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June 04, 2002
L.I.E.
(out of four)
Before Anthony Hopkins, actor Brian Cox played the original Hannibal Lecter ("Lektor") in the nearly forgotten Manhunter. He's half psychopath and half grandpa -- there's something about Cox's steely eyes and bulldog jowls that could go either way -- and you never quite know whether to trust the characters he plays. In L.I.E., he's creepier than ever as a benevolent monster who goes by the nickname "Big John," a child molester who has learned to live with the fact that he destroys the young lives he touches. Cox tackles an extremely complex character, without question last year's most interesting villain (sorry Sir Tony, but Hannibal's a has-been). On the outside, Big John's a smooth-talking veteran respected by his community, while behind closed doors, he corrupts its youth.
Posted by Peter Debruge at 10:28 AM | Comments (0)