October 4, 2002

In "Dragon," Hannibal (the Cannibal) Lecter is played once again with relish — and probably wasabi mayonnaise — by Anthony Hopkins. But Lecter is such a huge presence at this point that he capsizes the picture's narrative, which is presumably a manhunt for a serial murderer other than Lecter. Lecter is in prison, but a killer is attacking families in their homes on a lunar cycle. The F.B.I. asks Will Graham (Edward Norton), a now retired agent, to help find him before the next full moon. So Graham asks Lecter for help. The best material in the picture is sparkling, drawing-room comedy, like the exchanges between Graham and Lecter. And there are gamey comic moments featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman as the tabloid reporter Freddy Lounds. But while Mr. Hopkins excels at Grand Guignol comic relief, it's tiresome because we've heard it all before. The entire picture is a third-generation Xerox copy: it's a thriller too timid to thrill. — Elvis Mitchell

Antitrust Chief Is Leaving For Job at ChevronTexaco Charles A. James, the Justice Department antitrust chief who drew praise and scorn for his handling of the Microsoft lawsuit, is resigning to become a vice president and general counsel at ChevronTexaco. His announcement came after a 15-month tenure dominated by his decision to settle an antitrust suit with Microsoft and abandon tougher penalties. Officials said it was too early to begin discussing possible successors, although the names of several people -- including Timothy J. Muris, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission; and Michael K. Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission -- had been mentioned. [Page C6.]

Caryn James reviews latest version of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga on Masterpiece Theater, directed by Christopher Menaul; photo (M)

St Louis Cardinals defeat Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-1, to lead National League division series, 2-0; photos (M)

Journeys article on mah-jongg tournament at Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas in August, which drew avid contestants, 87 women and two men, mostly over 60; photo; California travel agent Steve Last comments on organization of such tournaments around country; upcoming events listed (M)

Bloomberg administration has quietly decided not to renew New York City's controversial welfare-to-work contract with Maximus, Virginia company hired by Giuliani administration; HRA says city remains committed to moving welfare recipients into jobs, but not with Maximus (M)

Analysis of probability that United States Supreme Court will intervene in battle over New Jersey's Senate ballot, as it did in 2000 presidential election; notes that Supreme Court has jurisdiction only over questions arising under federal Constitution and federal statutes; says Republicans in NJ case, who seek stay of NJ Supreme Court decision, are borrowing concept from three-justice plurality opinion in Bush v Gore to effect that state legislature's word on conduct of federal elections is final and cannot be supplanted or even supplemented by state's courts; cites differences between Bush v Gore and current NJ case, and fact that psychology, rather than actual law, will also enter equation; notes that Supreme Court has complete control over its docket, and wonders if justices want to start year off by adding sequel to Bush v Gore (M)

United States Special Forces will train Colombian soldiers in counterinsurgency to protect 500-mile pipeline snaking through eastern Colombia that carries crude to oil-hungry America; it is one of country's most valuable assets and has long been vulnerable to bombings by country's guerrilla groups; it transports 100,000 barrels of oil a day for Occidental Petroleum of Los Angeles; its protection dovetails with Bush administration's new, global emphasis on expanding and diversifying sources of America's oil imports, with eye to reducing dependence on Middle Eastern oil; $94 million counterinsurgency program is also important element in offensive by Colombia's new government against two rebel groups and paramilitary force that dominate much of country; pipeline bombings by guerrillas cost government nearly $500 million last year; photo; map; chart (M)

Texas has highest average premiums for homeowners' insurance in nation; crisis could harm state's economy and has already become central issue in governors' race; experts say insurance industry as whole is in difficult period, but problems in Texas derive mostly from unique circumstances there: Texas is magnet for bad weather, and state's regulatory structure has managed to hurt both insurers and consumers; on Sept 24, Farmers Insurance, second biggest insurer in Texas, announced plans to end coverage for 700,000 homeowner customers; State Farm, state's leading insurer, has stopped selling new homeowner policies in Texas and several other states because of losses; two companies account for more than 50 percent of Texas homeowner insurance market; situation is disrupting real estate market, as potential home buyers say they are unable to secure homeowners insurance; insurers note that unlike 49 other states, Texas has its own state-written standards that require them to provide far broader coverage than is required elsewhere; Tony Sanchez, Gov Rick Perry's Democratic challenger, has criticized Perry for accepting campaign contributions from insurance companies and blamed his administration for allowing premiums to rise; photo; map; chart (L)

Floyd Norris column on possibility that bear market may be over recalls similar circumstances in 1974 that led to rebound; graph (M)

Martha Stewart, under increasing scrutiny over trading of her ImClone Systems shares, resigns from board of New York Stock Exchange, immediately prompting questions from analysts about whether she will also step down as chief executive of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia; stock exchange chairman Richard A Grasso says resignation is 'voluntary'; shares of Stewart's company drop over 8 percent after announcement; Michael Carpenter of Citigroup, who was ousted as head of company's investment bank Salomon Smith Barney, resigns; Carpenter cannot serve because he no longer leads major company (M)

Heineken and its Latin American partner Florida Ice and Farm Co agree to buy Cervecerias Baru-Panama, second-largest brewer in Panama, for $56 million (S)