Characters are incredibly important in the first 2 minutes of a film because whether or not they interest the viewer will determine whether or not they continue watching the film. They are also they basis for the whole plot: you can’t have a story, and therefore a film, without characters.

Character profiles-

Hannibal Lecter (in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, played by Antony Hopkins):

Name: Hannibal Lecter

Gender: Male

Age: 50

Nationality: Lithuanian

Occupation(s): Psychiatrist and surgeon

Title: Dr

Role: Male lead (with Clarice Starling as female lead)

Character: Hannibal is a very manipulative and intimidating character. He is in prison for being a cannibal who has killed many people and had to be put in a high security area to prevent him escaping. He is fiercely intelligent and a good reader of people which he regularly uses to his advantage, in order to get his way.

Part in the narrative: When training FBI agent in the behavioural sciences unit Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster) is put on the case of the serial killer nicknamed ‘Buffalo Bill’, she is sent to Hannibal for help. In exchange for information about the serial killer, who Hannibal knew, Clarice gives him personal information (which she was warned against doing). Eventually Hannibal manipulates his way into a lower security area before killing the guards and using one of their faces to escape in the ambulance. The case is solved and Hannibal isn’t found, but does contact Clarice.

Introduction within the first few minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8znAorKguo

We learn of-

-His previous occupation as a psychiatrist

-His nickname (and therefore reason for being in prison) ‘Hannibal the cannibal’

-The fact he can get ‘inside your head’

-How he is considered a ‘monster’

Sherlock Holmes (BBC’s ‘Sherlock’, played by Benedict Cumberbatch):

Gender: Male

Age: Between 35 and 40

Nationality: English

Occupation(s): He considers himself a ‘consulting detective’ (despite this not being an official job)

Title: Unknown- he is a graduate of chemistry but it is left ambiguous to what extent

Role: Male lead (alongside John Watson)

Part in the narrative:

Sherlock Holmes, friends and colleagues with Dr John Watson (ex-army doctor); is a high functioning, sociopathic consulting detective, who corresponds with the division of Scotland Yard run by Greg Lestrade (which also leads him to work with the pathologist Molly Hooper at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital), and occasionally the British government via his brother Mycroft Holmes. He lives in 221B Baker Street with a landlord of Mrs Hudson. His enemy is Jim Moriarty, the opposing ‘consulting criminal’ to his ‘consulting detective’. The narrative is based around his and Watson’s adventures.

Introduction within the first few minutes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaT7IYQgyqo

We learn of-

-His involvement in pathology and his strange methods

-His background in chemistry

-He prefers texting to actually talking

-His methods of deduction

-His ability to play the violin

-His difficulties with empathy and social understanding

Lorne Malvo (Fargo, played by):

Gender: Male

Age: 58

Nationality: American

Occupation(s): Assassin

Title: N/A

Role: Main Villain

Part in the narrative:

Throughout the episodes we see a split narrative between each of the characters that often co-insides. His storyline is divided between him blackmailing someone, then working to ‘find’ the blackmailer for them; and helping Lester Nygaard  face his bullies and stand up for himself, occasionally by killing them. This leads to Lester killing his wife which Lorne then helps him cover up. Eventually Lorne attempts to kill Lester before being killed himself by a police officer.

Introduction within the first few minutes:

*I couldn’t find a clip of his introduction so am basing this on memory*

We learn of-

-The fact he is an assassin

-How he is ‘immune’ to killing and is clearly very emotionally detached

-His disloyalty