This Dracula Sucked

Rating: Null/10 (21 September 2004)

As a lifelong Dracula fan, I was hugely disappointed in this film. First of all, casting Gary Oldman as Dracula seemed as stupid to me as casting Tom Cruise as Lestat in Interview w/t Vampire. Tommy-boy looked like a ghoulish Tiny Tim in that film, while Oldman (who is a fantastic actor) looked like a geeky Brit trying to be sexy. I thought the pageantry in this film was wasted. Keanu Reeves gave his typical cardboard performance, while Winona looked pale and miserable. The only decent role was that completed by Anthony Hopkins, who manages to shine like the truly skilled professional he is in spite of being part of this neutered Dracula.
I wish that the director of this film had done a little research into the Dracula Appeal. It's all about SEX, of course. Forbidden fruit, dark desires, walking on on the dark side, etc. The original Dracula, Bela Lugosi, was just an odd-looking little Hungarian guy until he played the title role. Then he became a sex symbol of the era. The same did not happen for poor Oldman. My advice: stake this version of Dracula, burn it and throw the ashes into a moving body of water!