Monday, August 19, 2013

Top 5 Brian De Palma Films

Brian De Palma is one of those rare directors who I would call one of my all time favorites, despite the fact that he hasn’t released a truly great film in a number of years. His most recent effort, the well-intentioned but overly stylized Passion, didn’t fully work for me. But it was close. So damn close. If De Palma had left two or three twists out of the last 10 minutes of Passion (and scaled back on the De Palma-isms) it could’ve been his best film in a long time. No matter, here are the Brian De Palma films that prove the man’s indelible worth.

5. Snake Eyes (1998)
I am fully aware that this is not a sentiment shared by many people, but I fucking love Snake Eyes. I love how Nicolas Cage just barely keeps it together (which is to say, barely keeping zany Cage at bay), I love the insanely long tracking shots (which is to say, I appreciate De Palma doing his best to hide them via digital technology), I love Gary Sinise stepping as far away from Lt. Dan as he can, the double-back narrative, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s perfect music – everything. “You got snake eyes. The house wins.”

4. Sisters (1973)
After directing a slew of obscure comedy films, Brian De Palma released the domestic horror thriller, Sisters, which remains one of his most trademarked films yet. Sisters has all of the great characteristics a De Palma film should, including one of the most gut wrenching murder scenes in film history (followed immediately by one of the best uses of split screen ever). I’m hesitant to reveal too many plot details, but don’t be turned off by the seemingly soap opera-ish plot. Sisters is gruesome and terrifying, in the best possible way.

3. Carrie (1976)
Carrie is perfect. Carrie is scary. Carrie is unique. Carrie is upsetting and disturbing and horrific and funny. Carrie has great acting. Carrie has great writing. Carrie has great design and structure and tone. Carrie is old, but Carrie is new. Carrie is fearless and confident and iconic. Carrie is a De Palma film for people who love De Palma films. It’s also as good as horror films get.

2. Body Double (1984)
I’ve mentioned a few times about the importance of a De Palma film feeling like a De Palma film. The stylization, complex plot, erotic overtones, and so on. When it feels like De Palma is forcing these traits on us (as is the case with Passion), then it is a turn off. But when he uses these elements properly, then a film can carry the label of being a true Brian De Palma Picture. I mention this because Body Double is without a doubt the most Brian De Palma-esque film Brian De Palma ever made. It’s sexy, intricate, bloody and amazing. Body Double is a gorgeous puzzle you spend two hours trying to figure out, and have no problem giving it another go immediately after.

1. Blow Out (1981)
After beginning with one of the finest film openings of all time, Blow Out slowly develops into as tensely complex a film as Brian De Palma ever made. The film is simple in plot, but exquisitely detailed in execution. While doing post-production work on a crappy movie, film sound engineer, Jack Terry (John Travolta), accidentally captures audio of what he believes to be a political assassination. But because the police don’t believe him, Jack is forced to go at the investigation alone and uncover the truth. The result is a perfect mix between Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation and De Palma’s own Body Double (or Obsession, or Dressed to Kill).

As Jack Terry, Travolta rivals his Tony Manero and Vincent Vega as the best character he’s ever played. It was the height of Travolta’s early career, and I respect the hell out of him for taking on such a troubled character in such a dark film. Blow Up, like the best of De Palma’s work, is something you uncover more of with each passing viewing. Despite its very obvious ‘80s vibe, the film never feels old, because it’s constantly revealing itself to us. All the best De Palma films do that.


26 comments:

  1. De Palma is seldom on point these days and, truth be told, he was always a bit uneven. But when he's on, he's masterful. I'm largely in agreement with this list, although I haven't seen Sisters yet and would consider Carlito's Way part of this upper echelon.

    Snake Eyes, in particular, is a woefully under-rated film. It has so many memorable scenes featuring a perfectly calibrated cast from unhinged Cage right down to the bit players (the frustrated ringside reporter, the red-head femme fatale, the hapless would-be john). As a local, I also think it captures some of the flavor of Atlantic City casinos, despite a few geographical errors and outrageous weather.

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    1. Great comment here. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving it.

      Seems we are in full agreement about De Palma's filmography. Carlito's Way would definitely make my Top 10. I love the hell out of that movie, and prefer it largely to the other Pacino/De Palma collaboration.

      Also love seeing the Snake Eyes support. That weather is a tad insane in that movie. The original ending (which they shot) had that hotel being flooded from the storm. I would love to see that on a special edition DVD sometime.

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    2. I read about that alternate ending. Honestly, I think this was one time where studio intrusion was probably for the best, but I'm with you. I'd love to see that footage.

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    3. After your comment, I hunted down as much info as I could. I found an interview with someone who did post work on the film, they described the scene pretty much frame by frame. Yeah, seems like the studio (or whoever) made a good call there. Would've been a tad too drastic.

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  2. Nice list. I would've gone for the more well-known de Palma films but you went with ones that not many people have seen.

    For me, this how I would rank my 10 favorite films of Brian De Palma:

    1. Scarface
    2. Carrie
    3. Blow-Out
    4. Carlito's Way
    5. The Untouchables
    6. Body Double
    7. Raising Cain
    8. Femme Fatale
    9. Casualties of War
    10. Mission: Impossible

    I've got a mixed reaction towards Snake Eyes though it's a hell of a lot better than The Black Dahlia, Mission to Mars, and the godawfulness that was The Bonfire of the Vanities.

    The Fury was just on TV as I'm going to watch it in October as I plan to have October be nothing but horror and suspense (except for new theatrical releases).

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    1. Thanks man. Yeah, I didn't pick lesser known ones on purpose, but I suppose I've always been drawn to his smaller work. Scarface is great and all, but I just like the other ones a tad more.

