1121. Bram Stoker's Dracula

Bram Stoker's Dracula
1992
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

There are some people that absolutely love camp in their horror movies. I am not one of those people. If it were up to me, Jordan Peele and James Wan would direct every scary film from now on. But Francis Ford Coppola always has to go big (in a bankrupt-the-studio kind of way) so camp wins.

The story of Dracula has been told many times...by me, who has recounted it twice for the movie blog, and once for the book blog. So I'll shake things up by just pointing out where this movie diverges from other retellings. In this version, Dracula's wife Juliet-ed herself when she received an erroneous report that Dracula died in battle. After he is told by a priest his wife will go to hell for committing suicide, he renounces God and vows to get revenge (on whom?) with all the powers of darkness. He becomes obsessed with Mina because she reminds him of his lost love.

So I suppose enough has been made of the accents in this movie, but man, that's a tough thing to gloss over. I can only imagine what British people thought when they heard Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves attempting the accent. Reeves was clearly out of his element here, which you think would translate well into a character that is famously out of his element...but it didn't.

The dialogue is also ridiculous at times ("I never drink...wine"). But gothic horror is always over the top and melodramatic. So they nailed that well enough. But I still cringed my way through it.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Gary Oldman had a singing coach teach him how to lower his voice an octave. 

Coppola wanted Johnny Depp to play the role of Jonathan Harker, but the studio wanted someone who was more of a heartthrob.  Um.

Coppola made the entire cast do a table read of the novel in order to get the feel of thing. 

653. Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now
1979
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Good morning! I have a lot of movies to get through today and am actually feeling better.  Lucky for you, that means less graphic details about my recovery.  I really spoil my readers.

This is one of those movies that critics and film buffs seem to gush over, but I find to be dreadfully boring (see 2001: A Space Odyssey).  In fact, I feel like a lot of people who praise this film also think it is quite dull, but ultimately worth it.  I disagree with this; I don't exactly consider a fat Marlon Brando to be a brilliant light at the end of a three hour tunnel.

During the Vietnam War, Benjamin Willard is sent on a mission to execute an insane colonel who is commanding his own troops in Cambodia.  This film is based off on Heart of Darkness, which you could read in about a quarter of time it takes to watch this movie.

I really dislike everything about this, from the self indulgent actors to how everything looks orange.  I have seen the documentary based on the making of this film.  It seems that everybody involved became suicidal.  Maybe that is why they made the movie so boring; so that we could share their misery.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Marlon Brando did not know any of his lines, hadn't read the source material, and was extremely overweight.  He also improvised much of his dialogue.

Coppola said about this film, "My movie is not about Vietnam.  It is Vietnam."

587. The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II
1974
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

This is another masterpiece that I am pretty sure I am going to sound like an idiot talking about it.  It's like when a hot guy talks to me and I forget how to hold a normal human conversation.  Let's get started, shall we?

The film follows two narratives.  Michael Corleone is now the Don of his crime family.  He survives an assassination attempt, and still manages to find time to be a shitty husband, brother, and son.  We are also told Vito Corleone's story in a series of flashbacks.  That's about as basic as I can make the plot, which confused me at times.  The idiot alarm is already going off.

Just like with my Chinatown review, I don't have too much to say about a film that is almost perfect.  I actually enjoyed this more than the first Godfather.  It was great getting the background on Vito and we no longer have to pretend that Michael isn't a huge dick!

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

First sequel to win Best Picture.

Coppola originally wanted to use Marlon Brando again to play the young Vito, but ultimately decided to use Robert De Niro.  That's a relief.  We would have had a "Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" situation on our hands.

De Niro learned the Sicilian dialect specifically for this film.

579. The Conversation

The Conversation
1974
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Maybe 1974 will be our year!  It has been a very strong showing so far.

Harry Caul owns his own surveillance company in San Francisco.  He is hired to bug a couple in Union Square, but is disturbed when he hears them say "He'll kill us if he gets the chance."  Poor Gene Hackman is always getting pulled into things.

Lately, the most moving and significant parts of a film have been at the end, but I can't comment on that without spoiling the movie.  So basically the thesis of my latest reviews has been "that end though..." Aren't I a good reviewer?

I do have one complaint.  For a film in this genre, I thought the pacing was a bit too slow. Still,  Hackman's performance was, of course, phenomenal.  We also got an unexpectedly great performance from Harrison Ford.  I wonder if he is in anything after this.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Coppola's favorite of all his films.

The dialogue between the couple was recorded several times in order to create the effect that the meaning is unclear.

550. The Godfather

The Godfather
1972
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

I am hesitant to write this review since this film is obviously a masterpiece.  Everything that could be said about it probably has been and I am sure scores of film buffs have written essays on it.  I will be as brief as usual and will do my best to not ruin your favorite movie, as many of you have accused me of doing.

Is it necessary to provide a plot description?  The story focuses on the transformation of Michael Corleone who goes from being kind of a dick who doesn't approve of the family business to dick who runs the family business.  I actually read the novel and the movie is a pretty faithful adaption.  Although I suppose the book spends a lot more time talking about Sonny's gigantic penis.

Like I said, what else can you say about the most critically acclaimed film of all time?  It's rare that a movie that has been hyped up so much doesn't disappoint.  Every actor is perfect for their role, every scene moves the story forward, and nearly every line is quotable.  I just wished we had discussed Lucy Mancini's wideset vagina more.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

In the scene when Vito Corleone is carried upstairs, Marlon Brando put weights on his body as a prank.    This doesn't seem so funny now we know he gains somewhere around a thousand pounds in the coming years.

Body count of 18.

Trailer: