Top Ten Stanley Kubrick Films

Ranking all of the Stanley Kubrick films I own was difficult due to his amazing body of work. Each film he made shows intense characters in situations that could either be successful or misery. A lot of his films were also adapted from books, which shows that he was a well read man. Whatever film he made would polarize people at first but repeated viewings changes opinions. I would like to give an honorable mention to his version of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita” and while not faithful to the novel, it is an enjoyable one. 

I would like to thank my friend Ellen Giai Gianetto for providing two of her artworks for my post. 

  

10. Spartacus 

This swords and sandal film follows a slave revolt led by Spartacus as he defies the Roman Empire. This was Kubrick’s first big budget film when star-producer Kirk Douglas hired him and got to work with a cast such as Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton and Laurence Olivier.

Though a great picture this was, Kubrick did not have much creative control of this project. The film could also be seen as a metaphor on blacklisting in Hollywood at the time. The screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, was blacklisted for awhile and had to put someone else’s name on scripts he wrote. For fans of films like “Gladiator” and ancient Rome, this is recommended viewing for those that like spectacular action and subtle political commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKCmyiljKo0

9. Full Metal Jacket

First half of this film follows a group of recruits and their hardships by boot camp led by the tyrannical Sgt. Hartman. The second half follows their experiences in Vietnam once they are dropped in.

The first half is done great, with R. Lee Emery not holding back in insults directed at his recruits. These scenes are done really well and the way the camera points up at Hartman, as if we got punched ourselves and are on the ground. While there is a shift towards the war, it is not as bad as others have pointed out. Even though it is set in Vietnam, Kubrick shot the film entirely in England. The scene where the squad is being picked off by a sniper is brutal and nail biting suspenseful until the end.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3_iPskjxk

8. The Killing

In this film noir, ex-con Johnny Clay assembles a crew to rob a horse track and plans to settle down with his girl Fay. Betrayal starts and pretty soon, cops show up. Kubrick applies a non-linear story in what would be his theatrical debut.

Clocking in at 84 minutes, it is a fast paced story with dialogue by notable pulp writer Jim Thompson. Sterling Hayden leads a crew of men desperate to get money. His performance as an ex-con up to no good is cool and his relationship with Colleen Gray’s character is sweet. The masks during the robbery clearly inspired Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” opening robbery sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4veow_qEDk

7. Paths of Glory

During WWI, a platoon of French soldiers is tasked with an impossible mission. As the mission doesn’t go according to plan, higher ups forces Col. Dax (Kirk Douglas) to choose three men for cowardice and to have a firing squad execute them.

Kirk Douglas gives a great performance in this early Kubrick war film. It examines the military aristocrat risking ordinary men’s lives and them sitting back, far away from the battle. The scenes in the trench are classic Kubrick and it shows what we will see from him later in life. The last scene of the film is really moving and the way the woman sings, it shows her courage to go up there.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU4PQ3OJn58

6. Eyes Wide Shut

The film follows a couple (Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman) who seem to have it all, money, kids and a perfect life. One night after smoking pot, the wife tells the husband about a fantasy she had about sleeping with another man. Jealous, the husband goes on a surreal journey where he encounters musicians, a prostitute, a shady costume shop owner and a secret society that engages in orgies.

For Kubrick’s last film, he really went all out in terms of the style, story and characters. The scene in the mansion lasts 20 minutes, all of which will never be forgotten. A polarizing film when first released but greatly appreciated on repeated viewings. Watching this film twice already, I can say that it helps to go back and pick up on the clues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVo96JaqeM

5. Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

At the height of the Cold War, a crazy U.S. general purposefully sends a plane to drop a bomb on Russia. Meanwhile, the President of the United States and his staff are trying anything at all costs to prevent war.

Adapted from a serious novel, Kubrick decided to make it a comedy and casted Peter Sellers playing three roles. As a British general, the President and the titular mad ex-Nazi scientist, Sellers deservingly earned an Oscar nomination. George C. Scott turns in a great performance as the over the top General Buck Turgidson. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuP6KbIsNK4 

4. The Shining

A writer takes his wife and son to a hotel to take care f it during the winter. However, ghosts of the pasts haunt his mind and drive him insane. Meanwhile, we discover his son can communicate with his thoughts.

