The Criterion Collection

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by MJD64

De Palma is a filmmaking genius and I love Dressed To Kill; that killer combination of suspense and black humor works beautifully, and Michael Caine, Nancy Allen, Keith Gordon, Angie Dickinson and that scene-stealer Dennis Franz are all terrific (that scene between a hilariously uncouth Franz and Allen in the police station has always been a favorite). Count me among those who love Obsession, that Bernard Herrmann score working in tandem with De Palma's swirling and elegant camera moves make for a really memorable romantic thriller (De Palma's recollections on working with a frequently difficult Cliff Robertson on that film in the documentary De Palma are a riot). I have the region-free Arrow Blu and it's easily the best Obsession has looked on any video incarnation.

Still waiting on a domestic Blu release for Sisters, Criterion...

I've been a fan of De Palma's films since the early 90s just after seeing Raising Cain. At that time he was still criticized as a Hitchcock rip-off artist. I think most critics hated him even though some films like Phantom of the Paradise had cult cachet. I enjoy the fact that he's become so much more respected nowadays as people realize that the OTT nature of many of movies, especially the thrillers, are something to enjoy rather than sneer at. Body Double for example is an insanely fun movie because it's crazy and silly, but also creepy and thrilling at the same time. There's nothing wrong with a little showmanship and De Palma has it in spades.

[maytropolees]

Picked up my only 3 of this sale so far: Le Samourai (was not on the shelf and had to find an employee to get it out of a box somewhere), Lost In America, and Ikiru (I had Philadelphia Story in my hand but this just sounded more interesting). All blind buys, I might get a few more before the sale ends, but I already have a large backlog to get caught up on.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

De Palma is one of my top 10 all time favorite directors. Dressed to Kill is amazing. Carlito's Way is De Palma's masterpiece though IMHO. Such a beautiful film. I love De Palma's comment in his documentary "De Palma" where he says he'll never make a better film than Carlito's Way.

[jw007]

Since we're talking about Brian DePalma right now, has anyone seen Noah Baumbach's documentary on him called De Palma?

[demonknight]

People saying Dressed to Kill is De Palma at his most De Palma have never seen Body Double.

As for my favorite, Phantom of the Paradise is the one I go back to the most.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by jw007

Since we're talking about Brian DePalma right now, has anyone seen Noah Baumbach's documentary on him called De Palma?

Yes it is great.

[Hoke Moseley]

The De Palma doc is fantastic. I was actually hoping for Criterion to release it, because there is a ton of unused interview footage and the release we got unfortunately has zero extras.

[RCRochester]

The De Palma talk has reminded me that I still haven't watched Murder a la Mod, which is a bonus feature on the Blow Out disc. Anyone have any thoughts on that one?

It would also be cool if someone could pick up Greetings and Hi Mom and put them out on blu-ray, preferably as a double-feature.

[Scottie]

Maybe I should watch the documentary. My opinion of De Palma just might change.

The only two films of his I liked were Passion and Femme Fatale.

[Reddington]

Picked up a copy of Le Samouraï. Always fun when a must-have release coincides with the B&N sale.

Was also cool to discover only last week that I have the same birthday as Alain Delon.

[The Great Owl]

I grabbed Le Samouraï and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me from Barnes & Noble today.

Now that I own a proper Blu-ray of Le Samouraï, I can retire from Blu-ray collecting at long last. I'm really looking forward to giving it a go tomorrow night or this weekend.

I already own the big Twin Peaks box set, but I also like Fire Walk with Me on its own terms as a horror movie, and I wanted to own it as such.

[koberulz]

Mine are looking like they won't ever be delivered. So that's fun.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed De Palma films on an entertainment level far more than on any artistic or substantive level. I will say that I consider Blow Out to be a cut above any of his other work that I’ve seen, but I always considered him a shelf below that group of American directors such as Scorsese or Coppola, with whom he has been included.

As for Dressed to Kill, I knew exactly what it was by the time Criterion got it, but I understand your opinion on it. Like Body Double, it has a playfulness about it that I think you either get or don’t.

The 'humour' and 'playfulness' is usually a given with De Palma, so that isn't my issue. I don't like Body Double much either.

I'd much rather watch Basic Instinct than both of them.

I really like Carrie and Blow Out though.

Whoever made the comparison with Scorsese and Coppola though is off their rocker. Very few people consider De Palma to be in the same league as those two.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Maybe I should watch the documentary. My opinion of De Palma just might change.

The only two films of his I liked were Passion and Femme Fatale.

That's funny considering that for the most part, those two films are only really liked by De Palma die-hards.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

The 'humour' and 'playfulness' is usually a given with De Palma, so that isn't my issue. I don't like Body Double much either.

