Shadow of the Vampire

Rating:
Summary: Willem Dafoe's most chilling role ever....
Review: SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE was one of my favorite movies of 2000, and one of the most chilling horror movies I've ever seen. See it at least twice, and you'll understand it better.

The first time I saw it I was simply astonished at Willem Dafoe's performance (more like total absorption of Max Schreck's character), and the eerie mood his character set for the entire film. It has been many years since I've seen an actor so completely embody (no pun intended) the emotions and motivations of a fictional character so convincingly.

The entire cast is excellent as well. My other favorite actor here is Eddie Izzard's performance as the Jonathan Harker character, who finds himself drawn to and repelled by Schreck. They share several drole scenes. John Malkovich is as usual, over the top with the ego trip, but that's what makes Malkovich the actor he is. Catherine McCormack is especially effective as the beautiful and morphine-addled German "actress" who is the object of "affection" not only by Murnau, but by Schreck as well.

The art direction, the photography and the music are all so well done. The opening credits' sequence with its haunting musical overture is quite unique in its look. The entire film is interspersed with scenes from the original silent film, NOSFERATU. You may not realize they are scenes from that film, since the frames last only a few seconds. I got a better feel for the visual aspect of the film the second viewing.

Highly recommended and not just for horror fans!

Rating:
Summary: Chilling to the Bone
Review: John Malkovich. The name really sums it all up. I don't think there is another actor that really gives it his all more than he does. Consecutively he gives us, the audience, such movies as In the Line of Fire, Being John Malkovich, and RKO 281. Add in the Academy Award Nominee Willem Dafoe and you get an interesting black comedy about the making of the famed movie Nosferatu. The movie is very dark and you can hardly tell that Dafoe is hiding in that crazed blood-sucking vampire. Everything about this movie makes it worth watching. Check it out, you won't be dissapointed one bit that you did.

Rating:
Summary: Not for everybody but my favorite for 2000
Review: Its not like the best movie ever but it certain was better than traffic and probably Gladiator. NO, No this movie is not for everybody, you have to be a certain kind of person who kind of likes comedy and horror. The best comedy horror ever is of course evil dead II but this is close to it and in some ways better because they are working with just maybe a true story. It is not a very serious movie but can be frightening at times. Its not aimed at the usual audience so its more complex not simplistic. I think Willem Dafoe should have won becaus his movie was more dialogue and he had to do the makeup and be a lot out of character. Benicio Del Toro probably already knew spanish so what if he learned some. They don't understand what he is saying how do they know how he is acting. As for John Malkovich he was great as usual and his best role since Dangerous Liasons. He was ecstatic as the great director Murnau and he makes him so obsessive. This is definately worth buying and the special features are better than most. I always love the commentary. They really did a god job making a plot of the rumor that Shrek was actually a vampire nd thats why he played Orlock so well and just maybe they are right. I love how they make the germens drugges and how they just let people die. They did a brilliant job showing how to film nosferatu in the 20's and I thought it was intersting. Now I think Dafoe is a vampire for his performance. Don't miss this one folks.

Rating:
Summary: The Loneliness of Evil
Review: About 35 years ago, I read an interview with Christopher Lee entitled "The Loneliness of Evil", in which Mr. Lee discussed the element of loneliness that he wanted to bring to his screen characterization of Dracula. I think that could also apply with great veracity to Willem Dafoe's remarkable performance in Elias Merhige's "Shadow of the Vampire", an extremely entertaining and unease-provoking fantasia about the making of Murnau's vampire classic "Nosferatu." Mr. Dafoe, who I feel was cheated out of an Oscar, gives a multifaceted, tour-de-force performance as "Max Schreck", probably the most brilliant bit of "typecasting" ever. For those of you who don't know what I'm referring to, the premise of this audacious film is that director Murnau, played by John Malkovich, hires a real vampire to star in his film, unbeknownst to the rest of the cast. Murnau strove for realism in this classic silent film, shooting on location in Czechoslovakia by ruined castles, menacing woods, etc. The fact that his star happens to be the real thing only adds to his vision of cinematic "truth". What he doesn't foresee is that his leading man, who is not above having "star fits", starts to feed on the cameraman, and, later, the leading lady. This film made me very uneasy, as does "Nosferatu". It is duskily photographed, and the period (1920) is lovingly recreated via the costumes, hairdos, even the heavy black-and white makeups of the actors, and, of course, Willem Dafoes's chilling makeup as Schreck. Add to this a darkly beautiful music score and strikingly beautiful, eerie opening titles-images that look like creepy storybook stencils or woodcuts of subjects like St. George and the Dragon, etc. There is also a very subtle, sly, sick sense of humor at work here. When Max Schreck, the demanding star, says to his director, "I think we do not need the writer any longer", I laughed out loud in the theater! There is also a very melancholy side to Dafoe's Schreck-a sad loner who has lived a VERY LONG time, and has "seen it all." What a mature, intelligent performance! I also have to commend comedian Eddie Izzard for his performance as Gustav Von Wangenheim, the actor who portrayed "Hutter" in this film. The man looks truly terrified of his co-star-which, if you've seen "Nosferatu", you will find is quite accurate! I don't go to the movies much these days, unless it's something I really want to see-and this film was one of them! And one other touch of brilliance in the film-the name of the train transporting Murnau, his cast and crew into Czechoslovakia is "Charon", which is the name of the boatman in Greek mythology who ferries people across the River Styx into the land of the dead-need I say more?

