Shadow Of The Vampire (2000)

After the Bram Stoker estate refuses permission for F.W. Murnau (John Malkovich) to film the novel DRACULA, he changes the names of the characters and films an unauthorized adaptation called NOSFERATU. To play Dracula, he hires a mysterious "method" actor by the name of Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe) who lives his part a little too realistically. Directed by E. Elias Merhige, this sly black comedy manages to be both funny and scary at the same time. Long before Quentin Tarantino rewrote history in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS and ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, Merhige and screenwriter Steven Katz concocted this intriguing premise that the actor Max Schrecck was a real vampire. Like the Tarantino films, one hopes moviegoers don't take the film as fact because none of the characters who die in the film died in real life and went on with their careers and the characterization of Murnau as an obsessed director willing to sacrifice his crew and actors for his art is blatantly false. Dafoe (Oscar nominated for his work here) gives a wicked and witty performance and seems to be having a great time. The fact that most of the other actors play it straight only makes Dafoe's performance more delicious. The wonderful atmospheric score is by Dan Jones. With Cary Elwes, Udo Kier, Eddie Izzard, John Aden Gillet and Catherine McCormack.