Hi, welcome back to the theater!
Today, since there won't be any real theme in the movies I'll be reviewing for the next couple days, I'll be looking at 'Bram Stoker's Dracula.' Made in 1992, it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and stars Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, Winona Ryder, and Keanu Reeves, among others.
This version is MUCH more faithful to the original novel than the 1931 Bela Lugosi one was. However, the story actually begins in a way that the book didn't touch on, by showing Count Dracula's (Oldman) backstory; He was a Romanian prince who fought brutally against the Muslim Turks in the 15th century, but is consumed by grief after his wife Elizabeta commits suicide upon hearing false news of his death. He is consumed with grief for her, renounces God, and becomes an undead vampire to avenge her from beyond the grave.
Then, the story jumps ahead to the late 19th century, as Jonathan Harker (Reeves) is a clerk from a law firm sent to Transylvania to help Dracula finalize some London real estate purchases, while his fiancee Mina (Ryder) is staying with her wealthy best friend Lucy Westenra (Sadie Frost), who is being courted by three different men. Jonathan eventually learns the truth about Dracula, but by then, it's too late, as he is physically and mentally held prisoner by Dracula and his three brides. Dracula comes to London by ship (Slaughtering its captain and crew along the way) and begins feeding on Lucy after coming across her while she's sleepwalking. At the same time, he slowly begins attempting to win over Mina (Who looks like his dead wife Elizabeta) posing as a mysterious foreign prince that she meets in London and befriends, and she slowly becomes enamored with him while Lucy grows weaker.
Jonathan finally escapes from Dracula's castle and makes his way to a convent, where he sends Mina a letter imporing her to come to him so they can be married. She does so, while at the same time, Dr. Seward (One of Lucy's failed suitors) contacts his old friend and mentor Abraham Van Helsing (Hopkins) to try and help save Lucy. Sadly, their efforts in that regard fail. Lucy is killed by the Count, becomes a vampire, and her would- be fiancee Arthur (Cary Elwes), with help from the others, stakes her and thus at least manages to save her soul. When Jonathan and Mina return to London, Van Helsing gets all of them together, and they plan to destroy the Count once and for all before Mina falls victim to the same fate as Lucy.
Now, for the actual review.
As usual, I'll start with the few problems I had with 'Bram Stoker's Dracula.' First, and the most common complaint people have about the movie, is Keanu Reeves. His attempt at a British accent sounds terrible, though the other aspects of his performance are at least okay, he's still definitely the weak link among the film's cast. Second, in the end, when Dracula's killed and his soul finds peace, his face changes several times, but I didn't like the order in which it changed. It goes from his vampiric face, to his face as a Romanian prince, and finally to his face as the charming stranger Mina had been falling in love with. I think it would have made more sense if those last two had been reversed in order. Finally, probably the main problem I had with this, was the whole subplot about Mina falling in love with the Count. It's not in the book, and it doesn't make a great deal of sense. In particular, about 2/3rds into the movie when she learns who he really was, it doesn't make sense that she'd continue feeling so passionately for the man who murdered her best friend and tried to kill her fiancee. In fact, in general, the erotic tone of the movie was too heavy in my opinion. Yeah, vampires can be very seductive, but this is still a little too much.
Now, for the many things I like about 'Bram Stoker's Dracula.' First, I definitely admire how closely the movie adheres to the book (Other than the aforementioned subplot about Mina and the Count). About the only literary adaptations in film that impressed me more in that regard were 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Next up, the production value is absolutely amazing. The film won Oscars for Best Makeup and Best Costume Design, and both are well- deserved. The makeup for the vampires is great, from those with simple fangs and pale faces to those that look completely monstrous. The costumes always blow me away, especially the dresses that Mina wears. The movie has several scary moments. I'd say one of the most so would have to be when Van Helsing and the three suitors confront the Lucy vampire in her crypt. Between the dark atmosphere, the marvelously eerie music in that scene, the makeup for Sadie Frost, and all of the performances, it's a scene that will make your hair stand on end.
Other than Reeves, the actors are wonderful. While Gary Oldman's performance as Dracula obviously cannot match Bela Lugosi (Though he appears to be channeling Lugosi a bit, especially early in the film), he still brings both menace and sympathy to the role, and handles the three aspects of Dracula's personality seen here (The ancient vampire, the Romanian warrior prince, and the charming stranger in London) perfectly. Winona Ryder is radiant as Mina. She is an incredibly likable, sympathetic character (And her British accent sounds great), you really feel moved for her amid all her struggles in the film. Anthony Hopkins is absolutely magnificent as Van Helsing. He perfectly epitomizes every aspect of the character from the book; His eccentric yet brilliant intelligence, his compassion, and most of all his strength and courage are all in full display. He also even has a couple surprisingly funny moments to relieve some of the tension. Awesome portrayal of one of the greatest heroes in horror fiction.
And so, that is 'Bram Stoker's Dracula.' It's definitely worth a watch.
See you all tomorrow, when I'll hopefully have a review or two up!
