Artistic Chaos in Costume

Rating: Null/10 (4 October 1999)

I saw Dracula without any expectations as to what the movie would be like - visually or story wise. Now, I would give it an 8 on both counts. One thing this movie has loads of is acting prowess - Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, Richard E. Grant and Winona Ryder - Keanu Reeves is not my personal favorite and it is just as well that his role is subdued, and he promises more than perhaps he is capable of. Gary Oldman morphs between the older and the younger versions of the Count easily. Visually of course this movie borders on the brilliant and chaotic - not that I consider chaos to be a bad thing. Choice of colors and costumes, camera angles and lighting are all brilliant and special effects only enhance the aura, not create it.
One thing that struck me was the beautiful portrayal of the blood sucking brides. Overall a very good movie with an Annie Lennox song to polish it off. Worth the red wine (no pun).