Based on a Stephen King novel, Kubrick makes a psychological horror that terrified me when I first saw it as a kid. Jack Nicholson’s performance goes from loveable family man to murderous lunatic trying to murder his family. The scene at the bar shows us his state of mind and how it will escalate.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJVVGzEbJC0

3. A Clockwork Orange

Teenager Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) and his “droogs” cause mayhem and commits crime in London. After landing in prison, Alex volunteers for a procedure that will cure him of his evil ways.

Controversial upon release due to its subject matter, it was later banned from England for about 30 years due to threats Kubrick received. McDowell’s portrayal of Alex is both terrifying and very charming. Even though he is a despicable character, Stanley asks us to sympathize with him after the procedure is done.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPRzm8ibDQ8

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey

An epic science fiction film about mankind, it starts off in the past and goes directly into the future. A group of astronauts, along with a robot, explore space and discovers a monolith that could provide answers to them.

The film is short on dialogue and features no famous stars but the visuals and music are key ingredients to enjoy this film. Those patient viewers will be rewarded with the now famous star gate sequence. This was all done way before computers were invented and it was made using photo chemicals.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyjOjT8d8RI

1.  Barry Lyndon

The film follows the chronicles of a rough Irish gambler who climbs through social status in 18^th century Europe. From fighting in wars, dueling with anyone he challenges and marrying into money. Think of this film as an 18^th century version of “The Wolf of Wall Street” as both characters go on a journey of self-indulgence.

While "2001" remains one of my favorite sci-fi films, I am a sucker for a period piece. What I love about this film is how Kubrick filmed it. Each scene in this film is photographed beautifully and if put on pause, a becomes almost like a painting. Ryan O’Neal may seem miscasted as the titular character but his hotheaded and almost arrogant performance made the character. Though it is over three hours long, you will be amazed at every single shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c_dOMVXRhw

It's a Good Film, It's a Good Film: An Appreciation of Blow Out.

Before I get started, I would like to thank my good friend Ellen Giai Gianetto for providing two pieces of artwork. I highly recommend checking out her site, www.ellengiagianetto.com to see more of her artwork. 

Like many of his fellow filmmakers, Brian De Palma has regarded Alfred Hitchcock as an influence on his films. Released in 1981, “Blow Out” tells the story of a sound technician, played by John Travolta, who becomes a witness to a car accident and rescues a young woman, Nancy Allen. As he was recording sounds, he captures the accident via audio and trouble follows. De Palma has brought us many classics such as “Carrie”, “Scarface”, “The Untouchables”, “Mission Impossible” and many more. In the supporting cast, John Lithgow plays a psychopathic assassin who is one step ahead of them. What follows next is a journey into suspense.The late great Vilmos Zsigmond photographs some of the best looking shots that gives it an almost dreamy atmosphere. As a fan of the paranoia thriller genre that includes “Klute”, “The Parallax View”, “The Conversation” and “Three Days of the Condor”, “Blow Out” is a flawless masterpiece in my opinion. It shows De Palma’s style and storytelling devices that allude to Alfred Hitchcock. Aside from being a thriller, the film also becomes a metaphor to filmmaking itself from Travolta’s character. This is also is where the line blurs between reality and fiction. For a fun fact, the film’s title is homage to “Blow-Up”, a film from the 60’s that I can discuss later. 

The performance of John Travolta as Jack Terry is one of his finest and we get to see the action from his point of view. He plays a sound technician for a small movie studio that produces low budget slasher films and provides them all kinds of sound effects. In a scene where he takes out Sally, he reveals his past ranging from happy to tragic moments. Nancy Allen also does a great job in the role of Sally, a passenger caught up in the accident. Like Jack, she is also haunted by her past and the two of them have great chemistry. Each time they are on screen, they have good banter. Then there is Dennis Franz as a sleazy photographer who is acquainted with Sally and John Lithgow as pretty much the definition of pure evil as a contract killer.

