Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors have made films making headlines news like Tom Cruise. Since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Cruuse has been a beloved icon. Whether it’s spies enduring dangers, lawyers or soaring aviators, Cruise has portrayed many compelling characters. Arguably, Cruise’s best strength as an actor is his powerful commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors that has always put his life on the line by performing his own stunts. Even when he has suffered injuries, Cruise has never lost his passion for making memorable movies. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, Cruise has become an icon in entertainment. Although he’s best known for his commemorated role in the Mission Impossible series, Cruise has proven he can make engaging films in every single genre. Throughout his powerful career, Cruise has made several unforgettable movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Cruise and adore all films which he has made in his career. However, “Interview with the Vampire” is my favourite. Released in 1994, Neil Jordan’s film offered a powerful portrait of vampires. Packed with breathtaking production design, engrossing storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best films ever made about vampires. At the centre of it all is a great performance by Tom Cruise, who portrays a vampire that experiences issues. Ultimately, what makes “Interview with the Vampire” a masterpiece is universal appeal. Unlike most films about vampires, it discusses strong themes which everyone would relate to. A riveting period piece about frightening vampires, there are several strong reasons why “Interview With the Vampire” is a movie which is absolutely worth seeing.
“Interview with the Vampire” tells the story of a vampire facing obstacles that prove to be dire. Tom Cruise portrays Lestat, a bold vampire that endures mental health issues. Lestat has always had a powerful love for blood that is hard to control. However, his life forever changes when he is interviewed by a reporter. Malloy (Christian Slater) is a curious reporter with an interest in lives of vampires facing disaster. Faced with sexual desire, Lestat is forced to reveal dire secrets about being a vampire. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Lestat questions whether it’s possible for him to interact with a reporter. Trapped in a troubled interview, Lestat questions his love for a commemorated profession he used to value.
Neil Jordan has often been fascinated with themes of obsession. A fantastic filmmaker, Jordan has often made engrossing movies about obsessed individuals facing disaster. His iconic movie “The Crying Game” offered a strong portrait of spies which face shame. With “Interview with the Vampire”, however, Jordan created his first ever vampire movie. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of vampires facing adversity but he succeeded tremendously. Using captivating cinematography, Jordan captures a vampire embarking on a journey. Inspired by Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, the filmmaker expertly uses point of view shots to capture hardships vampires go through. For instance, point of view shots elevate the interview scene. During this haunting scene, Leslat has his first interview with a reporter causing tension. Using stunning POV shots, Jordan creates a portrait of vampires that is engaging. POV shots are tricky techniques. As Tony Scott’s “Top Gun” suggested, POV shots enhance movies about aviation. That being said, it works immensely. Using strong visuals, Jordan captures tensions vampires are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Interview with the Vampire” is production. From technical perspectives, film is extremely well made. Imspired Martin Scorsese’s “The Age of Innocence”, Jordan effectively uses costumes to capture tensions vampires are facing. Throughout the movie, Lestat’s costumes showcase his personality as a vampire. For instance, costumes enhance the vampire fight scene. During this tense scene, Lestat has a tense confrontation with a fellow vampire causing tension. Through stunning costumes, Jordan crafts a portrait of vampires audiences can easily relate to. Moreover, the musical score is spectacular. Elliot Goldenthal’s music is key to success of the film. It gives the film tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that vampires bear. Using powerful production, Jordan captures vampires that experience intense tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Interview with the Vampire” is a vampire movie that’s engaging. The film is extremely well written, and effectively uses sequences os silence to capture vampires that endure tension. Throughout the movie, Leslat often expresses silence in reaction toward people that he finds annoying. For instance, silence enhances the breakups scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lestat has a heartfelt breakup with his lover causing a moment of silence. Through silence, Jordan created a portrait of vampires that audiences easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in most movies. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” proved, silence enhances films about Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Jordan captures vampires that experience a painful price to pay.
One admires amazing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best career performances as Lestat. Cruise achieved appreciation for playing spies embarking upon impossible missions. With “Interview with the Vampire”, however, he took on his most challenging role. It isn’t easy to play a vampire facing adversity but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, strong and emotional in his most memorable role. Cruise has often excelled at playing heroes under gene pressure, and “Interview With the Vampire” showcased his strengths as an actor. With riveting expressions, Cruise captures the angst, desperation and grief that a vampire is facing. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most iconic actors today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Tom Cruise, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of appreciation. Brad Pitt is brilliant, capturing the larger than life nature of a vampire that has a bad habit of throwing a big temper fit. Christian Slater is spectacular, bringing curiosity towards an inquisitive news reporter that’s determined to interview a vampire. Lastly, Kirsten Dunst deserves appreciation. As a female vampire, she brings sexual tension to the movie.
Finally, “Interview with the Vampire” would earn the recognition of everyone capturing vampires that are dire. Unlike most movies about vampires, it discusses strong themes everyone would relate to. It tackles powerful themes such as courage, mental heath and trauma that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of vampires to enjoy it. It delivers a thought-provoking message about identity which will resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Interview With the Vampire” is one of those rare vampire movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Tom Cruise would absolutely enjoy “Interview with the Vampire” and so would movie-goers seeking bold entertainment. A captivating portrait of a vampire, it honours an actor that audiences admire.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about frightening vampires seeking to conduct an interview, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor that hasn’t lost his abilities to captivate audiences through manufacturing unforgettable movies throughout his career which audiences commonly value.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 