BOCA RATON, Fla. - Red Dragon won't shock audiences until Oct. 4, but the creative forces behind the upcoming Hannibal Lecter prequel are already lining up to collect awards.Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton and director Brett Ratner were honored Saturday at the Palm Beach International Film Festival for their cinematic contributions.
In return, Miami Beach native Ratner treated attendees to the first public screening of the trailer for Red Dragon. Thomas Harris' novel was previously filmed in 1986 by director Michael Mann as Manhunter, with Brian Cox as the serial killer with a penchant for fava beans and a nice Chianti.
Looking fit after losing around 20 pounds for Red Dragon, Hopkins said before the gala that he felt too "young" to receive a lifetime achievement award from the film festival.
"I think it's a fraud," Hopkins, 64, said. "I'm very pleased and I'm very happy. It does sound like I'm retiring, doesn't it?"
Hopkins, who attended the gala at the Boca Raton Resort & Club with his mother Muriel, recounted during his acceptance speech his childhood as an "educationally subnormal" student growing up the son of a baker in Wales. His poor academic record left his father with a feeling of hopelessness.
A 14-year-old Hopkins then met actor Richard Burton, who had returned home to Wales to take a break from toiling in Hollywood. Hopkins wanted an autograph, but emerged from his encounter with Burton with a burning desire to become rich and famous.
"As I left his house, and I was walking back to my father's bakery, I thought I wanted to get out of here," Hopkins said. "Not out of Wales, but the barren landscape of my own mind."
There is no mystery to acting, Hopkins said.
"I'm asked how I do what I do," he explained. "I say I don't know. I just learn the lines and show up."
The festival gave a special achievement award to Fight Club actor Edward Norton, who co-stars in Red Dragon.
"It's Ed Norton's ability to transform himself that makes him a special talent," actress Larisa Oleynik said before Norton accepted his award.
Norton said he has "mixed feelings" about receiving such awards, fearing that they can be nothing more than but self-congratulatory. He felt honored in this instance because the festival's net proceeds fund film education for Palm Beach County's high school and college students.
"It's rare that I enjoy an evening like this," he said. "So, thank you for this."
Ratner, who spent his childhood ditching school to sneak onto the set of Miami Vice, echoed Norton's sentiments.
"I went to Miami Beach Senior High School, and there wasn't a film program," said the 31-year-old director ofRush Hour and Family Man. "When I heard that this festival is benefiting young students at high schools and colleges with a film program, I was excited, because [as a teen-ager] I had to create my own excitement."