Beautiful but eccentric adaptation of Bram Stokers classic love story.

Rating: 7/10 (21 May 2011)

Francis Ford Coppola ambitiously directs this colossal budgeted adaptation of one of the greatest and most tragic love stories ever written featuring an all star cast and colorfully lavish set design. At times, this is too eccentric for its own good as some Coppola's films are, but beautifully photographed and an almost perfect performance by the underrated Gary Oldman as the Count himself.
After defeating an army, count Dracula returns to find his beloved plunged to her death after receiving news of his alleged peril, and is then transformed into the creature of darkness after swearing his revenge against God and humanity. Many years later, Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania only to fall victim and prisoner to the count after the realization that Harker's soon-to-be bride is the reincarnation of his lost love. The events unfold in a startling attack on the senses as Coppola uses a multitude of camera techniques and tricks to tell a modern age Gothic period piece that is as close to the original Bram Stoker novel as your going to get. This deservedly won three Academy Awards including Best Make-Up, Best Costumes, and Best Sound-Effects Editing. The only thing that hurts this is a weak performance by Keanu Reeves and his atrocious English accent as Harker (Keanu probably received the role at the time for his fame and not his talent), and the visual overkill makes the action incoherent at times. This is made up for by an awesome performance by Anthony Hopkins (as usual) as the vampire hunter Dr.Van Helsing and terrific pace that keeps the pulse alive throughout. The obscure but prolific singer/songwriter, Tom Waits plays the lunatic Renfield in a role he was born for, and Winona Ryder adds enough innocent charm as Mina. Overall, this is a successful effort by the creator of 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now'.