brescd01

I have not read the novel but I had the sense that the film made multiple changes to the story to abbreviate it. And I cannot imagine that anyone thinks a film can entirely capture or reproduce a timeless masterpiece.

That said, this was a gorgeous, beautifully filmed and acted movie. The cinematography was never less than artful and there was never a weak link in the acting or script. With the Three Musketeers movies and this, I have the sense that the French are applying modern film making (and financing) to their great patrimony just as they have in other ways, for centuries. We are the beneficaries.

It enchanted both my 11 year old daughter and me, this is a can't-miss experience, both as a representation of a great novel, but also as movie equal to the best theater experiences we can enjoy today.

I love the Dracula story and anything related, so I was eagerly awaiting this movie's release. I have not read the other reviews. First, what I did not like about this movie: I thought the script was very bad. The (German) characters all speak early 19th century prose English with English accents and even allowing for the archaizing, their speech was extremely stilted and unnatural. Meanwhile, Germanisms (like "mein herr") are inserted here and there, the Count speaks in a language I did not recognize, and there are a variety of characters who inexplicably speak Romani (I think), something else (Hungarian?), and of course Romanian. This makes the script both precious and jarring. The men's acting was a bit hammy at times and this didn't help things, for example William Dafoe who is otherwise such an excellent actor (or can be with better material). I found the movie slow and I had trouble staying awake, there was actually very little action, remember this is a remake of a film whose plot is well known, so that added to the tedium.

Insofar as things I enjoyed, the cinematography, costumes, and sets were fine, and I thought the Count was nicely portrayed and costumed. His blood-sucking was erotic and enjoyable more or less. There was a considerable amount of female nudity of course, what vampire film can exist without this? This might be a turn-off to some watchers because it so clearly suggests "the male gaze".

So finally I found the movie slow and unpersuasive, I could not really get into the "vampire mood", and I didn't enjoy it.

I love Maria Callas and her death is a very sad subject, if I am going to watch a film about her last days I want to watch an actress who reminds me of how lovable Maria the woman was, and how wonderful her performance was. Fanny Ardent did this, supported by Jeremy Irons. Ardent acted as if she loved her subject and opera was worth dying for, Irons as well. Ardent was very moving, and managed to touch my heart, I had the feeling she suffered with all opera lovers for the loss of the great artist Maria Callas, to sadness and despair. It was beautiful. Kudos to Irons I found him very moving as well.