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18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Abel Ferrara Double-Set, 11 Jun 2003
Here, on DVD, are the two films that Abel Ferrera made back to back in 95/96- weirdly enough they are vaguely related. The first film, The Funeral, is an intrigueing take on the gangster film, far superior to diluted studio fluff like Road to Perdition (great camera work a great film does not make- see Jennifer8). Ferrara brings the Catholic torment of his previous work, notably the classic Bad Lieutenant, to this period piece detailing a 30s gangster family & their downward spiral to hell. The three brothers at the centre of the family (Christophers' Walken & Penn, Vincent Gallo) are the focus for this dark rumination on death and corruption- The Funeral is an electric rejuvination of the gangster genre, one that offers a stellar supporting cast (Annabella Sciora, Isabella Rosselini, Benicio Del Toro)- its denoument remains one of the most potent acts in 90s US cinema (and can it be related to The Addiction?) Either way, *****The Addiction was actually the first of these films to be shot (in 1995), though if we take it that the acts of The Funeral have left Walken & Sciorra doomed (& they are playing the same characters) then it is ideally watched after The Funeral. Here the focus is the wonderful Lili Taylor (I Shot Andy Warhol, 6 Feet Under) who plays a student bitten by a vampire- crossing paths with a sinister Chris Walken (who mentions William Burroughs, alongside the plethora of Nietzsche) and many Sopranos regulars (Sciora, Edie Falco, & the great Michael Imperioli). There are some great scenes here, even if the philosophy comes off as extremely pretentious (the images of the Holocaust were on a level with art that is meant to shock, but is merely posture)- Taylor's transformation makes a wonderful analogy with junkiedom (recalling classic vampire films like The Hunger, Near Dark & Martin) & the gathering of lecturers for a blood tide is a great scene (& one I can cheer heartily having been the victim of lecturer's marking schemes!). It doesn't quite come off, but is an interesting take on a genre that offers such diversity as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Cronos, Blade & The Hunger **** As a double-set this is great value, worth it alone for The Funeral- which I think is one of Ferrara's greatest films, alongside The Driller Killer, The King of New York & The Bad Lieutenant. Think of The Addiction as a bonus- the set taking in two overlooked highlights of 90s US cinema...Enjoy!
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A fresh,yet flawed Vampire film., 12 April 2002
'The Addiction' was filmed before 'The Funeral'- though it is taken that you watch the latter first & then this (are Sciorra & Walken playing the same characters from 'The Funeral'?-it isn't made explicit)...This is a fresh if pretentious vampire film- far from 'Buffy...' or 'The Lost Boys'; its closest relative is George Romero's 'Martin' (or aspects of 'Near Dark')...Lili Taylor is typically brilliant in the lead, as is Edie Falco (The Sopranos) as a fellow-student/vampire. The college (university) setting helps give access to the philosophical notions of existence- notably Nietzsche's 'Beyond Good & Evil'. As with 'Se7en' these literary references seem to be both over-pretentious & stretched in their meaning. I'm sure Ferrara 'means it'- it's just that images of the Holocaust & pretentious philosophysing on the nature of evil don't relate: you can debate the psychopathology of the final solution all you want- it doesn't change anything. As with any film that uses images of the Holocaust it is problematic-making this a relative of 'The Night Porter'. The endless philosophy is also humourless & , at times, tedious. There is some humour- the post-graduation ceremony is rather good- as is the literal/realist evocation of the vampire. Walken's cameo is brilliant-though not nearly long enough. The film is wonderfully photographed & a different kind of vampire film that should be seen by anyone who enjoys this kind of film. It is nowhere near the brilliance of 'The Funeral'- which is a much more convincing treatise on Catholicism & Evil. Still, a lot more convincing than mediocrity like 'Bram Stoker's Dracula', 'The Hunger' & 'Interview with the Vampire'. The attempt to bring the vampire concept into the modern age marks this film out.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastically dark and wonderful, 20 Nov 2000
By A Customer
The best vampire film ever - not just because of Walken's talent, but the inspirational and artistic complexity of the film. A must 4 vampire horror fans and those who are not - this film is convension breaking and breaktaking - yes - I do love this film (u might have guessed!).
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