient Valyrian steel greatsword Ice melted down and reforged into two swords, under the equally steely and piercing gaze of Tywin (played effortlessly as ever by Charles Dance) as the Rains of Castamere seeps ominously in the background. This sword was a cherished and ancient family heirloom of House Stark, which Ned Stark had used to behead a deserter of the Night's Watch way back in the first episode of season one, the sword that in a tragic twist of fate would also be used to take his own head later on. He casts Ice's wolf pelt scabbard into the fire and watches it burn, which is not at all subtle...yeah we felt that. Tywin gifts one of the these two swords to Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), fresh from the trials and tribulations and his long odyssey in the North, he's now sporting a new haircut but one less hand. His father insists (in typical Tywin fashion) he must return to Casterly Rock but Jaime is having none of it and vows to stay in the Kingsguard, despite his...handicap. There is always that great tension amongst the Lannister camp and it's certainly true here, and family drama is what Game of Thrones excels at. Jaime has certainly undergone many radical changes throughout the seasons (particularly Season 3), with his ever growing complexity and moral ambiguity, but you can't help but like him despite his obvious flaws, and Nikolaj as ever plays him with great conviction.

Meanwhile, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage, on impeccable form as always) along with his squire Podrick and the ever delightfully vulgar and plain-spoken sellsword-turned-knight Bronn is set to welcome the Prince of Dorne to King's Landing. However they discover from his travelling entourage that he is too ill to attend the Royal Wedding and has instead sent his brother in his stead. Que probably one of the most memorable entrances for a character thus far. Enter Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal, who is perfectly cast) a man with a seemingly genial demeanour yet under that cool and charming veneer is a man consumed with vengeance, particularly against the Lannisters. You are in no doubt by the end of the scene in Littlefinger's brothel (yep, cue full frontal nudity folks) that this is a man who will, like a viper, snap at any moment and one who is hell-bent on exacting swift, bloody justice on those who he feels wronged his family, particularly his dear sister Elia and her two children. She was the wife of Rhaegar Targaryen (a.k.a The Last Dragon) who later died at the hands of Robert Baratheon during the Battle of the Trident. The Sack of King's Landing later followed, and her two children Rhaenys and Aegon were butchered and Elia herself was supposedly raped and cut in half by Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane during the siege, who Oberyn believes was ordered to do so by Tywin Lannister. He warns Tyrion to tell his father that, "the Lannister's aren't the only ones who pay their debts." Look out for this one folks, the Viper is loose.

Oberyn Martell (a.k.a the Red Viper) speaking truths with Tyrion. Look out, there's a new player in town.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke, looking gorgeously regal as always) is enjoying some leisure time with her dragons, which are again beautifully brought to life by the special effects team who should be commended for rendering them so incredibly and seamlessly. However, they are growing larger by the day, and here they already appear enormous despite not even being full size yet. She looks on at Viserion and Rhaegal fighting over a dead lamb while stroking Drogon's head. Feeling left out, Drogon decides to join in the fight but as Dany tries to calm him down he snarls at her (like a typical teenager really), warning his mother to stay back and leaves her understandably shaken. Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) ever her wise counsel gives her a dose of reality and states that, "dragons can never be tamed Khalessi, not even by their mother". She sets a course for Meereen, the mother of all slave cities, with her army of Unsullied in tow and a recast Daario Naharis (now played by Michael Huisman, who is a much better fit) who is now more chasing her as opposed to her being in his shadow which I think makes for a better dynamic between the two. He even presents her with a lovely bouquet of exotic flowers, aww a budding romance in the air perhaps. This is a fairly Dany-lite episode which isn't surprising since it's still very early days yet, but as book-readers will know, Meereen plays a very significant part in her campaign so there will be a lot more to come. 

There is a particularly touching scene at the end where Dany and company stumble upon a grisly mile marker in the form of a dead crucified slave child nailed upon a wooden cross, pointing in the direction to Meereen. Ser Jorah states there is one for each mile to the last of the great slave cities, making it a disturbing 163 in total, and Dany vows not only to have them all buried and their collars removed but that she will "see each and every one of their faces". If her Sack of Astapor from Season 3 (Ep. 4 "And Now His Watch Has Ended") is anything to go by, which undoubtedly is one of the greatest moments across all seasons, then Meereen better watch out. The Silver Queen is coming a'knocking, and shes brought her dragons not to mention her 8,000 eunuch warriors who aren't at all shy about getting their spears a little bloody. 

