It is unfortunate that any film with serial killers and Anthony Hopkins is going to be compared to his previous role in Silence of the Lambs. In Solace Hopkins plays retired clairvoyant physician Dr John Clancy, enlisted by Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to use his physic skills to help catch a serial killer. While the serial killer context makes for obvious comparisons, the atmosphere and tone are totally different.
Anthony Hopkins steals most of the scenes, but he is often competing against clever camera angles and flashing imagery. There is something quite sharp and beautiful in the cinematography. that makes this a weirdly relaxing watch despite the subject matter. While Hopkins just about gets away with this role, the comparison between the two films makes a caricature out of Abbie Cornish as Agent Katherine Cowles. We half expect to hear famous dialogue and so her character is doomed from the start.
As we don’t meet Colin Farrell, the serial killer until quite late in the film, the first half is a little slow. However, the second half, as Hopkins closes in and confronts Farllel is a lot more fun, with some suitably villainous exchanges.
Pay attention at the end or you will miss the subtle plot twists.
Worth a watch, but not going to be on my list for best film of the month.