I'd much rather watch Basic Instinct than both of them.

I really like Carrie and Blow Out though.

Whoever made the comparison with Scorsese and Coppola though is off their rocker. Very few people consider De Palma to be in the same league as those two.

De Palma has never had the high-brow critical success of Coppola for example, but they were all part of a group of directors who came of age in the 70s, had film school backgrounds and often referenced older films in their work, and most importantly - had beards. Guys like Scorsese, Coppola, De Palma, Lucas, Spielberg, Milius and others have been lumped together by fans and critics for decades.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Maybe I should watch the documentary. My opinion of De Palma just might change.

The only two films of his I liked were Passion and Femme Fatale.

You only like two of his films and one is Femme Fatale? Yikes. To me, that’s one of his worst. The twist made me so angry.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

De Palma has never had the high-brow critical success of Coppola for example, but they were all part of a group of directors who came of age in the 70s, had film school backgrounds and often referenced older films in their work, and most importantly - had beards. Guys like Scorsese, Coppola, De Palma, Lucas, Spielberg, Milius and others have been lumped together by fans and critics for decades.

Yes that is obvious, they are all part of so called 'New Hollywood', but that's where it ends.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Whoever made the comparison with Scorsese and Coppola though is off their rocker. Very few people consider De Palma to be in the same league as those two.

The filmmakers themselves sure do, I've heard Scorsese say that back in the day they all used to look up to De Palma and his work and thought he was the best of the bunch.
This of course is leaving out the fact that all of them used to work and hang out together and De Palma is also responsible for introducing De Niro to Scorsese!

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Yes that is obvious, they are all part of so called 'New Hollywood', but that's where it ends.

It's more than just that though. I mean what in particular is there about De Palma's work you don't think is comparable to Scorsese or Coppola's? You don't think Scarface merits comparison to Goodfellas or The Godfather?

[theater dreamer]

If somebody held a gun to my head, my favorite De Palma films, in order, might go something like this:

Carlito's Way
The Untouchables
Blow Out
Scarface
Carrie
Dressed To Kill
Mission: Impossible
Body Double
Mission to Mars

Those are the ones I've seen.


Who da man? You da man!

Don't get me wrong-Carrie is a classic, and I f'ing love it. I'm ashamed to admit I don't own it yet (hell, I only have Carlito's Way on DVD and Ultraviolet), but the Shout Factory release is on my Christmas list. That it's fifth on my list should in no way be viewed as impugning the film. It's just the ones ahead of it could all make compelling arguments to rank among my favorite 100 domestic releases of all-time. They're that good in their own way. I still get the willies whenever I watch Sissy Spacek in....anything. Hell, I loaded up JFK about a week ago, and when Costner comes into the bedroom, and wakes his wife up, I flashed back to Carrie, and "they're all going to laugh at you" started ringing in my ears. I half expected the damned door to the bedroom to slam shut on its own, and the ceiling fan to come crashing down on Costner like the backboard.

Carlito's Way is brilliant film making.

[Show spoiler]Even though the viewer knows that Carlito is a dead man from the very beginning, the film is no less riveting. It's like Apollo 13 in that sense. The narrative denouement is a foregone conclusion. But you're still on the edge of your seat, and emotionally invested until the credits roll.

Pacino wasn't as over-the-top as he was in Scarface, but I love both performances equally; to be honest, I don't think I could pick between the two. I'm the rare guy that likes it when he goes balls out. In Heat...the "great ass" lines? I die laughing every time, even though I've seen the film at least ten times. Nobody does cool with a dash of bat sh## crazy mixed together quite like Pacino. And The Untouchables? Love love love it! I thought De Niro's performance as Capone was only very slightly off. Far be it for me to question anything Bobby D did before about the year 2000. But that's one film I will never tire of. Such an interesting, and dynamic, relationship between Costner and Connery's characters. Mission: Impossible I very much enjoyed (always like Jon Voight films, and, Cruise, of course). I do think, however, that the last few MI films have elevated the series to new heights. Body Double I've only seen once, and it was so long ago I can't correctly place it. And Mission to Mars, while not a great film, certainly doesn't deserve the rating it gets on imdb. I think it's a stronger film than many give it credit for. It's realistic science fiction, and beautiful to behold, though Gary Sinese looks incredibly disturbing in that film, like a cross-dresser version of Lieutenant Dan. Seriously, was he wearing eye liner???

I've got to see the De Palma documentary. Looks like it's streaming on Amazon, and i get it for free as a Prime member. I'm watching that after I finish Stagecoach.

My afternoon and evening are now planned.