The film opens with a nearly four minute voyeuristic steadicam shot of what appears to be a generic slasher film. It is revealed humorously that it is a film that Jack is working on. If you thought you were going to watch a horror film about a stalker killing beautiful college girls, just wait till the shower scene. In a way, De Palma could have poked fun at the rise of slasher films with their over the top violence and gratuitous sex. This is how we are introduced to Jack, laughing when the scream of the girl halts the screening 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJu-jcfFxAE&t=68s

If you have not seen the film, I highly recommend seeing it before reading further.

In between are some terrific scenes that follow Jack making a film using pictures from a tabloid magazine. Using the sound he recorded to carefully assemble a short film using stop motion. It shows his expertise in the craft of it and where the line starts to blur. Near the beginning, the screen splits between Jack and the television that shows political turmoil. As the film progresses, they cross paths with each other as Jack begins to grow an obsession over the audio tapes. Being a cinephile from a young age, I have often thought about making a film. This scene will always stick with me when I think about this film.   



Another scene features the camera doing a 360 degree in Jack’s office when it becomes evident that someone erased not only the accident recording but also for his entire office. I felt like I was experiencing what he was feeling as the camera just keeps spinning. The craft of the scene is better with the white noise in the background, letting us hear what he hears. On the Criterion blu-ray, De Palma gives an hour long interview with filmmaker Noah Baumbach. He talks about how he was on top of the set with Zsigmond as no one could be in the shot.
Making the Film 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u5sAz3_AwQ

360 Degrees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cjURzWLsks

The direction and pacing of this film is on top notch. It hypnotizes you from the beginning and eyes glued by the climax when Jack has to race against the clock. However, the ending displays a grim tone that might have contributed to its negative reception upon release. Over the years has helped the film found its audience and  more than one viewing makes the film more fun to watch. One thing I forgot to mention is the fantastic score by Pino Donaggio, who has done six films for De Palma. Ranging from "Carrie", "Dressed to Kill", and "Body Double". He has also done Nicolas Roeg's "Don't Look Now", which is another favorite film of mine. If you are looking for a film that is less than two hours, I will guarantee that you will not be bored this one.  

Double Feature: Memento & Bad Timing

Christopher Nolan is considered by many to be one of the most celebrated directors working in the new millennium. Films like “Dunkirk”, “Interstellar”, “Inception” and The Dark Knight Trilogy have cemented his status as an auteur. Before making his status with big budget features, he made his film debut with the ultra low budget “Following” which was then followed by the film that caught the attention of studios, “Memento”. The film tells the story of Leonard, (Guy Pierce) a man with short term memory loss who looks for his wife’s killer. The film is told in non-linear fashion as it plays backwards and flashes back in time. It also has elements of a film noir with examples like Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” and Jacques Tourneur’s “Out of the Past”. I have seen the film many times after the first viewing left me confused but this is normal for these kinds of films where we are not familiar with the structure of the narrative. However, there was a film released twenty years prior that I think influenced the story structure to Nolan’s film.

British cinematographer turned director Nicolas Roeg is known for his films that have been likened to a maze. Films such as “Performance”, “Walkabout”, “Don’t Look Now” and “The Man Who Fell to Earth” have been praised for their style and storylines. In 1980, Roeg releases “Bad Timing” which tells the story of a psychoanalyst (Art Garfunkel) in Cold War Vienna who has an intense love affair with a married woman (Theresa Russell) that leads her to overdose on drugs. Harvey Keitel plays an Austrian detective who is trying to figure what happened with the woman. Like “Memento”, “Bad Timing” jumps back and forth in time to their first encounter and the investigation at the hospital. The innovative editing and a soundtrack that includes music by The Who and Tom Waits make this film a stand out. The casting of Art Garfunkel as a psychoanalyst might seem weird but his performance works as is the rest of the cast. Upon first release, the film was met with harsh criticism due to its raw sexual content and the actions of the characters. I first saw the film a few months back and it was an experience. After seeing it recently, the plot was easy to understand and questions I had on my first viewing answered. Interestingly, both Nolan and Roeg have cited Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges as an influence on their work. Borges’ work was mostly short stories that have themes of labyrinths, dreams, philosophy and religion. It is easy to see both filmmakers put these themes into their films.

