Immortal

Rating: Null/10 (3 November 2003)

Of the many versions to date, I have found Coppola's to be the one that finally offers the dramatic aspect no other Dracula director's camera has been able to give us. I must say that I am flabbergasted by the main co-stars' choice, being that I deem both Keanu Reaves and Winona Ryder B-class actors in ever aspect of their so-called performances. Nevertheless, Coppola's direction, the score and Hopkins' presence in the movie, with a diabolic Sadie Frost have acted as a painter's ability to make use of unwanted blemishes on a canvas, at times hiding them with passionate and vibrant strokes.
Now let's talk about Gary Oldman performance, which has literally disabled my ability to even flinch during the movie for how incredible it was. Those who read the novel know that the very first part of the story is probably the crucial one from both a suspense and description standpoint: Jonathan Harker's diary of his journey to Transylvania, the caleche's conductor,his first encounter with Count Dracula and supper at the castle. Oldman's demeanor, pace in his talk, attire portrays the noble and valiant man Vlad The Impaler really was, making us also turn as pale as he was in the movie for how credible he seemed. The entire movie was rich of scenes and good performances by the entire supporting cast until the end.
In retrospective, after seeing the movie a few times, I feel as if the viewer enters a journey into a Klimt-like ensemble of colors and objects, from the Count's long cloak to the bed in which Harker gets devoured by the vampire's mistresses (The count himself is not the one who bites Harker as narrated in the book if you noticed). The costumes choice and creation have also made an instrumental contribution to the success of the movie and its ability to surpass all other Dracula's interpretations thus far. Coppola's knowledge of how to blend drama into an almost set-in-stone story like this one has been another lesson of how far his genius can reach.