Allan C
Francis Ford Coppola (THE GODFATHER, APOCALYPSE NOW, THE CONVERSATION, BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, etc.) is an inarguable master filmmaker. Since 2000 he's only made four films and I haven't seen any of them until now. Originally released as TWIXT, this version, B'TWIXT NOW AND SUNRISE, is a re-edited director's cut of the film that's shorter than the original. I never saw the original cut, so I can't compare, but I can say I enjoyed this oddball low-budget film. Val Kilmer plays a barely famous horror writer stopping by a small town for a book signing and then becomes intrigued by a local murder mystery involving a young girl and possibly vampires. Kilmer is good, as always, and Bruce Dern plays the colorful over-the-top sheriff (and wannabe horror novelist). There's also a great supporting cast that includes Elle Fanning as a ghost/vampire/murder victim, David Paymer as Kilmer's agent, and Joanne Whalley (Kilmer's real-life ex-wife) playing his ex-wife, which is delightfully meta and funny. The entire film feels like Coppola is doing a goof and just having fun. After watching the behind-the-scenes documentary by his granddaughter Gia Coppola, I feel even more convinced of that or maybe it's just that Coppola runs a very casual relaxed set. It doesn't feel as substantial or weighty as his other work, but Coppola is a master filmmaker and you can see it in his frame compositions, the way scenes cut together, and the dreamlike quality he brings to the film, even if the material seems rather light and inconsequential. Overall, I'm not sure I'd recommend this film to anyone outside of Coppola or Kilmer die-hards, but I count myself as one on both parts, so this film worked for me.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/17/24
Full Review
Chris J
MOVIE REVIEW
B'Twixt Now and Sunrise (The Authentic Cut)
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Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Year Released: 2011, 2023 Lionsgate Blu-ray (The Authentic Cut)
Runtime: 1h 19m
Director(s): Francis Ford Coppola
Writer(s): Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin, Alden Ehrenreich, David Paymer
Where To Watch: arrives on Blu-ray and Digital on February 28, 2023, from Lionsgate
RAVING REVIEW: Ready for a thrilling journey to a remote small town? Look no further than B'TWIXT NOW AND SUNRISE, a visually stunning film by Francis Ford Coppola. Val Kilmer stars as a struggling writer named Hall Baltimore, who finds himself embroiled in a mystery after hearing about local legends of vampires and more. As he delves deeper into the town's dark secrets, he is haunted by nonother than Edgar Allan Poe and another ghostly apparition.
This film is a feast for the eyes, with exquisite attention to detail in every frame. The film will remind you of a visual mix between SIN CITY and SUCKER PUNCH. This is a must-see, if only for the experience of such a surreal film by the legendary director. Kilmer delivers a standout performance, capturing the essence of Baltimore's despair. The supporting cast, including Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin, and Joanne Whalley, round out this unique experience.
B'TWIXT NOW AND SUNRISE is a haunting film from the start, although not so much horror as a psychological thriller—a part homage to gothic horror films, part filmmaking experiment. The mix of dream and reality keeps viewers guessing about what is real and what is not.
B'TWIXT NOW AND SUNRISE is a captivating film perfect for those who appreciate artistic experimentation. The surreal and dreamlike quality of the film will leave a lasting impression on viewers. Color plays a vital role in the movie, and being part vampire story, red is a very present albeit muted color selection.
In conclusion, B'TWIXT NOW AND SUNRISE is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that should be on your list to experience at some point. Coppola's experimental style sets this film apart from the rest of his filmography. This isn't like one of his traditional films, but the "authentic cut" delivers a movie I'm glad I got to experience.
As a side note, this film was something special to Coppola; it was an almost autobiographical experience after he lost his son in an accident. So while a general audience may need help understanding the importance of certain parts of this film, he certainly had a purpose while crafting this gothic experiment.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Twixt: A Documentary by Gia Coppola
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Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/24/23
Full Review
william k
Strangely ineffective (and disappointing) tongue-in-cheek Goth tale never really goes anywhere; some good cinematography and a nicely eerie Elle Fanning can't help to redeem it.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
You do need to be in the mood for it and it does get a bit pretentious but Elle's acting is worth it alone.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Esta historia es tan aburrida que ruegas por que se acabe rápido ,Francis Ford coppola decepciona a todos sus fanáticos trayendo esta historia que parece mas una parodia de alguna cinta de terror satánica que un real historia ¨pensada¨¨.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Coppola's film is incredibly meta in within the inner context of the film and regarding its filmmaking. The latter with a construction of a unique formula of filming in 3-D and playing with the digital technology and pushing its capability. In this context Coppola achieves his desired effect of creating a gothic semi-masterpiece. The context of the former is the journey of Coppola himself in the creation of Zoetrope and the desired effects of his intention to build for the better of both cinema and an audience but ultimately brought to his knees in seminal failure by the causes he intends to better in the same vein as Hall Baltimore, wanting to write new and fresh but everyone else waiting for him to go back to his roots and devolve. Coppola goes so far as including his own tragedies with the death of Gian-Carlo Coppola in a similar fashion as does Baltimore, even the parallels of V and Sofia are probable and can be justified to a certain extent, ultimately making his most personal and exciting project to date.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/03/23
Full Review
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