eh *shrugs*

Rating: 5/10 (6 November 2006)

Dracula is the result of the melding of history and fiction, taking the story of Vlad the Impaler and adding it to the novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, with a little bit of romance stirred in to add body to a one-dimensional plot. If you need to know more, glance at stamper's review.
The only believable acting in this film is provided by Gary Oldman, as the title character, and Winona Rider, as his love reincarnate. Oldman provides humanity and personality to his character, and unlike some of the other accents presented in the film, sounds somewhat believable. When Ryder plays opposite to him, it is very reminiscent of her work in Edward Scissorhands, which works beautifully in this context, even if it feels a little forced.
When these two step on screen, it's easy to forget about the other actors in the film. Though Sadie Frost's Lucy is believable and provides some of the little energy in the film, she is merely a plot device. Anthony Hopkins has little stage presence, and his character is so completely inconsistent that he takes an already iffy character and elevates it to new heights. The three loves of Frost's character, played by Cary Elwes, Bill Campbell and Tom Waits, meld as one persona, merely divided by the three accents. And as for Keanu Reeves, you could get greater expression and emotion out of a cardboard cutout. He could be ravished by three vampiresses or be talking to his wife, Ryder, and it is all the same for him.
The writing, at least, was well done. The love story is well developed, and though the opening is a little silly and melodramatic, when the lovers reunite all is good and the audience can feel the couple's struggle. The set design was true to the novel, and the makeup job on Oldman is superb. However, the visuals don't save what is basically a so-so film.