Directed by:
Francis Ford CoppolaScreenplay:
James V. HartCinematography:
Michael BallhausComposer:
Wojciech KilarCast:
Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Billy Campbell, Sadie Frost, Tom Waits, Monica Bellucci (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
A young English lawyer, Jonathan Harker, is sent to a gloomy village in eastern Europe. He is captured and imprisoned by the undead vampire Dracula, who travels to London, inspired by a photograph of Harker's betrothed, Mina Murray. In Britain, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, draining the life from Mina's closest friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy's friends gather together to try to drive away Dracula and rescue Mina. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
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Reviews (12)
Francis Ford Coppola shows with his authentic and in every way perfect handling that Count Dracula was actually an unhappy man beyond the reach of love. Compared to the really boring Interview with the Vampire, Coppola's Dracula is a brilliantly directed (it was indeed the directing I found lacking in Interview with the Vampire) and well cast adaptation of Stoker's book. The setting, the art direction, the costumes, the wonderfully evoked atmosphere and above all Coppola's imaginative and breathing direction are the main pluses of Dracula.
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Francis Ford Coppola only pulled off Dracula halfway, which in his case means a clear defeat. He was able to create a fascinating atmosphere wherever the camera turned, and for the viewer, it is not hard to feel like you're in a chilling forest in Transylvania after five minutes. However, his attempt at an animalistic interpretation of the story undermines him, where there is excessive sighing in emotional scenes, thus transitioning into incomprehensible perversion. The captivating story of tragic love then gains alarming cracks due to the fact that it is quite difficult for emotions to be expressed by the actors. Surprisingly, this applies mainly to Keanu Reeves, whose Jonathan is, despite his troubled fate, just an empty, sorrowful figure. Alongside the solid cynic Anthony Hopkins and the magnificent Dracula played by Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder is the queen of the evening. In her portrayal, Mina is a perfectly adorable creature torn between pure love for Jonathan and an insane craving for the lord of darkness. There was one other problem Coppola didn't quite solve, and that's the special effects. Since he vigorously tried to avoid CGI, he should have paid a bit more attention to all the miniatures and shots. As it is, some shots are downright distracting. Dracula, as a result, is not a bad movie, but despite its perfect atmosphere, it has too many accompanying negatives.
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Dracula, an infinitely cruel and ruthless ruler, but at the same time an immensely loving man, struggles through the centuries to find the love of his life again. This (literally immortal) story comes to life in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation, with Gary Oldman giving an absolutely brilliant performance as the infamous Transylvanian Count. This Dracula is different from its predecessors, more romantic and laced with an erotic touch. Alongside Oldman, I must single out the equally convincing performances of Winona Ryder and Anthony Hopkins. As far as the technical workmanship is concerned, it is really very good for its time. Last but not least, I must not forget to mention the wonderfully frightening make-up effects and lavish costumes.
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I have to agree with those viewers who believe that form triumphs over content. Francis Ford Coppola has delivered an aesthetically perfect film; that’s undeniable. The composition, exteriors, and interesting camera work are all top-notch within the genre. But the story is where it falls short. At times, I got lost in the various subplots. The disjointedness of the main storyline really undermined the film for me. However, one aspect does save it: Gary Oldman. He completely immersed himself in his role! An excellent performance in every way (he often evoked genuine and unfeigned terror with his portrayal of the Wallachian prince). As for the rest of the cast? Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing was a highlight, and his charisma radiated in all directions. And Keanu Reeves? He slightly disappointed me; his performance seemed wooden at times. To sum up... It’s definitely not a disaster... but I wouldn’t elevate Dracula to the heavens. 6.5/10
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In the early 1990s, Francis Ford Coppola had a very interesting take on Dracula with American and British actors in the lead. I must say that the movie managed to attract me quite quickly. The werewolf rape might have been ballsy, but overall, this movie contains absolutely all the movie elements that someone else might call trashy. Intentionally, of course. It’s all the more interesting, but at the same time, I’m all the more sorry that the movie isn’t pure fantasy, but rather just a parody of fantasy. It’s all too absurd. Actually, it’s not a movie that can be watched easily. At times, I even wondered if it was a movie that can be watched at all.
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