Today’s movie is a live action cartoon directed by Francis Ford Coppola, supposedly based on the original novel by Bram Stroker. The hype machine following this movie was successful enough that It made rock stars out of Gary Oldman, Dracula, and Bram Stoker. People believed in the power of this movie, simply because of the attached byline that read “Bram Stroker’s” As if that in itself was supposed to mean something. As if he personally endorsed this version. The man had been dead exactly 80 years at this point and post young Americans who flocked to this movie had never even heard of him. Even the real Dracula Vlad the Impaler must have got himself a publicist, because there was a great deal of attention focused on him as well. He even got his own comic book.
I have to confess, that I waited 17 years to see this movie. I hate overhype. It sort of ruins the movie for me. The whole experience is tainted. This is why I avoid trailers and reviews and I try to see a film on opening weekend. So that friends and associates don’t spoil me not just with plot details, but there emotions after watching it. There’s nothing worse than being told a movie is fan-fucking-tastic and in the end all you’ve got is “Underworld”. But is 17 years long enough? I’ve had the bluray in my possession 2 years and still have been unable to watch it, Finally i forced myself to watch it. And I said to myself this, This cartoon is what lives on in the memory of people as the best Dracula ever made? because it was “realistic” and not Bela Lugosi hamming it up? You got to be fucking kidding me. Bram Stroker’s Dracula? Hell this isn’t even what one would imagine Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula would be. No this is Tim Burton’s Dracula. If he took it way too seriously. Imagine the disasters Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd would be if Johnny Depp and Burton did not play it with the usual tongue in cheek style.
By now you think I hate this film and this is a negative review. And it might have been the case. But then something happened. Circumstances arose and I was unable to finish the movie in one sitting. By now we had entered the part where Gary Oldman’s Dracula had found Winona Ryder’s Mia and their chemistry just exploded onto the screen. Like Mia i too was desperate to get back to Dracula. It’s an enjoyable film with many many flaws. Least of all the horrible acting by Keanu Reeves. In the film he has an atrocious English accent, that made its way from Southern California. He travels to Transylvania to sell Dracula some property. We discover that his fiancé Mina Murray is the spitting image of Dracula’s long dead wife, Elizabeta. Dracula keeps Keanu from returning to London and leaves him trapped at the castle at the mercy of his Vampire Brides. Completely drained of blood and spirit Keanu escapes and soon begins the most interesting of all subplots of the film, The Saga of Jonathan Harker’s hair. After he escapes Keanu’s hair turns grey, but at many points on the film, it becomes snow white, and back to his original hair color then back to grey again.
The film also features Sir Anthony Hopkins an almost lunatic with no scruples, Van Helsing. Its interesting how similar in tone and design Hopkins Van Helsing is to Hugh Jackman’s Van Helsing. They are both rugged handsome versions of the character, They both sport long hair, duster coats and similar hats. They are alike right down to the ascot. Though they are both playing the same character, they can certainly pass for father and son.
The movie follows the same plot of almost any version of Dracula, except for the love story. It only begins to differ at the end when they track Dracula back to Transylvania in an attempt to destroy him and save Mina (now) Harker. The climax of the story involves Neo, Hannibal Lecter, The Dread Pirate Roberts and the Rocketeer chasing down Dracula to his very doorstep, in an almost wild west western picture of the 1930’s.
I recommend it if you’ve never seen it. The cast and crew must have been outright bonkers when making it and turned out one gonzo movie. You swear Oldman is fucking insane half way through this and plays Dracula, not only as a creepy old count but as a sympathetic young prince too. You never know whether you should fear him or feel sorry for him. It’s not quite Bram Stroker’s Dracula. The closest is still the original for me. Except for its contemporary (at the time) style. But it’s still a good film you’ll probably watch more than a few times. It’s sexy, scary and one hell of an adventure. Strong performances from Hopkins, and Oldman and surprisingly Winona Ryder will keep parts of this film timeless. After all it’s the only film in recent history with a werewolf rape scene.
I give it two and half Vlad’s.
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