Gary Oldman

Romeo is Bleeding
$14.98
I bought this dvd about three years and have probably watched it over thirty times since. For me it's a great treatment of obsessive/addictive behaviour wrapped up in a sylish and sexy crime drama. It's about obsession/addiction for love,for sex and for money. Jack Grimaldi(played by Gary Oldman) is led by "that old voice in the back of his head" which rendered him powerless to his obsessions/addictions. Essentially he cannot function without living life on the edge and in doing so he puts his marriage, his job and especially his life on the line. Neither his sanity nor his judgment was ever in question as he clearly never possessed any. His nemesis in the form of the female lead mobster Mona De Markoff(played by Lena Olin) represented everything he ever wanted but never had ie power, style, sensuality and ruthlessness. She was the perfect woman for him and he could do nothing to stop himself from gravitating towards her into a debauched and downward spiral of corruption, criminality, unabated sexual attraction and ultimate self destruction.

Over and above this what appealed to me was the excellent photography, lighting and sylishness of the film and the sensitivity of the script which could only have been written by a woman. I love this film!!!!!!

Prick Up Your Ears
$14.98
There is an awful lot going for this film, but sadly, the way it is presented takes it down a notch or two for me. I just found the construction of this film to be somewhat of a mess, and while I wanted it to engage me, and at times it is, it failed to really rally me in the way I wanted it to. It is an effective piece that kind of falls short of truly grasping all that it could have been, beings that it carries with it some weighty subjects.

The life of playwright Joe Orton is an astonishing one.

Director Stephen Frears (and screenwriter John Lahr) really share all the blame in making this film less than brilliant, for the acting across the board is beyond stellar, and the crisp cinematography (from starlit skies to murky bathrooms to cramped and repressive apartments) is a true highlight. The script is just jumbled to me and it fails to really capitalize on what it has to work with. There are moments that really seem to float and give promise that this is going to really take off, and then it just falls flat once again. I particularly liked the way in which Joe's demise was handled, but it is really just a brief glimpse at Frears capabilities.

Frears is better than this.

The most important aspect of this film is the acting, for it is the most redeeming. Around many a cinematic circle, Gary Oldman is considered one of the most overdue actors for an Oscar nomination in who knows when. He is an astonishing actor who has proven himself time and time again, and this is one of his crowing achievements. He posseses a naughty sensuality that completely compliments the man that was Joe Orton and gives light to Orton's own artistic viewpoints. His self-centered theatrics are superbly handled without any clich���d manipulations. Alfred Molina is astonishing here. When I first saw the film I found him to be rather annoying and obnoxious and I felt he was forced; until the end when his character seemed to click. Upon rewatching the film I saw how his entire performance was really a stem of the inevitable, like a work reversed. If you watch the scenes from end to beginning you can see the progression of his character (or at least the full understanding of his character) and that made me absolutely adore his performance. The queen of the film is Vanessa Redgrave, who just oozes with absolute control as Peggy, Orton's agent. Her scenes were some of my favorite, such a superb supporting work; never taking away from the star but never allowing us to forget she is there.

Marvelous.

Like I said; the acting across the board is phenomenal and some of the best work of the 80's (I'd place Molina and Redgrave on my best supporting ballot for, like, EVER). I only wish that the remaining facets of the film met their grandeur. It was a nice idea, but the execution leaves one wondering how this could have gone so wrong.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Collector's Edition)
$19.94
I was excited back in the day when this film was released; one of my best friends and I were ardent horror fans back then, and had both often talked of someone doing "Dracula" as it was written...I had seen Franco's "Count Dracula" on late-night television, but was anxious to see a big budget, and hopefully even more faithful, adaptation of Stoker's work.

I wasn't disappointed, per se, although I did have a major issue (more on that in a minute), but overall, I very, very much enjoyed the movie. The pageantry and scope of the scenery was marvelous. I was spellbound by the cinematography, and the eerie shadows and unearthly feel of the film, especially the sequences in Castle Dracula. I was a little put off by the red, Oriental-appearing garb that the Count wore in the beginning (although I understood the symbolism), but all in all Coppola's style and techniques made the film a very well-woven tapestry of dread and gothic style.

As far as performances go, I thought all of the acting was very well done (although I'm not a fan of Keanu Reeves' wooden style), but the standout to me was Anthony Hopkins. I dare say that his portrayal of Professor Van Helsing is the DEFINITIVE version...I take nothing from Peter Cushing, but from the book, I always pictured him as more of a swashbuckling, mystical man, one who spoke his mind and was perhaps a bit irreverent in his conviction...in short, EXACTLY as Hopkins performed him.

Now, for my issue: I was disappointed with the whole "reincarnation of lost love" theme that Coppola went with. Not only is this an old trick, but had no place in the novel at all. The only love story in the book is the love of the men who would sacrifice all to save a virtuous woman from the blackest of evil. I had looked forward to a monstrous and menacing Dracula as he was in Stoker's story, and while Oldman did a brilliant job, I was chagrined at the character being so sympathetic and played as a romantic lead. Whereas it did the movie in and of itself justice, to proclaim to be "Bram Stoker's Dracula", the addition of this element flew in the face of that claim. While I know this was done to draw a larger audience, the movie could have been as well done and beautiful without this contrivance.

A very good movie, in every way, and I highly recommend it...would have been a five-star rating if not for that one glaring departure from the story.

Chattahoochee
$14.98
Gary Oldman is incredibly astounding and beautiful, sexy in this film as always.
I recommand it this truth story.