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Interview With A Vampire (1994)
I have never read the novel this is based on, so I can't judge whether this is a good adaptation or not. The only way I can and will judge Interview With The Vampire is on it's own merits as a film.
As a film, Interview With The Vampire has it's issues. Specifically, I think the theme of immortality being a curse isn't explored all that well. It's a weakly written element and it's put onto Brad Pitt's shoulders, who didn't really have what it takes to carry it. I also think that after the first hour, where the film shifts focus to the group of vampires living in the Paris underground, the film really loses some of it's pace and punch. Luckily, that only lasts for about 20-30 minutes, but it's a significant problem within the film.
However, I still give Interview With The Vampire quite a high rating. Why? Because I still love it.
For the most part, the film is stylishly directed by Neil Jordan, who creates a playful and moody atmosphere that works for the most part. There's also garish production design, beautiful costumes, a real sense of humour and a fantastic Tom Cruise. Another one of the film's flaws is that it's just never as entertaining when Cruise isn't onscreen. His energy fits the intriguing Lestat perfectly.
And Kirsten Dunst... Wow. What happened there? Everything else I've seen her in has been stunk up by some really bland acting, but here she manages to upstage Pitt throughout and even Cruise in some scenes. The rest of the cast is great, though as you may have guessed, I do think Pitt is the weakest link. He's fine and a good enough actor for the part, but unfortunately he can't match his more experienced co-stars and gets the worst-written character.
Interview With The Vampire was actually one of my favourite movies around the time I really started getting into film, which I found weird, since I didn't and still don't care for vampire movies. I don't think that highly of it now, but it is still the gloriously entertaining film I loved then; it just has a bit of a unconvincing and sour note to it now.
I have never read the novel this is based on, so I can't judge whether this is a good adaptation or not. The only way I can and will judge Interview With The Vampire is on it's own merits as a film.
As a film, Interview With The Vampire has it's issues. Specifically, I think the theme of immortality being a curse isn't explored all that well. It's a weakly written element and it's put onto Brad Pitt's shoulders, who didn't really have what it takes to carry it. I also think that after the first hour, where the film shifts focus to the group of vampires living in the Paris underground, the film really loses some of it's pace and punch. Luckily, that only lasts for about 20-30 minutes, but it's a significant problem within the film.
However, I still give Interview With The Vampire quite a high rating. Why? Because I still love it.
For the most part, the film is stylishly directed by Neil Jordan, who creates a playful and moody atmosphere that works for the most part. There's also garish production design, beautiful costumes, a real sense of humour and a fantastic Tom Cruise. Another one of the film's flaws is that it's just never as entertaining when Cruise isn't onscreen. His energy fits the intriguing Lestat perfectly.
And Kirsten Dunst... Wow. What happened there? Everything else I've seen her in has been stunk up by some really bland acting, but here she manages to upstage Pitt throughout and even Cruise in some scenes. The rest of the cast is great, though as you may have guessed, I do think Pitt is the weakest link. He's fine and a good enough actor for the part, but unfortunately he can't match his more experienced co-stars and gets the worst-written character.
Interview With The Vampire was actually one of my favourite movies around the time I really started getting into film, which I found weird, since I didn't and still don't care for vampire movies. I don't think that highly of it now, but it is still the gloriously entertaining film I loved then; it just has a bit of a unconvincing and sour note to it now.