Anatomy of a Film

Hello Anatomy of a Film readers! This article is our first ever review for a movie we’ve just seen in theaters, which for right now will be called Let’s All Go To The Lobby!

Today, we traveled to the historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon, which is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. It is always a treat to visit a non-corporate chain theater and get what feels like a more intimate experience than what I’m more regularly used to at the local Cinemark or Regal theater.

It sounds silly to want to highlight, but I want to begin this review with the theater and its etiquette. It was a blast. During funny parts of the movie, the crowd was actually laughing, and at the end of the movie, everyone was clapping and whistling. Just being able to see a movie felt like a communal, celebratory experience at the Hollywood. On the flip side for example, during the opening weekend of the brand new Spider-Man, my local Cinemark was silent, with an almost lifeless crowd. Most of the independent theaters I have had the pleasure of visiting in Portland bring this memorable, communal experience. From people screaming out obscenities during more gruesome parts of The Substance at the St. John’s Twin Cinema in 2024, to a litany of funny comments and uproarious laughter from the crowd during a 70mm screening of One Battle After Another last year at the Hollywood, I am always left with a smile on my face and ready for the next showing. I’m excited to continue this segment throughout the month because we have tickets to two more Michael Mann films at the Hollywood Theatre for Heat (1996) and Thief (1981) on 35mm.

Now onto the movie itself! I have been on a quest throughout 2026 watching Michael Mann’s films. He is an incredibly talented director whose acclaim is hard earned. I first fell in love with Mann’s films after blind-buying Thief during my birthday trip last year and we ended up watching it that weekend. I will be glazing that movie more in the next few weeks, believe me. Manhunter was the third film in my Mann Marathon that began in January, unbeknownst to anyone at the time that a 4k, recut remaster was coming down the pipeline later this year.

The first time I saw Manhunter was on my crappy laptop screen at work and while I quite enjoyed it, I wasn’t sure how often I’d actually want to rewatch it apart from the sedated tiger scene. I actually teared up at work the first time I watched that scene. I wasn’t as emotional this most recent time around, but being able to see it in the theater was such a tremendous experience. A few weeks later, while trying to figure out a movie for movie night, I suggested the movie to my wife (who is a big Silence of the Lambs fan) and being able to see it on a TV sealed the deal for me for how great of a movie it is. For those curious, yes, Katie loved the movie too. Once the theatrical re-release was announced, it was a no brainer for us to go see.

Manhunter was just as good the third time around as it was the second. It’s a film that grows on you despite how desperate all the characters are and how sinister the overall vibe of the movie itself is. I’m a big proponent of the idea that the theatrical experience will always be better than what you can experience at home on a tv or a computer (or god forbid, a phone). Manhunter is no exception. The sound design, the crisp, refined, massive 4k image, and the audience itself all added to the experience. William Petersen, Tom Noonan, Brian Cox, and Joan Allen all are wonderful in the film and each deliver a truly staggering performance. Though Manhunter isn’t my favorite Michael Mann film, it is one I would certainly recommend you watch as soon as possible, especially if you’re a fan of Silence of the Lambs or Red Dragon.

Side note- Red Dragon is massively overhated. It’s a great modern adaptation of the story.

Bonus: here Katie’s and my sister Hannah’s review, who saw the movie for the first time with me and Katie on Sunday.

Anyways- that’s all for now! See you for our next article, whenever that shall be.