Vintage

The movie opens with sort of a "Dracula Begins" type of episode (come to think of it, that would be a cool prequel - Vlad The Impaling Teenager).  Anyway, Dracula is at the time Vlad The Impaler, living happily with his princess Elisabetta, in their stone fortress up in the happy Carpathian Mountains.  It is the Fourteenth Century at this time and Crusades are coming to these mountains.  Along come the Muslim hordes who are all beheaded and impaled in the name of defending God's kingdom.  However, a spy sends an arrow up through the window of Vlad's castle (nice aim and shot if you ask me). Vlad's wife reads a message proclaiming that Vlad was killed.  Instead of making funeral arrangements, she throws herself over the castle wall instead of checking out the story. Vlad didn't take this news too well when he returns to find that after defending God's kingdom, his reward is  that his beautiful wife is dead.

It is an understatement to say he was peeved about it.  Throwing fuel on the hellish fires is a priest reminding him that her soul would burn in hell becuase she committed suicide.  Now, did he have to say that.  I mean, didn't Vlad sort of get that?  Couldn't the priest simply say "Okay, why don't you take some time to think about this...".  Vlad goes vampire nuts and jams a sword into a large cross in the castle's chapel.  Blood comes flying and spilling out of it and our buddy Vlad decides to drink it and swear allegiance to darkness.  Hence, he becomes Dracula.  

Hundreds of years later, Dracula is bummed. He also gets weird, but what else would you expect?  After all, people tend to get weird in their later years.  What happens if those later years become centuries?  Imagine your parents nagging each other for centuries.     

Dracula was produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. It stars Gary Oldman as Count Dracula in an ensemble cast featuring Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins and Winona Ryder. The score was composed by Wojciech Kilar and the closing theme song "Love Song for a Vampire" was written and performed by Annie Lennox.

Gary Oldman is excellent as Dracula in all his incarnations and this is a signature performance.  Oftentimes, I think Oldman has a tendency to overact, such as in the film State of Grace.  However, you can't overact a character as big in concept as Dracula.  He was an excellent choice for Dracula.  His version is truly hypnotic portrayal as well is Ryder as Mina Murray.  Anthony Hopkins was both funny, kooky and venerated.  Lucy's suitors were all well cast.  The style, theme and visual energy of this film, puts it toward the top of its genre.  This is not a spin off of the vampire concept, this film is telling of the original tale.  I suspect a vampire today will find it equally as entertaining five centuries from now.  If you are the type to get a little scared at flicks like this, I suggest some garlic on the popcorn.  This film is a creature of an ace.  Ah, the sweet reels they make!