This darkly effective horror drama holds plenty of interest, even for those who find Anne Rice's gothic cult novels unreadable. In contemporary San Francisco, young interviewer Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) is approached by Louis (Brad Pitt), who claims to be a vampire and tells Daniel his story. A flashback to late 18th-century Louisiana shows Louis as a 24-year-old plantation owner who sinks into a depression after the deaths of his wife and child. He meets the roguish vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise), who grants him eternal life in death. But while Lestat delights in draining his youthful victims, Louis cannot bring himself to do murder and subsists on animals. When he breaks down and attacks a young girl, Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), Lestat brings her back to life, and she becomes Louis's close companion. Nearly two decades after the publication of Anne Rice's novel, the news that Interview With the Vampire was finally coming to the screen no doubt warmed the hearts of Rice's fans. Yet they were outraged when Cruise was announced for the Lestat role, and Rice herself repeatedly blasted the choice in interviews. After viewing the movie, however, Rice had a two-page retraction printed in national periodicals, and it's not hard to see why. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE is a dark, lush, and reasonably faithful adaptation of Rice's novel. Cruise is masterful; his Lestat is a devilishly appealing but convincingly dangerous creature of the night. Throughout, director Neil Jordan recalls the haunting mix of dark psychodrama and visceral horror he brought to 1984's THE COMPANY OF WOLVES. VAMPIRE's best (and funniest) moments chart the dynamics of a decidedly non-traditional family unit, with Louis and Lestat playing proud papas to the precocious Claudia. Lestat's desperate assertions of paternal authority--"Never [kill] in the house!"--make for subversive domestic comedy that's only heightened by contrast with the film's predominantly grim (and very gory) tone.Lire l'avis complet
I purchased this DVD after reading Anne Rice’s novel by the same name. I was a bit disappointed to see the two male leads as I didn’t feel these actors could do the parts justice. Surprisingly they did a fair job. However I was blown away by the performance of Kirsten Dunst. I had thought that this role would have to be dramatically changed as no child actress could possibly portray that character as it was written. She absolutely nailed it! The cinematography was excellent. I’m not sure how the film would appear to somebody that had not read the novel. I don’t think the depth of the characters can be expressed in a short film, and with superficial actors. I would love to see more films from the series, but with more appropriate male leads.
...Well, I know that probably a lot of people would disagree with me, but I found this movie to be a dud. I admire Anne Rice's writing, especially her "Vampire Chronicle's"...In my mind I can see so clearly the story, the characters, the settings (cities, etc.) and I take seriously her descriptions: so that ONE LOOK at Tom Cruise as Lestat and Brad Pitt as Louis and I POPPED the DVD out of the player without seeing a single other scene! Anne Rice describes in "The Vampire Lestat" the way Lestat looks--tall, lean, sensual mouth; he is forever going to look 21 years old. He does a Rock concert in the Cow Place (NOW, in any stretch of the imagination, can you imagine Tom Cruise as a "Bad Boy" Rocker!!!---aside from the fact that he is too old!!!). Tom Cruise's Lestat is foppish, efemminate and freakish. AND Brad Pitt--a casting disaster!!! In "The Vampire Lestat" one of the main things that is outstanding about him (Louis) is his black, black hair!!! If you want to see Lestat (at least my idea of, him see "Queen of the Damned " with Stuart Townsend as Lestat---NOW THAT IS LESTAT!!!---and check out the "Rock Concert" in this movie--and the videos that are an addition to the DVD---OUTSTANDING!!!)Lire l'avis complet
Its a movie that I really like. I like the actors...all of them. Tom is so good as Lestat, Brad....never ending lamenting about not wanting to take life...so he drains the blood from rats. Antonio is so sexy, he just oozes sex. I have always thought vampires were the most sexy of the "monster" creatures. They are so dark and mysterious, a dark side of 'life'. I would have to say that this movie is one of my favorites to take to horse shows to watch after dinner. I had read the book years ago, but found the movie to bring it more to life for me. Anyway that is my take on this film.
I remember watching this movie when it first came out as a teenager and loving it. I'm the girl thats not goth at all but manages to be a class act vamp every holloween. I recently started to read the Chronicles and obviously started with Interview. As with most books-turned-movies (Harry potter, Waiting to Exhale etc) I prefer to read the book then watch the film which i immediately purchased on ebay. It was different the second time around. While the setting and characters are fine I was a bit disappointed by the absolutle lack of material taken from t he book. I understand that to include much of it would make the movie a few days long but it still seems cut off. What about the freakish brainless eastern european vamps or the entire trip there in the first place? I don't mind Tom Cruise as LeStat. He wouldn't be my first choice but he isn't horrible either. Definately would have prefered Stuart Townsend in this movie as he was super in Queen of the Damned. Brad Pitt is simply sexy and does the aloof/depressed role quite well (see Legends of the Fall). (I thought Armond looked like a cherub.. not Banderas...) My favorite movie character was definately Claudia... the rage! Kirsten does a great job but my only discrepency with that is I was under the impression in the book that she was about 4 years old. I understand getting a toddler to be so serious would be hard but Kirsten looks about 10 in the film and I find it takes away from her ruthless-ness. If you haven't read the book what you dont know won't hurt you. What is in the movie still makes a complete story. As its own entity its a great movie. The effects are super. Don't pass it up.Lire l'avis complet