Jonathan Demme cast Hopkins based on his performance in The Elephant Man where he plays a deeply compassionate doctor. He said Lecter is a good man trapped inside a monster.
Whether through nature or nurture Lecter’s brain is damaged and he feels a compulsion to dominate those who disrespect him by killing and eating them, but beneath those impulses lie a deeply empathetic, learned and creative mind. In many ways he’s a genius, and we admire gifted, strong people.
His ‘code’ is also… admirable. He only enjoys killing and eating people who have mistreated him or others he deems worthy of respect. He wouldn’t dream of hurting Barney, but he’s having Chiltern for dinner. Making Miggs choke to death on his own tongue for jizzing on Clarice was, in a deeply twisted way, chivalrous.
But let’s not get too seduced by him. He feels no remorse and didn’t think twice about murdering the two security guards and the dude in the ambulance for his escape. We then hear he murdered two tourists, most likely for money and clothes - two completely innocent people minding their own business.
The film enjoys messing with us. They portray one of the most fearsome movie villains of all time then make him charming and almost admirable. If we saw him needlessly murder an innocent person for sheer sadistic pleasure then we’d have a different view.
Actually, it’s worth comparing Hopkins’ Lecter to Brian Cox’s version. The latter still had a unique charm, but he was less likeable and conspired to kill Will Graham’s wife and child to spite him for capturing Lecter.
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