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Reviews:
Being
a Vampire-Itch
by Michael Flanagan
Solid
Though Shadow of the
Vampire is an enjoyable film rich with
excellently set up shots, plot points, and unusual
dialogue, it is still a device for the actor.
In this case, two actors wonderfully pick
up the baton and easily juggle while standing on
their heads.
John Malkovich, as always,
gives a completely original performance that no
other actor in the world could have done the same
way. Even
though he is one of the few actors with his name
in a motion picture, he still manages to avoid the
dreaded inartistic mainstream and instead swims
through the channels of oddity.
You’re just as likely to find him in a
French film or television miniseries, as you are
to see him in American Cinema.
Malkovich does what he wants, it seems, and
he does it well.
Why does he belong in this movie as the
eccentric director Murnau?
Because Murnau looses his temper several
times in the film, and no one looses their temper
like John Malkovich.
He adds even deeper neuroses to this
character, which deepens and excites the movie.
Willem Dafoe, another actor
who seems to drift in and away from mainstream
(which could change once Spider-Man
premieres), gives the most noticeable performance
as the “vampire” Max Schreck.
Dafoe’s Schreck is scary only in
movement. His
words and actions simply are awe-inspiring in the
most subdued way something can inspire awe.
He is a pleasure to watch, much more so
than any vampire ever has on screen.
He says little, but in each movement builds
so much depth to his character that by the end of
the film, you’re not sure what to feel, but you
know you feel it.
The film itself is good, but
not great. At
times it is slow, at other times too fast.
The arc of the story is well written and
satisfying, and the direction by E. Elias Merhige
is deep and imaginistic.
When the film fades to black at the end,
you are amazed, though not so much over the film
itself. The
last frames of film contain John Malkovich and
Willem Dafoe, whose amazing roles deserve praise
outside of any camera.
DVD Update
The most interesting aspect
of the Shadow of the Vampire DVD is the
interviews. That’s
a first. After
watching interviews with Willem Dafoe, director
Merhige, and producer Nicholas Cage, you gain much
more from the experience of watching the movie.
The only negative aspect of the interviews
is that they seem to have forgotten Malkovich, a
blunder indeed.
The DVD also includes decent director’s
commentary, a trailer, and a trailer for
Merhige’s first film, Begotten. The film looks…strange…and artistic…and I’ll probably
never watch it.
The trailer alone gave me nightmares.
Thus the genius of the director joins that
of his cast.
DVD Rating: Solid
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Shadow
of the Vampire
by Mark Capitelli
Solid
The performances by Willam
DeFoe and John Malkovich, as well as the perfectly
haunting and eerie look and style of this film,
are what make it a Solid film, but the plot
in itself is only amusing.
I enjoyed watching the film although some
parts were a little boring.
I can’t say I recommend it highly.
I think only people who really like the
off-the-beaten-track, independent kind of film
should look for this.
I think almost anyone else will be a little
disappointed by it.
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