Structurally, Bram Stoker's Dracula isn't one of Francis Ford Coppola's best efforts to date. And yet it's still a notable achievement on the filmmakers' part for two reasons. The first is due to the cinematography, the production design and the editing; the movie feels rich and lavish at its core, old-fashioned and beautifully crafted. The second is Gary Oldman, who gives a mesmerising performance as the infamous Count of the title. Based, of course, on the book of the same name, there is much to like about Coppola's film if you are a fan not only of the story being told, but of cinema in general; it reeks of technique, a purposeful move on the part of the director, marking it as essential viewing for anyone who claims to adore both the medium itself and the vampire genre. The biggest problem with the film is Keanu Reeves' performance as hero Jonathan Harker; his English accent is a crime against humanity and his line readings are flat and awkward. If you can ignore him, though, this is a work to treasure.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