A film professor told the class once that a great film leads to multiple viewings. I have seen both of these films more than once and it really helped me appreciate them. Watching it a second time, I began to see things I didn’t’ notice the first time. Had the films structure was in chronological order, it would have lost that element of mystery. I have no doubt that Nolan was influenced by the films of Roeg not just in “Memento” but also in his other work. Other filmmakers that seem to be influence by Roeg also include Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino and other directors who attempted to make a non-linear plot. I highly recommend having a double feature with these two films and see if there are any similarities with the two.        

Looking Back: McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)

First released in 1971, “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” was directed by Robert Altman after the success of his war comedy “M*A*S*H”.  Despite the western setting, Altman has described the film as an “anti-western” as it does not play on the conventions of one. The film stars Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in the titular roles, John McCabe is a gambler and a reported gunfighter while Constance Miller is a brothel owner with an addiction to opium. Together, they run a profitable business with a brothel near a mining town. Things go well until a private company offers MCabe to buy the business. A commentary on early 70’s America only disguised as a western. We also get to meet the people of the town and their everyday life. Behind the camera also is the late great cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blow Out, The Deer Hunter) whose work on the film is beautiful to look at. Singer Leonard Cohen contributed three songs and his vocals fit perfectly with the film’s mood.

The combination of talent both in front and behind the camera, the production design, choice of music and period setting are what makes the film stand out. Westerns such as “The Searchers”, “Stagecoach” and “The Wild Bunch” came out before Altman’s film but many would not have imagine his vision. If you know Altman, then you would be familiar with his wondering camera, often not on the titular characters. Warren Beatty plays the character as a fool who acts like a businessman and it is a great performance. Julie Christie is the smart character in the film who advices McCabe to take the deal. Their scenes have great chemistry that demonstrate Altman’s approach of letting actors improvise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAzBWYoR9U

The cinematography of film is different than we see in other westerns. At a screening of the film in 2014, Zsigmond tells the audience while discussing the look with Altman, he said "If they had movies in those days, they would look faded away, scratchy, grainy and very soft and no contrast." To achieve that, Zsigmond would lightly expose the film negative in open air or "flashing" as it was called before shooting. When looking at the finished film, it does have an old time feel to it. When showing the film to studio executives, they did not like the way it looked but there was no way to fix it which made Altman happy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxlTo0BbQlE

The late Leonard Cohen was chosen by Altman to perform after listening to his debut album “Songs of Leonard Cohen”. Cohen lent three of his songs to the film, “The Stranger Song” that opens the film, “Sisters of Mercy” and “Winter Lady”. The opening of the film introduces us to McCabe as a stranger going into town, perfectly setting up his role to come. Plus, the way McCabe is dressed with that bear fur coat is genius and his gold tooth. Though he states himself as a businessman, it is clear that he is a renegade. This type of personality also fits Altman and Cohen in their personality.

After this, Altman would move on to make a variety of films. The humorous neo noir “The Long Goodbye”, “Nashville”, “3 Women” and “The Player” are a few examples of what he has done. My first time watching it, I was left confused on the story and what unfolded. However, the second viewing helped out with things I missed in the second viewing. I think it helps watching films more than once to appreciate it more. In this case, the talent behind and in front of the camera made a film that that will be watched for many years to come.     

Sources

http://filmmakermagazine.com/87150-old-faded-pictures-vilmos-zsigmond-on-mccabe-mrs-miller/#.WYncRVWGPIU

  

Top Ten Brian De Palma Films

Brian De Palma was part of the New Hollywood movement that included Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese in the 1970’s. This group of young filmmakers went to film school based on their love of cinema and their contributions resulted in many great films during this time period. His early films were quirky low budget comedies that featured a young Robert De Niro, “Hi Mom” and “Greetings” that were inspired by the French New Wave. After this, he switches to thrillers, crime, horror, war (Casualties of War), spy and even science fiction (Mission to Mars). “Carrie”, “Scarface”, “The Untouchables” and “Mission: Impossible” are some of his most well known films. As I explored some of his filmography over the years, I began to have an appreciation to some of his other films.  De Palma was known for the craft he brought to his films, regardless of genre. The close-ups and scenes with little to no dialouge heighten the tension. He has been known to pay homage to his idol, Alfred Hitchcock, but so has some of his other contemporaries.

