I've heard that about Hopkins/Hannibal as well, but I'm with Jane. From what I remember (and I was pretty young at the time) the advertisements from the get-go sold him as one of the stars of the movie. Here's the original trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQKs169Sl0I
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle Laura Benanti - Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Jessica Lange - American Horror Story: Murder House Renee Zellweger - Cold Mountain Sara Ramirez - Spamalot Marc Kudisch & Jan Maxwell - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Michael Jeter - Grand Hotel Wilson Jermaine Heredia - Rent Norbert Leo Butz - Thou Shalt Not Danny Burstein - Drowsy Chaperone Rachel York - Victor/Victoria Jane Adams - An Inspector Calls Marisa Tomei - My Cousin Vinny Dianne Wiest - Hannah and Her Sisters Dianne Wiest - Parenthood Dianne Wiest - Bullets Over Broadway Penelope Cruz - Vicky Christina Barcelona Mo'Nique - Precious Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
re: Hopkins stealing scenes. Silence of the Lambs, Manhunter, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising are all about Hannibal Lecter. Hopkins in Silence is Lecter-it's all about him. He's on screen most of the time and doesn't have to steal scenes-he's got the scenes wrapped around his finger.
If you want to talk standouts in that film- TED LEVINE.
I'm so glad you liked it, Eric. Napolean Solo was to be the main character, and Illya Kuryakin was to be a recurring character, but he was so popular they instantly became a team. They had such great chemistry together.
Illya was maybe my earliest crush, and he and Napoleon had a homoerotic vibe - plus there was often a bit of kink (make sure to watch to the very end):