Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, not Bram Stoker's.

Rating: 5/10 (8 July 2008)

Francis Ford Coppola's film version of Bram Stoker's classic novel is the first Dracula film I ever saw. I don't remember much of my first reactions to it, but it did leave an impression, for since I have been a dedicated fan of Dracula. For a long time I remember thinking very highly of this film, until I started watching other Dracula film adaptations and, more importantly, read the book. Afterwards the film has proved to be quite a disappointing in many aspects, even when I would never really say it's a bad film.
In the 15'Th century Transylvania, Prince Vlad Draculea (Gary Oldman) looses his beloved wife because of a treachery. Feeling that he is unjustly rewarded after all of his good deeds, he curses God and sells his soul to devil, thus becoming a powerful vampire. Four centuries later he goes by the name of Count Dracula and prepares to take over the entire world, starting in London. However, there he meets Mina (Winona Ryder) who is an exact image of his long lost wife. While Dracula aims to seduce Mina to his side, his other actions don't go unnoticed by Professor Abraham Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), and soon vampire hunters are after the Count.
The film goes under the title of "BRAM STOKER'S Dracula" and Coppola advertised it as the most faithful film version of the book. True, there are many things in this movie from the book that other versions have left out, for example for the first time every major character from the book appears here. However, calling it the most faithful version is a downright lie. That title goes to the 1977 BBC film, starring Louis Jourdan. Coppola could have made this one of the most faithful versions, if he had cut the whole subplot of Dracula and Mina's romance out of the movie (the idea of Dracula looking for a lost love is not even original but was already used in 1973 TV film by Dan Curtis). The most infuriating thing here especially is how out of character Dracula sometimes appears. There is a scene in the film, where Dracula is ready to make Mina a vampire but tries to resist, saying that he loves her too much to condemn her. I found this to bee amazing rubbish. If Dracula would truly find a woman he'd want he would let nothing get to his way. Dracula is both obsessive and possessive. This version makes it seem like he would prefer to have walks with her in a pretty park. Mr. Coppola, you got your Phantom of the Opera and Dracula mixed up.
However, as said this is not a bad movie either. Visually the movie is rich and amazing to watch. Garret Lewis' sets are properly Victorian like and Michael Ballhaus' cinematography is flying and imaginative. One of the most memorable aspects of the film is Wojciech Kilar's beautiful music. Although little influenced by John William's 1979 score, Kilar's music can change from powerful apocalyptic atmosphere to a tender, loving sweetness.
From the actor department the film has some very good choices and some very, surprisingly, bad ones. Gary Oldman, whenever he is not a sweet "I won't bite" mood, does a good job with Dracula. He manages to capture the powerful side of Dracula, the war lord in him still yearning for his days of power and glory. However, I am disappointed that he was made to wear weird wolf-like and bat-like suits in the film. I think an actor like Gary Oldman could have been scary without them. Winona Ryder does a decent job as a very Snow-white like Mina. In minor roles both Richard E. Grant and Cary Elwes pass as the young suitors and Tom Waits has a delightful little role as the insane Renfield. Keanu Reeves is the weakest link here as Mina's fiancé Jonathan, completely unable to bring any life to his role. Anthony Hopkins turns out to be a surprising disappointment as Van Helsing. He plays his role so theatrically over the board, making Van Helsing appear as little insane, that I personally would feel safer with Dracula than him.
Although I really wouldn't want to say anything bad about this film I have to admit that it has many flaws also. The greatest one is Coppola's trap of making viewer think he'll see a faithful movie version of Bram Stoker's book and is given something else. Still, a decent movie that passes through couple times to be watched.