A film of many flaws - particularly some wonky acting - but half a masterpiece. It starts off with a massive advantage in that this is the first English speaking version of the novel that is actually faithful. I can't believe it took so long - the novel is filmic, with its different POVs and action packed finale. I guess the influence of the Balderstone play was simply too strong.
I also liked the emphasis on love and religion and history (Dracula here is linked to Vlad the Imaler), plus Coppola's expressionistic tricks: false backgrounds, trippy visuals, non realistic special effects. It is also incredibly sexy, especially the stuff where Keanu Reeves is set about by Dracula's brides including Monica Bellucini. Most of Sadie Frost's possession scenes result in her having a tit pop out.
Mina being a reincarnation of Dracula's wife was not in the novel (though it was in The Mummy) and I have mixed feelings about it - it does propel the plot, but when you kind of feel bad about Mina and poor old Jonathan Harker.
Some people hate Winona in this role; I didn't mind her, she does quite well in a role for which she isn't naturally cast (when the big moments come she's there - she's just not exceptional). Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins make strong adversaries. Poor Keanu is a bit of a joke, though he tries. Sadie Frost is effective, and the small roles well cast (esp Tom Waits as Renfield).
A surprise bit that doesn't work are Sadie Frost's three suitors: none of them really emerge as having personalities despite being played by reasonably well known actors; I know they don't have much time and aren't the focus of the story, but Coppola showed in The Godfather how skilled he was with getting maximum impact from a large cast, and it doesn't happen here.
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