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Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola

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Posted on September 22, 2017 at 02:52:47
Dr Phibes
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Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 I've been revisiting Dracula films and it's been quite fun - 'Let the Right One In', Frank Langella's 'Dracula', 'Nosferatu', Lugosi's 'Dracula' and honorable mention to the comedy 'What We Do in the Shadows". This led to a "why the the hell not" viewing of Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola.

It's been years since I've seen it... and I remembered it as a great performance by Gary Oldman, surrounded by weak casting choices Keanu Reeves, Wynona Ryder that continued Coppola's casting trend he started in Godfather Three ... casting George Hamilton etc etc

That said - After watching 'Bram Stokers Dracula' I found it a much better film then I remembered. Oldman's performance was terrific and the supporting cast was excellent. We loved the classic techniques employed... the old-school cinematic split screens, the images that were superimposed that would segue to another scene, and of course the independent shadows were fun to see again. And Keanu Reeves and Wynona Ryder seemed more innocent, then miscast.

The many faces of Oldman's Dracula were fantastic and arty - and the absence of CGI was refreshing, to say the least. This is something that's been reoccurring in my movie watching- I watched John Carpenters 'The Thing" a few weeks ago and marveled at the special-effects realism and ingenuity. I have CGI O.D.!

Anyway... Has 'Dracula' by Francis Ford Coppola improved with age? Or have films these days gotten so bad and cookie- cutter (The Mummy for example) that older films that were formally a B- now view as an A+?

Have a great day.

 

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RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 22, 2017 at 06:43:55
RadioWonder
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I see that Amazon Prime is streaming several good versions...Here is one with Jack Palance, Simon Ward and Nigel Davenport...

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 22, 2017 at 07:25:29
BillH
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Posts: 3913
Location: Baton Rouge
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 Agree that Gary Oldman's performance was typically terrific but overall I preferred the Langella version, with Lawrence Olivier as van Helsing, Donald Pleasance as Seward, and the beautiful Kate Nelligan.

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 22, 2017 at 08:03:45
Dr Phibes
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Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 I don't think I've seen the Palance Dracula! Great recommendation -thank you

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 22, 2017 at 08:05:51
Dr Phibes
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Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 Langella's eye thing was pretty great too, as well as the cast you mentioned. I would have loved to have seen the Broadway production - my understanding is Langella was a total sex symbol.

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 23, 2017 at 04:52:17
Bill the K
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Posts: 8383
Joined: June 3, 2006
I like the 1979 German Nosferatu a lot. Isabelle Adjani is something else! I would like to see the original 1922 version.

Bill

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 23, 2017 at 05:43:34
volunteer
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Posts: 5666
Location: Louisville, KY
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 Saw the Palance version when it was originally broadcast on ABC more than forty years ago. Excellent. He also did Jekyll and Hide on ABC about the same time.


-Wendell

 

Tom Waits was excellent. Nt, posted on September 23, 2017 at 17:34:00
geoffkait
 Nt

 

Watched it again for the first time in years..., posted on September 23, 2017 at 21:28:01
musetap
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Posts: 31871
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 last year.

With the exception of Keanu Reeves (who is always Keanu Reeves, the poor guy)
I thought it held up VERY well, yeah maybe it HAS improved with age.

We are seeing/hearing Coppola Tuesday night at City Arts and Lectures.

Somehow though I don't see Dracula becoming part of the dialog, given his oeuvre
and being a local guy.




"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Watched it again for the first time in years..., posted on September 24, 2017 at 01:33:27
Dr Phibes
Audiophile

Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 mustap - I'm happy we had similar viewing experiences - although I took Keanu somewhat seriously this last viewing, instead of rolling my eyes and chuckling at his accent as I did my first time round.

I bet Godfather 3 isn't mentioned a whole lot either at the City Arts and Lecture. Uhh ... Why George Hamilton???

Have a great day. -Jim

 

RE: Watched it again for the first time in years..., posted on September 24, 2017 at 14:33:13
musetap
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Posts: 31871
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Yeah, at this point there's a LOT in/of Coppola films that shouldn't be mentioned.

But his prime is the definition thereof.

Should be fun!

Thanks!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

The big feature of that film IMHO was the vampire babes at Dracula's castle, posted on September 28, 2017 at 00:40:10
Chris from Lafayette
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 I mean, if I was in that situation, I think that would just about drain my willpower to escape! No wonder Keanu is just sitting there like a dork!

 

RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola, posted on September 30, 2017 at 05:10:40
fantja
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Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Yes, this Dracula has improved w/ age.

 

Gary Oldman killed in that one. In Hannibal, too. Nt, posted on September 30, 2017 at 05:36:49
geoffkait
 Nt

 

RE: Gary Oldman killed in that one. In Hannibal, too., posted on October 1, 2017 at 02:17:47
Dr Phibes
Audiophile

Posts: 195
Location: Brooklyn
Joined: September 7, 2008
 geoffkait - You're so right! I can't think of a "bad" Oldman performance. Even in a poor movie, Oldman can deliver...

 

He's gonna be a brilliant Churchill!..., posted on October 2, 2017 at 20:26:27
musetap
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Posts: 31871
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 which is a tough role already portrayed well by many, not to mention the competition
from the real deal Winston - so well captured in news reels and history.








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"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

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