The Mother of Dragons cradling the biggest of her dragons, Drogon who has quite the attitude.

At Castle Black, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is being tried for his actions, namely breaking his vows (by sleeping with Ygritte) and the killing of Qhorin Halfhand. Jon Snow obviously knows...something, warning acting Lord Commander Ser Alliser Thorne, Ser Janos Slynt and Maester Aemon that Mance Rayder's wildlings will attack Castle Black. He is ultimately released at Maester Aemon's behest, much to Slynt's and Thorne's dismay who wanted him executed. Jon also doesn't resist a sly dig at Slynt's misfortune of being a former Commander of the City Watch at King's Landing to now an exiled member of the Night's Watch, which is always welcome. Elsewhere, Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) are awaiting orders from Mance Rayder about their next move before they are interrupted by the arrival of a Free Folk clan known as the bald-headed, self-scarifying Thenns (who resemble a cross between a Romulan and a Cardassian) and who also have an appetite for human flesh. Though if you've watched Game of Thrones for as long as I have then throwing cannibalism into the mix shouldn't come as that big a shock, since you've already become desensitised to like EVERYTHING else that is the barbaric world of Westeros. You get the sense that something big is about to erupt in the North, and yes the inevitable battle will come but it's great to see the character arcs evolving already even if it is only the first episode. The Battle of Blackwater Bay will take some topping, but already the building tension is palpable and you can bet in true Game of Thrones fashion that there will be some shocks in store this season.

Back at King's Landing, Tyrion tries to comfort his disconsolate wife Sansa (Sophie Turner, a tragic victim here), as she tells of her brother and mother's butchery at the Red Wedding, I know dear, I know *sniffs*. He also struggles to fend off an overbearing and lovesick Shae (Sibel Kekilli) as their 'relationship' is constantly tested which makes for some great tension and scenes between the two even if I feel personally she has run her course somewhat now. Jaime also gets a fetching new golden hand from Cercei (Lena Headey) though the loss of his original hand and his long time away makes for some much needed friction between the two siblings/lovers (though perhaps not in the way Jaime was..hoping) which is a joy to watch as their deeply complicated relationship continues to unravel. There are a few other great scenes with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) who encourages Jaime to live up to his vow of returning the Stark girls to safety, though recent events have obviously made this difficult. We briefly drop in on the Tyrells, namely Lady Olenna (Diana Rigg) and Margaery (Natalie Dormer) who are planning for the upcoming wedding, a wedding that as is always the case in the George R.R. Martin universe, will be one to remember, particularly if the Red Wedding is anything to go by and were not forgetting that anytime soon. 

As good as the episode is overall, they really did save the best scene in my opinion til the very last. The Hound (Rory McCann) and Arya (Maisie Williams) are travelling through the woods somewhere in The Riverlands til the pair stumble upon a tavern, where the food and ale is merely the appetiser. Arya's out for a full serving of good old fashioned revenge and she knows it's a dish best served cold, and what better man to have by your side than The Hound who likes a bit of killing himself and...chicken? Seriously, this scene had me in stitches at times, and the two together make for one awesome double act. Dishing out some great lines, brutal violence which of course is what we come to expect in Game of Thrones and from the destruction of one Stark sword in the beginning to regaining another. The execution (pun intended), line delivery and everything about this scene was amazing, and it left me cheering giddily if I'm honest. Full credit to Rory and especially Maisie for making this a truly memorable moment, one of many more to come from them I hope. If "All Men Must Die" is the central theme of this season then there certainly off to a flying start, with the body count already mounting up. Arya is certainly turning into a fine instrument of Stark vengeance, which is not surprising considering all that she's been through and it brings a little smile to my face to see her paying back blood with blood with an almost ruthless sang-froid and icy resolve. Valar Morghulis indeed Arya, go girl! 

A Hound and a Wolf pup walk into a bar...yeah and awesomeness ensues in what is perhaps one of the best scenes of the entire series and certainly of the episode.

The Verdict

A very strong first episode with great performances as always, as well as a compelling new player in the form of Oberyn Martell. Still early days yet, but already it's starting to develop into something truly special. Season 3 will certainly take some beating, but with an assured and promising start like this, I have the utmost faith in Game of Thrones maintaining it's quality and the standard as still, without question the best show on TV right now. That last scene alone will live long in the memory for me, all an all a great episode! Roll on 13th April.