INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994): Pizza Movie
December 6th 2008 05:23
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Kirsten Dunst as Claudia
The title of the film gives away its plot: Louis, the title’s vampire, gives an interview—yes, about being a vampire—to rookie reporter Daniel Molloy, and this unfolding story is presented in flashbacks. Plot highlights include the vampire seduction scene in which Lestat turns the beautiful and heartbroken Louis into a vampire at a New Orleans cemetery; the hunting scene in which Louis cannot bring himself to kill an elderly southern belle and instead goes for her poodles; the goth and gory Theatre of the Vampires in Paris; and the transformation of little Claudia into a child-vampire and her death by sunlight at the end of the film. In my humble opinion Cruise reached his acting heights in this movie, never again matched with the exception, perhaps, of Magnolia (where coincidentally, he is blond again—there might be a pattern here). Additional points of interest include the beautiful Antonio Banderas in an equally beautiful waist-long wig of comely locks as the vampire Armand, the gorgeous backgrounds of New Orleans and Paris photographed by Philippe Rousselot, Sandy Powell’s fabulous costumes and the luscious art direction of Dante Ferretti.
The Dandy Vampires: Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise as Louis and Lestat
The tone of perversity and subversion inherent to any fable involving those creatures of paradox, the vampires, is explored by director Neil Jordan, who is famous for tackling controversy in films such as The Crying Game and The Company of Wolves —in the latter he dealt with another monster theme, namely werewolves. He imbues this adaptation with an unforgettable atmosphere of vampire existential angst and melancholia, as the story is presented from the monster’s point of view. The layering of diverse motifs allows for a variety of interpretative approaches and endless debates. For those faint of heart the gory elements should not shock you too much, especially if you can handle such fare as, say, Kill Bill. The emphasis in this film lies rather on the psychological and moral dilemmas of the characters. The DVD edition of Interview contains Jordan’s revealing commentary and a ‘making of’ featurette which includes short interviews with Rice, Jordan and the cast members. The marvellous ending of the film, although it differs from the novel’s (I don’t think I am revealing any secrets here), has Cruise bite Molloy in his red convertible while driving over the Golden Gate bridge, and then adjust his frilly cuffs in order to start his conquest of the 20th century - in anticipation of a sequel which never materialised. Instead we got the even campier Queen of the Damned and Dracula 2000, which are also recommended to be relished with pizza, but at your own risk.
Review by Patricia Bieszk
© Copyright P. Bieszk 2005.
Originally published in Postgraduate Review vol. 2, no 1, Feb 2005, p.32.
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