Francis Ford Coppola refers to the literary classic as the filmtitle wants to make us believe. But instead of trying to transmit the calm of the book and the atmosphere of Victorian England, Coppola gets lost in technical tricks, in bombastic colour- and light-effects. The bunch of famous actors gives a lifeless and unworthy performance. Especially Lucy and her three lovers are a shame to look at. I didn't forget for just one minute that they all are actors who try to behave like people at the end of 19th century. They did a bad job. The scene where Prince Vlad and Mina drink each others blood is ridiculous and embarrassing. I like melodramatic films very much but this film has neither heart nor soul. The splatter effects are used very artificial and through that thank God not very revolting. All the time of 130 minutes I never felt fear or sympathy for the characters. I just sat in the cinema chair, watched the extremely beautiful pictures and missed more and more the profound English spirit of Bram Stoker's novel. This film should be called "Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula"!
Reviews
14 Reviews
The Odd Couple
(1968)
One of the most beautiful comedies
23 November 1999
Warning: Spoilers
This cordial comedy confronts a few bizarre characters. Especially, of course, the two leading characters. Jack Lemmon plays Felix, a hypochondriac whose wife lost him because she couldn't stand his cleaning and cooking attacks any longer. So he tries to kill himself but every attempt fails. Walter Matthau plays Oscar, his friend, an untidy, unreliable sports-reporter who lives in divorce from his ex-wife in a bachelor apartment. He offers his distressed friend Felix a new home in his apartment. And soon the trouble begins because two such contrary characters can't live together for a long time. Felix turns Oscar's disorderly flat into a clean exhibition flat. He cleans and cooks the whole time. After a short while, Oscar feels persecution mania ... Filmed in a theatrical way and excellent acted. Above all, Jack Lemmon's play is wonderful. He is the perfect clown. He makes us laugh but in a tragi-comic way. Look for the wonderful scene when both men invite their two female neighbours for supper, because Oscar has to touch something more softer than a bowling-ball. While he is preparing the drinks, Felix sits with the two young ladies in the living-room. To get out of this embarrassing situation, he starts to talk about the weather. A minute later, he changes the subject and talks about his ex-wife and children. Suddenly he begins to weep and when Oscar comes back with the drinks, there are three weeping people in the living-room. The film is full of such amusing and at the same time touching scenes. An intelligent, entertaining comedy with much heart. 10 out of 10!
The Shining
(1980)
Artistic horror - worth seeing!
15 November 1999
Kubrick's complex film about isolation and the lunacy following out of that is a chilling art movie. It leads right into the labyrinth of human soul. Wonderful are the usual slow backwards, forwards and horizontal camera motions. Lighting and colours are appointed in an exquisite way. Even the few bloodsheded scenes are artificial. No doubt, there is pure dread in these cold, symmetrical pictures. Danny, the little son knows that. He can see in his mind what happened at the Overlook hotel and he can also see what will happen soon, while his father turns slowly into a perilous amuck runner. Danny meets the murdered twin sisters at the long corridor. He also encounters a long time deceased and decayed old woman who attacks him. The sequence when his father is lookins after her in room 237 is absolutely horrible. The show-down in the maze is overwhelming. The only failing, I think, are the actors. Shelley Duvall is not always convincing and Jack Nicholson is too excessiv with his mimicry. But the music of György Ligeti, Béla Bartók, Krzysztof Penderecki and Wendy Carlos is a guaranty for additional shiver.
Meet the Feebles
(1989)
A big disappointment
5 April 1999
After I had seen the wonderful "Heavenly Creatures" I was very curious on other Peter Jackson films. So I saw "Meet the Feebles". After the show I was terrible disappointed. The worst were not even the atrocities and the insipid jokes but everything seemed so far-fetched and demanding for some laugher. While the film was running, I got more and more tired because this flick bored me. Peter Jackson is in fact a very talented director and he can make better films.
The Mission
(1986)
Deeply human
2 March 1999
I think "The Mission" is better than Joffé's "The killing fields". The background-story is about political power between Spain and Portugal in 1750 and a Cardinal sent by Rome. But above all it tells of two men. Jeremy Irons is Jesuit Gabriel who builds a mission in South American jungles. He has got a deep human character and believes in peace and love. Robert DeNiro is more interesting. After killing his brother in a duel, he changes from brutal slave-trader to an expiating Jesuit. One of the best sequences is when native Indians recognize DeNiro. It looks first as if an Indian would kill him with a knife, but then he cuts the rope with that DeNiro carried a heavy ballast of weapons and armings. DeNiro cries and laughs simultaneously because he is redeemed. This goes right through your heart. Chris Menges cinematography is wonderful. Ennio Morricone wrote one of the most remarkable scores of film history. Don't leave the cinema while cast and credits are running over the screen at the end! You would miss the last sequence!