      I really need to see Raising Cain again. That movie was a tad insane in the best possible way.

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  3. Alex, I like the first half of Snake Eyes and think the work from DePalma in the boxing match and crazy scenes with the camera flying through the hotel is great. It just doesn't really hold up for me as it goes along. Still, it's a solid pick at #5.

    I've seen a lot of DePalma films, but I've yet to see Body Double and Sisters. I'm thinking I need to check them out fairly soon. Scarface is not that great, so I wouldn't put it on my list. I would consider putting The Untouchables and Carlito's Way in the mix, and his work on the first Mission Impossible film is pretty good. I've have to think more before doing a real list, though.

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    1. Hey Dan, I'll definitely agree that Snake Eyes gets weaker as it goes on, but I still really value it as a De Palma film. Glad you like it at #5.

      I enjoy a lot of his more popular stuff, like The Untouchables, Scarface, Carlito's Way... all solid. But I've always been drawn to his crazy ass horror flicks a tad more.

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  4. Will you do a directors page on him?

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    1. In the process of working on it, actually. Have to hunt down his first few movies. Very hard to find.

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  5. It's interesting how different people's choices are, but then De Palma is such a polarising director. He sadly doesn't get the respect from critics that his other peers are given. I've seen most of De Palma's work and I'm quite a big fan of his more recent efforts. Here's my top ten list:

    1) Carlitos Way
    2) Blow Out
    3) Femme Fatale
    4) Dressed to Kill
    5) Body Double
    6) Carrie
    7) Passion
    8) The Black Dahlia
    9) Raising Cain
    10) Snake Eyes
    Phantom of the Paradise, Obsession, Sisters, Scarface, The Fury, Casualties of War and Mission Impossible, are also all great but just miss out of the top ten. Hell I've even seen Bonfire of the Vanities and Mission to Mars recently, and think both are misunderstood and underrated movies in their own right!

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    1. So you're a BIG fan. That's awesome man. Seriously.

      Obviously love seeing Snake Eyes crack your Top 10. I just adore that batshit crazy film. Carlito's Way is a great top pick. I love that film. When Pacino breaks down Miller's door... shit is sexy.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Really appreciate it.

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  6. Tnanks for this. For some reason, I'm way behind on my De Palma, having not seen a bunch of them. That said, I'm a sucker for his gangster flicks. Scarface, The Untouchables, and Carlito's Way would be my top 3.

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    1. He definitely knows how to craft a nuanced gangster flick. Hey man, you should do a Top 10 Gangster Flicks for your blog. I'd love to read it!

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  7. I've been meaning to do that for a while now. Thanks for the incentive. FYI, I will spend the end of this week talking all about The Governator, with a top 10 list of his craptacular catalog on Sunday.

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    1. Ha, nice. Can't wait to read that. Don't forget Junior.

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  8. I find some of his best films even to be a bit uneven. They have moments of brilliance but not enough to make me love the films. Blow Out, Carrie and Carlito's Way would probably be my faves.

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    1. I agree with you. A lot of his best films still have lull moments. But Blow Out, Carrie... those hold up.

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  9. Great list, so great to see Carrie here, it's a true masterpiece. I never saw Sisters but it sounds very intriguing!

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    1. Thanks! I love the hell out of Carrie, and share in your aversion to the remake. Sisters is classic De Palma. Highly recommend it.

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  10. Once upon a time I could watch a DePalma film over and over. I reveled in the imagery and pacing. camerawork was amazing and the stories were often dangerous and erotic. Somewhere after Snake Eyes I fell out of love with new DePalma work. Maybe the studio influence was too much on the big budgets (Mission to Mars or The Black Dahlia) or the political elements seemed over the top (Redacted). I did not even hear of Passion until this article. Maybe there is a chance he will again be the director who's movie I most wanted to see immediately. i watched "Body Double" again just a couple of weeks ago, and sang it's praises to my disbelieving wife and my supportive but doubtful adult daughter. With that in mind:

    5.Dressed to Kill (Watched again a month ago)
    4. Carrie (Watched it last Saturday)
    3. Blow Out (Been too Long, I'll put it on my list for September)
    2.Dody Double (Like I said, within the last two weeks)
    1. The Untouchables (The most mainstream DePalma but also the most entertaining. Three or four great set pieces, a score I love, and Costner, Connery, Garcia, Smith, and DeNiro.)

    Honorable mentions Phantom of the Paradise and Obsession. I just wish I felt I had to see any of the work in the last 20 years as much as I need the older material.

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    1. Hey Richard, thanks for the comment. Basically, I agree with everything you said here. His post-Snake Eyes work doesn't really speak to the De Palma I know and love. Femme Fatale is either brilliant or garbage, I'm still not very sure.

      I love The Untouchables as well. Its recreation of the Odessa steps sequence will forever be the best regarded scene of De Palma's career, rightfully so. Love it.

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  11. I've never been a particularly big fan of De Palma's work. I like some of his films (Blow Out being the best one I've seen from him and was actually the first I watched from start to finish) but most of them just bore me. Maybe gonna have to go back and check some of these out.

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    1. I'll admit, a lot of his movies have moments of dullness, but I definitely think he's made some solid ones. Blow Out is tops.

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  12. Good stuff man. Thrilled to see Sisters on here. Too creepy. I agree with Blow Out at #1, but I also dig The Untouchables and Scarface.

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    1. Another Sisters fan! I dig. I like The Untouchables and Scarface as well. The train station scene from The Untouchables is arguably the best scene of De Palma's career.

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