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Shadow of the Vampire 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by E. Elias Merhige
R, 84 min. (sexuality, drug content, violence, langauge) |
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Starring: John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Udo Kier, Catherine McCormack, Ronan Vibert
Producers: Nicolas Cage, Jeff Levine
Screenplay: Steven Katz
Cinematography: Lou Bogue
Distributor: Lions Gate Films
Released: 12.29.00 (Limited), 1.26.01 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
One thing definitely stands out in Merhige's Shadow of the Vampire. Willem Dafoe's stunning performance as Max Shreck, a
vampire disguised as an actor, should win him a best supporting actor from the Academy. But it
probably won't, since not enough people will have seen the film and it's a shame because this is
a very good movie.
John Malkovich plays the famous German filmmaker F.W. Murnau, who's masterpiece Nasferatu in 1929
is the best vampire movie ever made. Malkovich shows a different side of Murnau, probably over the
top, but justified for this picture. He is desperate for that one masterpiece he can call his life's
achievement in filmmaking. He has found the ultimate actor in Shreck, although he knows he is really
a vampire and has made a deal with him to play the part in his movie. Of course the other actors and
filmmakers are not aware of this, which makes the movie at sometimes humorous as they soon begin to
realize that he is not just an actor. Take for instance the scene where Shreck is drinking a bottle
of liquor with two others working on the film. He suddenly snatches a bat out of the dark night sky
and drinks its blood right in front of them - drunk or not, these two know something is up and are
visibly concerned. They want to believe he's just a man, but underneath they know he is not. This
is a well-made tension-filled picture.
The movie is well-paced and cleverly is not too long, just long enough to have the audience wanting
more when the credits roll. It culminates in a classic confrontation between Murnau and Shreck who
argue over their previous agreement to allow Shreck to have a young actress (Catherine McCormack)
who plays in the movie with him at his disposal when the picture is done. When Murnau proclaims
that "This is still my picture", Shreck sadistically replies "This is hardly your picture any longer!"
The acting and directing are top-notch, but still, the movie is carried by Dafoe's incredible
performance. You are almost cheering for him by the end of the film as he gets his reward, although
not exactly how he had planned. Of course the irony of it is that the entire scene is missed as
Murnau unknowingly runs out of film during the scene.
You wish the movie had ended a little differently, but it's still an acceptable ending. This movie
has it all - good directing, acting, mood, pace, and most importantly a good script. And that's why
it's one of the best movies of the year.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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