Heavenly Creatures
(1994)
Beautiful and disconcerting
13 February 1999
"Heavenly creatures" is one of the most disconcerting films I've ever seen. Peter Jackson made an extreme powerful film out of that true story. Just because of its fusion of wonderful poetry and incomprehensible violence, the film leaves a conflicting impression, you will think of it for a long long time after. The director refrains from a moral judgment. He only shows. He shows us the world of two very sensitive and very imaginative young girls. Both unite a deep friendship and they fight against their separation. I felt a lot of sympathy for both heavenly creatures but also for their parents. And so the end shocked me deeply! Peter Dasent wrote a superb orchestral score. The use of Mario Lanza's songs are very fanciful. The cast, especially Kate Winslet with her beautiful theatrical English accent, is outstanding. I don't like splatter movies, but Peter Jackson has convinced me of his talent to make other kinds of films, too!
House of Usher
(1960)
A little masterpiece of gothic horror
23 January 1999
Most critics felt no enthusiasm for this wonderful B-Picture. They measured it by Edgar Allan Poe's classic novel. I know Poe's novel but nevertheless I could enjoy Corman's film. It is well acted, very creepy and predominantly calm. It also is fine filmed and has a good outfit. In the genre of horror-films there are only few good examples. "House of Usher" is one of these. How great must it be to see this film in a movie theater.
Keoma
(1976)
Strong - Powerful - Dark
22 January 1999
"Keoma" is one of the most interesting westerns of film history. It is pretty violent and brutal but has a good story mixed with biblical allusions. Franco Nero performed Keoma as an homecomer who has to fight against suppression and cruelty. During the entire film his face remains a mask of taciturnity and bitterness. He tries to find peace in this world of terror but even himself only speaks the language of violence. The whole film is very grave and dark. It is powerful filmed with beautiful camera motions and unusual shots. The brothers Guido and Maurizio De Angelis wrote a first-class score using mistuning guitars, a female voice who sings very high-pitched and a male voice who sings out of tune. With their words, they describe the on-screen action. "Keoma" is not everyones taste, but it is a different western and it is a gem!
Edward Scissorhands
(1990)
Simply wonderful
20 January 1999
As I recently saw Burton's "Edward Scissorhands" I was deeply impressed by the beauty and the imagination of the story. If you only know Burton's Batman movies or Mars attacks, you can't imagine how beautiful is "Edward". The film has an extremely warm radiation and you can't keep aloof from the love it gives. The end is heart-breaking. When Winona Ryder as an old woman says:"And sometimes you can still see me dancing in the snow", I felt my heart pounding and tears came up my eyes. But the film has also very funny sequences. For example the neighbours, especially the nymphomaniac Joyce. I also must mention the music of Danny Elfman. As an old soundtrack collector I've listened to many film scores, but Elfman's music is the most beautiful of all. Richly flourished, warm and longing. Burton let a lot of room for Elfman's entry. Listen to the music when Edward is the hairdresser for the female neighbours. The music changes from Elegy to Spanish music to wild solo violin to Spanish music to Elegy. Dianne Wiest as motherly woman is as perfect as Vincent Price and Johnny Depp. Don't miss "Edward Scissorhands". It is simply wonderful!
The Portrait of a Lady
(1996)
Wonderful and very touching
25 December 1998
Jane Campion's adaptation of Henry James' novel is a very sensitive and excellent photographed film. I really was surprised about Nicole Kidman's performance. I never thought she could act like this. Please take notice of Wojciech Kilar's remarkable music! In the sequence where Isabel Archer has a phantasm of her three lovers who try to seduce her, the music reaches a mysterious level! There are only few masterpieces like this in 100 years of filmmaking.
Three Colors: Blue
(1993)
Incredible ...
25 December 1998
Many people say that "Three colors: Red" is the best of the series. In my opinion "Blue" is a lot better although I love all three films of this series. Juliette Binoche gives a stronger performance than Irène Jacob and July Delphy. Preisner's music is like the whole picture a wonderful and very deep discovery of human feelings. This is no film, it's a mysterious trip into strongest love! Go on this trip!
The Killer
(1989)
ultra-violence and nothing more
25 December 1998
I don't understand all the people who praise this disgusting piece of blood-thirsty action-firework! Okay, it is good photographed and breath-taking cutted but it is really ridiculous if anyone argues this film has a deep humane touch. In fact it's the contrary, it is almost fascistic in its distinct shown blood-spout brutality! If you have a sensitive mind, beware this scum!
The Innocents
(1961)
Best film I ever saw
25 December 1998
Jack Clayton's sensitivity proves it, there is no need of blood and disgust to make a good creepy thriller! I saw many films in my life and I learned to love Bergman, Kubrick, Kieslowski, Leone, Allen, but I really believe that I enjoyed no other film as much as "The Innocents"! Outstanding cast and outstanding photographed! The music of Georges Auric is perfect (included an old death-yearning song "O willow waly"). If you ever go for a trip to England, go and see the wonderful location "Sheffield Park Garden in Sussex". This is not only an intelligent and incredible atmospheric film, it is a weird journey into a spiritual world. And perhaps Clayton's direction went too far, because unfortunately this gem never found an audience! After a novel "The turn of the screw" by Henry James. One more tip, if you ever have the chance to see this Cinemascope-film in a movie theater, do it! It really is overwhelming!!!
The Turn of the Screw
(1992)
Beware this shame
6 December 1998
If you know Henry James' novel and if you know Jack Clayton's first-rate adaptation of this subtle psychological subject, beware this poor adaptation from Rusty Lemorande. No tension at all and Patsy Kensit really is no Deborah Kerr.
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