BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA

SYNOPSIS: A young lawyer, assigned to a gloomy village in the mists of eastern Europe, is captured and imprisoned by the undead vampire Dracula. Inspired by a photograph of the lawyer's betrothed, Dracula travels to London and begins a reign of seduction and terror in an attempt to win her love.

BOTTOM LINE: This is definitely Coppola's best film of the last decade. Of course, when you consider what one has to compare it to – THE RAINMAKER and JACK – that's not exactly a glowing endorsement. It's a visually stunning, darkly mysterious and fairly accurate version of Bram Stoker's horror/pulp classic with one major flaw – the casting of Keanu Reeves. Before you get on my case, I do think Reeves can act, this part just isn't within his range. Much like Mr. Cruise, he is very good at playing a certain type of character. An intelligent, uptight English gentleman is not one of them. I applaud him for trying, but he ruins the mood of the piece, which dances precariously on the line of utterly intoxicating and ridiculously overripe as it is. Not that he's the only one guilty of bad acting. Ryder isn't much better, but manages to keep it tolerable. Oldman and Hopkins are brilliant as always and Sadie Frost makes the most of her role as vampiric concubine. The art direction, costumes and cinematography are amazing, keeping this flick from being yet another lame horror movie. Lest you think this is a quaint period piece be forewarned. This is one of the bloodiest films I have ever seen. An intelligent, visually exuberant, if imperfect, telling of a classic.