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of the Vampire
Review: WOW! What an excellent film. From the beginning art deco intro to the violent climax, this film really worked well. I couldn't believe how well the making of Nosferatu was done in this film. Its amazing. Before going to see the film Shadow of the Vampire, I rented Nosferatu from 1922 for a second time to refresh myself on how the story went and the scenes. The scenes in the movie were almost identical and truely amazing to watch. Defoe mastered the role of Max Schreck who played Nosferatu. He surely should have won the Oscar for best Supporting actor. From his stiff dark pose to his huge evil gazing eyes, Willem Defoe surely steals the show. But let me not forget Malkovich who not only did an excellent job playing the role of F.W. Murnau, but also looked a lot like the original director. Lets just say producer Nicholas Cage was right on the money in producing this film. I give it five stars do to its realistic depiction of the F.W. Murnau classic Nosferatu and because of its witty comedic and spellbinding thriller story. See this movie...but first definitely rent the original F.W. Murnau classic. You will appreciate the film so much more.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as it could have been but not bad
Review: This movie is just not as good as it should have been. Somewhere during the film, the story gets lost in a big way. I understand what they were trying to say with the ending but the film should have built up to it. As it stands, the ending feels very tacked on and is, therefore, unenjoyable for me.

Having said that, there *are* plenty of enjoyable moments in this film. Willem Dafoe is exquisite. His portrayal of Max Shrek is both comic and very moving. It makes me think of a photograph of the real Max (taken during shooting of "Nosferatu") sitting on a hillside, looking very alone. If you're at all familiar with comedian Eddie Izzard, you'll love his performance as well. He had me in giggling fits (more often than I should have been, I warrant). John Malkovich is John Malkovich, as always. He's very charismatic so I can't say if I was entranced by his performance or by the man himself. I don't think he can be anything other than brillliant, even though I don't think his role was very well written. I don't feel Murnau's character was properly built up. You're left making too many assumptions. There were several times when I couldn't stop wondering what had been left on the editing room floor, and why? I felt that way quite often actually, and not just in regards to Murnau.

The best parts, for me, came when the crew was filming "Nosferatu." Malkovich was most amusing when giving directions to his actors. And it was interesting to watch the actors improvise those moments. But my favourite scene is the one in which Max (Willem) explains to Albin (Udo Kier) & Heinrick (Aden Gillett) why the book "Dracula" made him sad. It starts out very funny but quickly becomes very moving. There's quite a bit of that in the film: comedy to tragedy. Those moments kept me interested but left me desperately wanting a much better written/edited film. I can't help but wonder what got left out due to the project running out of filming time. If more attention had been paid, this could have been a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: The Shadow Continues..
Review: I was impressed with this movie as soon as I started seeing the trailer. Like the other reviewers, I do not think that this was perfect, but I did appreciate many aspects. John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, and Eddie Izzard played their roles superbly. Malkovich has the potential of being an excellent actor. Sometimes he playes the role well, other times he seems rather cliche to me. This movie was the ultimate specimen of his talents. He was spellbinding as a filmmaker who would do anything for his art. Willem Dafoe was amazing as Max Schrek. At times he was horrifying, and others, quite amusing. Eddie Izzard, although not as charismatic on the screen, was impressive as the lead actor.

I also have criticisms concerning the end of the film. I agree that it seemed sort of tacked on, however that did not bother me terribly as I found most of the film to be quite enjoyable.

This movie, I must stress, is multifaceted. There are those scary parts and there is dark humor, but it is also a fascinating psychological study and a theory concerning one of the most important pioneering movies. I found it to be very thought provoking and I believe it would be beneficial to view this film multiple times.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest movies ever.
Review: When I first went to go see Shadow of the Vampire, the only reason I wanted to see it was because two of my favorite actors where in it. They are John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. But when I finally saw it, I had seen a film with greatness, comedy, and terror. I hope the Oscars recognize Willem for his performance and gives him the Oscar.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as it should have been but not bad either
Review: As a couple of others have bravely stated, this movie is just not as good as it should have been. Somewhere during the film, the story gets lost in a big way. I understand what they were trying to say with the ending but the film should have built up to it. As it stands, the ending feels very tacked on and is, therefore, unenjoyable for me.

