Product Description

Jude Law (THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, EXISTENZ) brings a powerful presence to a dark, mysterious crime thriller in the tradition of THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY and DOUBLE JEOPARDY. Steven (Law) is handsome, successful, charming ... and a lethal master of seduction! By the time the body of his latest conquest is found at sea, Steven has already moved on to his next victim. But as this moody, intelligent beauty (Elina Lowensohn) proves frustratingly elusive, it merely intensifies Steven's impassioned pursuit of a love he literally cannot live without! Stylish, suspenseful, and filled with terrific performances, you'll find this boldly unique thriller to be thoroughly entertaining!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22045 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-03-13
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 99 minutes

Amazon.com
Jude Law makes the term emotional vampire literal in this somber, restrained tale of a modern-day bloodsucker in London. As the improbably named medical researcher Steven Grlscz (pronounced "grilsh"), he's a cool charmer who woos lonely women and feeds off them at the height of their emotional intensity. He begins his seduction of Elina Löwensohn (who played a vampire herself in Nadja) just as relentless police detective Timothy Spall starts an investigation of him for the murder of his former lover Kerry Fox. It's the start of an unusual battle of wits.

Equal parts AIDS metaphor, ancient myth with a modern twist, and shrewd mind game, Immortality (originally released as The Wisdom of Crocodiles) is an art-movie interpretation of the vampire myth, too chic and bloodless to be compelling but curiously fascinating in its way. Leong Po-chih directs with clockwork precision and emotional restraint, elegantly creating a handsome but impersonal world where Grlscz's painful need for love is an extreme symptom of modern life. Law plays his part as a fascinating paradox, hiding his feelings and schemes behind a mask of impenetrable ennui that periodically bursts in a gush of sorrow and disappears just as fast, while Löwensohn is almost as hard to read with her angular face and unusual accent. The meticulous detail and cool images make this more a dispassionate mind game than a horror movie, where the ideas never quite come to life but become a curious enigma. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

A Dark Look Into Human Nature
When I first started to watch the movie I was a little confused about some of the things Steven (Jude Law) would do, but it all became clear as the movie progressed.You will really need to watch all the little things he does and read the things he writes (even if you have to pause the movie) to get the most out of this character and the movie. What I really enjoyed about this movie was the look into human nature. What makes a person good or evil and what makes us do the things we do? I really liked all the little excentricities that everyone had. We all do some strange things, especialy in private. Watch for the scenes with Steven and the police inspector the dialog is some of the best and the relationship that develops between them is the best thing about the movie. This policeman becomes almost like a father figure and Steven increasingly finds himself revealing personal things to this man. I began to enjoy the characters so much that I almost forgot that this was a vampire movie and not a doomed love story. This is a dark movie about a tortured soul so be prepared for that. If your a Law fan you will not be disappointed. I really enjoyed this movie and the cast is excellent. This movie does contain violence, language and brief nudity.

I LOVED it!
I wasn't sure what to expect after reading the other reviews of this film on AMAZON.COM, but I was willing to take the chance on a Jude Law film.

I would classify this as a drama/suspense movie, definitely not a "vampire movie." The concept is an interesting take on the whole vampire thing, but those expecting a horror movie, or lots of blood and guts, probably would be disappointed with this film. I didn't think it was a slow-moving film, as some of the earlier reviews had indicated -- I was completely engrossed from the get-go. Jude Law can even make his SILENCE interesting!

If you like smaller, well-made movies with great acting, this is definitely a movie you'll like. Give it a shot.

Unique Vampire
I found the talent of Jude Law late to the game, and had to go back and see much of his earlier work far removed from its date of release. "Immortality," or "Wisdom of Crocodiles" as it came to me, is one of the best examples of Law's ability as an actor. Of all of his older movies, this would be the one to buy.

Granted, I'm a sucker for an original horror movie - none of that blood and guts for me! I want depth, unique-ness, and a captivating dark tale. This filled the bill on all accounts. Law expertly plays a vampire, attractive but repulsive. It is believable because of this contradiction. Anyone as attractive as Law's character has to have their downfall. And slowly, the viewer sees the pain he lives with.

Highly recommended!