Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Films/DVD Asylum

Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola

69.86.175.48

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.

Edits: 09/22/17 09/22/17 09/22/17 09/22/17 09/22/17

Follow Ups:

Gary Oldman killed in that one. In Hannibal, too. Nt - geoffkait 05:36:49 09/30/17 (2)
Nt
- RE: Gary Oldman killed in that one. In Hannibal, too. - Dr Phibes 02:17:47 10/01/17 (1)
  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!... - musetap 20:26:27 10/02/17 (0)
    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.
    
    View YouTube Video
    
    "Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola - fantja 05:10:40 09/30/17 (0)
Yes, this Dracula has improved w/ age.
The big feature of that film IMHO was the vampire babes at Dracula's castle - Chris from Lafayette 00:40:10 09/28/17 (0)
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!
Watched it again for the first time in years... - musetap 21:28:01 09/23/17 (2)
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... - Dr Phibes 01:33:27 09/24/17 (1)
  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... - musetap 14:33:13 09/24/17 (0)
    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
Tom Waits was excellent. Nt - geoffkait 17:34:00 09/23/17 (0)
Nt
RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola - Bill the K 04:52:17 09/23/17 (0)
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 - BillH 07:25:29 09/22/17 (1)
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 - Dr Phibes 08:05:51 09/22/17 (0)
  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 - RadioWonder 06:43:55 09/22/17 (2)
I see that Amazon Prime is streaming several good versions...Here is one with Jack Palance, Simon Ward and Nigel Davenport...
- Dan Curtis' Dracula 1974 (Open in New Window)
- RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola - Dr Phibes 08:03:45 09/22/17 (1)
  I don't think I've seen the Palance Dracula! Great recommendation -thank you
  - RE: Bram Stokers 'Dracula' -Francis Ford Coppola - volunteer 05:43:34 09/23/17 (0)
    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

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: