Over-theatrical nonsense

Rating: 5/10 (29 December 2006)

First of all, let me say Gary Oldman would have made a superb Dracula. I say 'would have' because what he plays here is some frenetic Hollywood-esquire demon more suited to comic books than a Gothic romance. This OTT-ness is symptomatic of our over-indulgence in SFX-laden blockbusters, where each film must be noisier, faster, more intense/expensive/silly than the last. This is like a Victorian Matrix Reloaded, a Spiderman 2 for the brain-dead (indistinguishable from the real Spiderman 2), a Batman & Robin for those with a passing interest in the classics. 'Van Helsing' is unwatchable because of this, despite the luminous Kate Beckinsale. (I LOVE Underworld)
Back to Gaz. He is without doubt a fine actor. A fine English actor. Such a fine English actor that I suspect most Americans (and Brits for that matter, including my wife) have no idea of his origin. His ability to BECOME the character he portrays (Leon, Fifth Element, Sid & Nancy etc) would indeed have made him the perfect choice for this role. 'The finest actor of his generation' I would venture, Tim Roth & Johnny Depp notwithstanding. Keanu Reeves most definitely is NOT. Neither is the Welsh/American Anthony Hopkins who, along with the Sean Connerys and Michael Caines of this world gets by with various versions of himself. Not a damning indictment per se (Hopkins' Titus Andronicus was stupendous, Connery & Caine unsurpassed in 'The Man Who Would Be King'). Oldman and Reeves however occupy opposing ends of the acting spectrum. Oldman is great, Reeves isn't (although I LOVED Bill & Ted).
Back to Dracula. A faithful adaptation of the book it isn't. The names are the same, the events have been changed to produce some sort of shouty melodrama. Gary Oldman WOULD have made a superb Dracula, it is a shame he chose to try it in this abysmal pile of dog-poo. 'Interview With a Vampire' suffered terrible mis-casting but (almost) worked. This didn't even re-create the menacing atmosphere it required (see 'Dance of the Vampires'). Five stars to Oldman for being game for a laugh, and otherwise a genuine superstar.