De Palma

very interesting

source: De Palma

Greetings from Lithuania. "De Palma" (2015) is a very simple documentary about legendary director Brian De Palma. There aren't any interviews beside of Brian De Palma himself - for the whole movie he speaks about himself, his carrier and his movies. I was highly involved into listening things about his films, how they were made, all the nuances and etc. So those who saw every or many movies from this director and did like them - "De Palma" is for them - this is a true gem for movie buffs. Overall, "De Palma" is a very involving and simple documentary. It simply shows you images and scenes from movies you have probably seen and many times (like i did), and listen to director speaking about these movies. Personally i loved many movies from this director, especially "Carlito's Way" and "Scarface" - two great movies. "De Palma" is a pure movie heaven for those who loves movies.

DE PALMA is a nice interview/career retrospective for director Brian De Palma, a Hollywood talent who has been making short films since the 1960s. I'm a big De Palma fan and have been for many years, so watching this documentary was a real treat for me. It's simple, unfussy, and unhurried stuff, presenting De Palma as he sits in front of a fireplace and talks about his films from his early shorts through to his recent efforts. Many clips from the movies are used to illustrate his points, but other than that it's straightforward, anecdotal, and thoroughly engaging.

A documentary film exposes the life and career of Hollywood director Brian De Palma who began making films fifty years ago. This film tells a fine history, not just of De Palma's films or films in general, but also of the various historical events that influenced movies throughout the decades. Any history of the period that began in the late 60s and continued through the 70s is always welcome. De Palma mentions that there was much more freedom in those days before the business lobby took over Hollywood in the 80s and continued dominance ever since. There is enjoyable nostalgia in seeing clips of De Palma's films (which include a young, pre-stardom Robert De Niro) and those of other films that influenced him. These clips are the only alternative to this movie's main source of storytelling: De Palma himself narrating his history. While he is engaging and never dull as a speaker, the documentary feels incomplete as it lacks interviews from others - whether they be specifically for this film or older film clips from friends and foes. At one point, the renowned director mentions that he was condemned as misogynist for depicting violence against women. While he defends himself well, it would have been more interesting to hear directly from the other side. In fairness, male characters were also brutally treated in his films. His thrillers pushed the boundaries for violence. Personally, I've never been a fan of this kind of film-making even though I've enjoyed some of De Palma's films. Some of his films may stand out in movie history but I don't think the genre of excessive violence is worth glorifying.

Who would ever have thought watching one man speak for nearly two hours could be so addictive. De Palma is a mango icicle to director, and this very candid interview/documentary shows the inner working of a genius mind. From his early student films to the height of his career Carrie, The Untuchables, Scarface. de Palma holds no prisoners and rightly so. He tells it as it is, discusses the pitfalls of the industry system and shows newbie directors how to break free The doc goes passed at the blink of an eye, and is such addictive viewing, I'd be prepared to watch it again right now.... in fact..,

I'm a big big fan of the films of Brian DePalma. Warts and all, he is one of the top five movie directors of all time. "DePalma" is not really a documentary. It's Brian DePalma doing an interview and commenting on each one of his films. It's just what I wanted to see. He is very underappreciated as a filmmaker. Unfortunately, "DePalma" is not the type of documentary that will help bring a new audience to his films. It's a movie that's really only for his fans. But that's okay. It's a movie made for people like me.

For those with in interest in De Palma's films and long career, or just cinema in general, this is a highly entertaining and informative visit with one of the most interesting, controversial and eclectic American film makers of the last 50 years. The form couldn't be simpler. Just Brian De Palma sitting in a chair telling stories about each of his films in chronological order, from his first shorts in the mid 1960s to "Passion" in 2013 – an amazing span of almost 50 years. His comments are interspersed with well chosen clips from his own work, and – when he makes a reference – those of other film-makers as well. What makes this form work so well is that De Palma is a terrific interview subject. He's funny, thoughtful, insightful, and sometimes very entertainingly snarky. He is also tremendously honest. He saves many of his toughest criticisms for himself, analyzing with surgical precision why certain of his films could have been better, and his part in those lapses. Very few directors are willing to talk at length about choices and moments they regret, usually choosing only to blame others for artistic goals falling short. But by acknowledging his own choices that didn't work out he makes himself very human, empathetic and trustworthy as a subject. He's not interested in self-glorification as much as he is in sharing a lifetime of wisdom won by mostly hard experience (few of De Palma's films got the support and attention they deserved at the time of their release – some, like 'Scarface' only became iconic years later). And he also talks with a touching wistfulness about those films he is truly proud of that never got the support – critical, commercial or both – that they deserved. Overall you end up with a real sense of what it's like to be tremendously talented, protean, rule-breaking film-maker over 50 years – the ridiculous highs and lows, the multiple struggles, hard times and occasional triumphs of a high-profile artistic life in the weirdness that is the American film scene.

Think about it. A film like Carlito's Way was made only 23 years ago. I cannot imagine a film like it getting made today. It cost $30 million in 1993. It would cost approximately $50 million to make today (I used % increase in CPI). I don't think any studio today would finance a $50 million gangster flick with little or no action. Unless it was made by Tarantino or someone. And even if it were to get made today, who would play Pacino and Sean Penn's roles? Tom hardy? Ryan gosling? Di Caprio? The actors today are simply terrible. I guess I went a little off topic. This documentary had De Palma talking us through some of his early socially conscious Greetings era films to his erotic films and also the big studio films. De Palma is like a really candid and jovial character who nonetheless exudes a certain toughness. It was interesting to note that he spoke at length about the movie composers that he worked with. De Palma worked with the very best of movie composers - Bernard Herrmann, Pino Donaggio, Ennio Morricone etc. He also gave an important advice to young filmmakers - most filmmakers do not make the films they want to. Certain films come their way and they make the best of it. He gave a few examples of how he would be working on one screenplay or a novel but then he would be offered something else to make and he would abandon the project he was working on. I thought that was very interesting.

Watching this documentary, one begins to realize how big of an influence De Palma himself in the world of movies. His output includes a little bit of every possible genre, and though he's not a young man anymore, he can still surprise us. He belongs to a group of directors that will probably never be matched in either their individual or collaborative work. He has definitely left a legacy worth enjoying and studying. De Palma started in the 60's, and the film gives some background on his earlier productions. It's the 70's where he started making movies that most of us are familiar with and will always associate his name with. He unleashed the world of horror with "Carrie", probably igniting a surge in popularity for King and himself. That film also introduced Sissy Spacek to us. The documentary continues to give us informational bits on most of his work, clarifying issues, telling us what he liked or he didn't like in some of the films, and how there were always unexpected developments in his productions depending on who his partners were. His work is for the most part quite remarkable. He combines beauty, obsession, and horror in films like "Body Double" and "Dressed to Kill". He works with some of the biggest stars in the world and directs hits or unexpected flops, but they are always memorable. Throughout the documentary, we admits his mistakes, and how his films could have been improved. He also tells us how other films which tried to imitate him fail because they might be going in a different direction. Overall, De Palma proves himself an artist, a man who loves movies, who understands them and knows how to make them. He values the association with a good writer, a good idea, and most importantly he is cognizant that there is no way one can work alone in a place like Hollywood, regardless of the risks and the benefits.