Having said that, there *are* plenty of enjoyable moments in this film. Willem Dafoe is exquisite. His portrayal of Max Shrek is both comic and very moving. It makes me think of a photograph of the real Max (taken during shooting of "Nosferatu") sitting on a hillside, looking very alone. If you're at all familiar with comedian Eddie Izzard, you'll love his performance as well. He had me in giggling fits (more often than I should have been, I warrant). John Malkovich is John Malkovich, as always. He's very charismatic so I can't say if I was entranced by his performance or by the man himself. I don't think he can be anything other than brillliant, even though I don't think his role was very well written. I don't feel Murnau's character was properly built up. You're left making too many assumptions. There were several times when I couldn't stop wondering what had been left on the editing room floor, and why? I felt that way quite often actually, and not just in regards to Murnau.

The best parts, for me, came when the crew was filming "Nosferatu." Malkovich was most amusing when giving directions to his actors. And it was interesting to watch the actors improvise those moments. But my favourite scene is the one in which Max (Willem) explains to Albin (Udo Kier) & Heinrick (Aden Gillett) why the book "Dracula" made him sad. It starts out very funny but quickly becomes very moving. There's quite a bit of that in the film: comedy to tragedy. Those moments kept me interested but left me desperately wanting a much better written/edited film. I can't help but wonder what got left out due to the project running out of filming time. If more attention had been paid, this could have been a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: In and Out of the Shadows
Review: In 1921, German director F.W. Murnau began the first film adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," and it soon became, not only one of the most celebrated horror films of all time, but the stuff of which legends are born. Denied the rights to the book, Murnau merely changed the title to "Nosferatu," Count Dracula became Count "Orlok," and filming began. "Shadow of the Vampire," directed by E. Elias Merhige, is a chronicle of the making of the film, one which blends fact and fiction and successfully exploits the myth surrounding the entire project. Fueling the fires of mystery that permeated the set was the fact that method/character actor Max Schreck, who played Count Orlok, was never seen by anyone without his makeup, which gave him a look that was a bit disconcerting to say the least. And, according to this film, Murnau added to it all by confiding that Schreck was actually a real vampire playing an actor playing a vampire. In any case, the atmosphere created by Murnau as they filmed "Nosferatu" certainly did the trick, as did the dark, unsettling aura created and maintained throughout by Merhige with this film. John Malkovich does an excellent job of bringing Murnau to life, giving him that sense of someone just slightly off-center; an unusual artist making a decidedly unusual film. Malkovich's Murnau is a determined and adamant filmmaker who has the ability to stay in the moment, and whose philosophy is that "Anything beyond the frame doesn't exist." An interesting concept from one of the three most highly regarded German filmmakers of the time. As Schreck/Orlok, Willem Dafoe gives an amazing performance that completely captures the essence of the man and his most famous on-screen character. Off screen as well, Dafoe applied Schreck's method of only allowing himself to be seen in full make-up by cast and crew as they filmed, and the desired effect is fully realized-- by the other characters, as well as the audience-- in the anticipation of his first appearance in the film, which when it comes is cast in shadows that distort his figure while emphasizing his elongated fingers and nails. It's quite an image, and does indeed create an indelible impression. Merhige's approach not only works well, but is brilliant in conception and execution, evoking a dark sense of disquietude while sustaining the enigma of his actor/vampire. And the B&W rushes of "Nosferatu," as well as the glimpses "through" the lens we get as they film it, have an authentic look that further captures that sense of time and place that gives this film credibility and makes it so believable. Most of the film takes place "on set," or at least in the proximity thereof, and the atmosphere created by Merhige draws you in and makes you a part of it all; it gives you the feeling of actually "being there." The terrific supporting cast includes Cary Elwes (Fritz), Udo Kier (Albin Grau), Eddie Izzard (Gustav), Aden Gillett (Henrick), Ronan Vibert (Wolfgang) and Catherine McCormack (Greta). Extremely well crafted and presented by Merhige, with a number of memorable performances (especially Dafoe's), "Shadow of the Vampire" is a rare treat to be experienced and savored. It's a dark film, but not depressingly so, delivered with intelligence and just enough humor to offset the drama, as when Schreck at one point says to Murnau, "I don't think we need the writer anymore." A classic line from a film that I am sure will in time be considered a classic in it's own right. An engrossing behind-the-scenes look at the creative process that makes the magic of the movies a reality, and for film buffs especially, it is one that must not be missed.