Dressed to Kill (1980)

[javy]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

2 in 1!

She's gorgeous in Carrie no doubt, and I do love her in those gym shorts, but in Dressed to Kill she is absolutely stunning as a classy hooker with a heart of gold. I would be like Charlie in Young Guns, "Mam, I just want to hold you." Well, for starters...

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Geeze, is all of De Palma's stuff this good? I've only seen Blow Out and Carrie - but those were long, long ago (as in in the eighties) so I don't remember anything about them at all. I picked up Dressed To Kill at the criterion sale pretty much blind (I saw the trailer and that was about it) - Jesus, it was some good, good stuff. I love that aside from the one scene in the doctor's office at the beginning, the first half hour or so is totally sans dialog.

That was 15 bucks well spent!

Carrie and Phantom of the Paradise are my favorites. You should also check out Sisters and Femme Fatale. Body Double and Carlito's Way were already mentioned, but don't forget Scarface. The Untouchables is one of his more popular films, but it's actually one of my least favorites of his.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Carrie and Phantom of the Paradise are my favorites. You should also check out Sisters and Femme Fatale. Body Double and Carlito's Way were already mentioned, but don't forget Scarface. The Untouchables is one of his more popular films, but it's actually one of my least favorites of his.

I also want to give a shout out to Snake Eyes. Despite the compromised ending it's a fun and stylish thriller.

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I also want to give a shout out to Snake Eyes. Despite the compromised ending it's a fun and stylish thriller.

And that tracking shot!

[MJD64]

Along with the great principal actors in Dressed To Kill, I have to give credit to the terrific Dennis Franz as Detective Marino, so rude and uncouth he's hysterical. The scenes between him and Nancy Allen in particular are frequently a riot.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Carrie and Phantom of the Paradise are my favorites. You should also check out Sisters and Femme Fatale. Body Double and Carlito's Way were already mentioned, but don't forget Scarface. The Untouchables is one of his more popular films, but it's actually one of my least favorites of his.

The Untouchables lacks the sly subversiveness of his thrillers and best films, but the overall stylishness wins me over and I've always found it grand entertainment.

Another of De Palma's films that doesn't get a lot of love is The Fury, which I've always really enjoyed. A film featuring telekinetic teens immediately after a masterpiece like Carrie doubtless suffered by comparison, but it features some great set-pieces and a rouser of a John Williams score. Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, the evil and sexy Fiona Lewis and especially Amy Irving give impressive performances. I found Irving very touching as the lynx-eyed beauty with a terrible power she can't control...at least until the conclusion.

[javy]

Originally Posted by MJD64

The Untouchables lacks the sly subversiveness of his thrillers and best films, but the overall stylishness wins me over and I've always found it grand entertainment.

All of De Niro's scenes are absolutely phenomenal. The rest of the film I tolerate.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by javy

All of De Niro's scenes are absolutely phenomenal. The rest of the film I tolerate.

De Niro is great but I like the whole cast overall, Connery and Garcia in particular. Costner is the one that bothers me at times, but as a naive, do-gooder blandness is built into the conception of the character, I can't entirely fault him for his sometimes overly earnest portrayal (I can't help but imagine what Don Johnson or Mel Gibson, both early contenders for the role, might have done with it). The film is an operatic fantasy of cops and gangsters for me, and I enjoy it on that level. As I noted in my original post, it doesn't have anywhere near the subversiveness or playful black humor of De Palma's best work, yet he brings his considerable skills and stylishness to bear on what is essentially an audience-pleasing project (one has to keep in mind he was looking for, and needed, a box-office hit). I still say he succeeds mightily.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by javy

Just curious, on you're location, is that Memphis you're referring to?

Naw, it's suppose to be Seattle - but I changed it on a whim and havent changed it back yet. It fits, tho.

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Carrie and Phantom of the Paradise are my favorites.

Oh, wait - he did do Phantom of the Paradise, didn't he? Okay, that one I've seen within the year. And yeah, it is pretty batshit crazy. It's like The Apple, but done really well.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

I enjoy The Untouchables but its not as good as De Palma's other films I love IMO. Shockingly De Niro is one of the problems I have with it. His performance comes off as hammy to me. I'm really curious what Bob Hoskins would've done with the role if De Niro hadn't become available. I also don't like Charles Martin Smith's performance very much. He came off as cartoonish

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by MJD64

The Untouchables lacks the sly subversiveness of his thrillers and best films, but the overall stylishness wins me over and I've always found it grand entertainment.

Another of De Palma's films that doesn't get a lot of love is The Fury, which I've always really enjoyed. A film featuring telekinetic teens immediately after a masterpiece like Carrie doubtless suffered by comparison, but it features some great set-pieces and a rouser of a John Williams score. Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, the evil and sexy Fiona Lewis and especially Amy Irving give impressive performances. I found Irving very touching as the lynx-eyed beauty with a terrible power she can't control...at least until the conclusion.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about The Fury. That's a favorite too. One of the best finales in movie history.

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Oh, wait - he did do Phantom of the Paradise, didn't he? Okay, that one I've seen within the year. And yeah, it is pretty batshit crazy. It's like The Apple, but done really well.

I tried to watch The Apple many years ago and couldn't even get through the first half hour. I was a kid when I first saw Phantom (in its initial run), and it's been a love affair ever since.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Oh, yeah, I forgot about The Fury. That's a favorite too. One of the best finales in movie history.

It's a little clunky compared to De Palma's bigger hits but I love it anyway. And the Arrow 4k remaster looks stunning.

[Markgway]

Always considered The Fury to be the worst of DePalma's peak period thrillers.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

I tried to watch The Apple many years ago and couldn't even get through the first half hour. I was a kid when I first saw Phantom (in its initial run), and it's been a love affair ever since.

Oh, the Apple is terrible, but you have to embrace the terrible, let it wash over you. That which does not destroy you makes you stronger, and The Apple will make you a Superman.

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Oh, the Apple is terrible, but you have to embrace the terrible, let it wash over you. That which does not destroy you makes you stronger, and The Apple will make you a Superman.

I do appreciate so-bad-they're-good movies, but this one crossed the line into just-plain-bad again. I do want to give it another shot though, and I'm hoping Netflix will add the blu-ray to their rentals (or make it available for HD streaming).

[blugremlin]

I know I've read the same opinions in this thread, but watching this right now-golly but doesn't Nancy Allen look great in this... :-P

[Monterey Jack]

Nancy Allen was gorgeous in the 70's and 80's.

"Oh Doctor Elliott..."

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Nancy Allen was gorgeous in the 70's and 80's.

"Oh Doctor Elliott..."

I was seriously obsessed with her in my teens!!

[Monterey Jack]

Those eyes, those cheekbones...

[BluCollector13]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Nancy Allen was gorgeous in the 70's and 80's.

"Oh Doctor Elliott..."

One of the most iconic scenes in a De Palma film. If only the score for the scene wasn't lost.