The two Jonathan Demme hits that gave performances for the ages

In one of the interesting film workshops I attended, we spent a lot of time looking at two of the late Jonathan Demme’s movies. These award-winning films were released in succession and caught the attention of so many critics.

I think it’s high time we paid tribute to such a great director for directing films that made actors give performances of a lifetime.

The Silence of the Lambs

“The Silence of the Lambs” won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress, one of only two movies in history to accomplish such a feat. In it, Anthony Hopkins gave one of the most brilliant, albeit terrifying performances, with only 20 minutes of screen time. Jodie Foster likewise, played the iconic Clarice Starling almost perfectly. Both actors were intense and radiated different auras that captured audiences, and still continues to do so, nearly 30 years after its release.

Philadelphia

In “Philadelphia” Demme moved from the suspense thriller genre toward courtroom drama. The similarity lies in having another pair of talented thespians in Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Both actors gave powerful performances on different ends of the spectrum, leading to nominations for Hanks and Washington in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor category, respectively. While Hanks won and Washington didn’t, many critics praised the latter, and he subsequently landed many roles and winning a Best Actor trophy years later.

Mike Giuffrida is an LA-based student trying to break through the entertainment industry. For similar reads, visit this page.