Spoilers ahead for some of the post and video clips.

10. Mission Impossible (1996)

Based on the 1960’s show, the film follows Tom Cruise’s secret agent Ethan Hunt as he tracks down who betrayed his team on a mission while trying to evade capture. From clever disguises to stealing computer files via hanging wire, it is a suspenseful action thriller.

For Cruise’s first film as producer, choosing Brian De Palma for the project was a smart choice as well as an ignition for the franchise. It is a very different kind of spy film than a James Bond film. It is more along the line of Jules Dassin’s heist films “Riffi” and “Topkapi”, the latter which inspired the TV show. The film’s Prague setting is used well for the characters to hide in since at the time, American audiences were not familiar with the city. I first saw the film in theaters, which would be my first introduction to De Palma.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-EUr-dNNJQ&index=1&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ

9. Carlito’s Way (1993)

De  Palma and Al Pacino reunite for a different kind of Latino gangster film. The film follows Pacino’s Carlito Brigantte, fresh out of prison, trying to stay clean while reluctantly being lured back to crime. He also has a woman that he is in love with. The film opens with his death but is then told of what happened before.   

 I consider this film to be a companion piece to Scarface as both films are about Latino gangsters and the lifestyle that surrounds them. However, this one feels more mature than the other. Here, De Palma shows Carlito as a more seasoned professional who wants out. The opening of the film features a long extended take that shows De Palma’s skills. Shown through Carlito’s dying POV, the camera slowly makes a 180 degree turn. Pacino does a wonderful job with the character, not going over the top like Tony Montana. The supporting cast is also great, from a slimy Sean Penn as Carlito’s crooked lawyer, Penelope Ann Miller as a dancer who becomes the object of affection for Carlito, Luis Guzman and Viggo Mortensen.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWfYh08LXYk&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ&index=2

8. The Untouchables (1987)

Based on another 1960’s television show, this adaptation follows treasury agent Elliot Ness as he organizes a group of lawmen to take down Al Capone and his criminal empire.  While not historically accurate, it is a good old fashioned cops versus gangsters flick that is a lot of fun.

Working off a script by David Mamet, De Palma brilliantly re-creates 1920’s Chicago for a fictional story based on real life efforts. The set design and costuming played a huge role in transporting us to this world of prohibition. The cast is also top notch from a young Kevin Costner as Ness, Sean Connery as an Irish cop who mentors Ness and Robert De Niro as Capone. The shootout at Union Station is the highlight of the film and an homage to Sergi Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin. The close-ups and sound design create that white knuckle tension.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Vtgvnkybc&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ&index=3

7. Dressed to Kill (1980)

In this erotic thriller, a high class call girl (Nancy Allen) is pursued by a killer after witnessing a murder. Michael Caine is a therapist who suspects one of his patients is behind the murder. The call girl then teams up with the murder victim’s teenage son to trap the killer, leading to a finale one will never forget.  

For me, this is De Palma paying tribute to Alfred Hitchcock with the plot being similar to Psycho and Vertigo for the museum sequence. There is even a little bit of the giallo horror films by Dario Argento in the elevator murder scene.  At this time, Angie Dickinson was famous for her “Police Woman” show and to see her killed early in the film shocked audiences. Though, Janet Leigh did it first twenty years prior.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8_HfT2ndyg&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ&index=4

6. Sisters (1973)

De Palma’s first foray into the horror-thriller genre, Margot Kidder plays a French Canadian model whose twin sister has committed murder. A witness, a female reporter and neighbor from the across the street, is determined to find out what happened.

This is the film that De Palma sank his teeth in after the failure of his first studio film “Get to Know Your Rabbit”.  Clearly, he set out to make a Hitchcock film (even borrowing composer Bernard Hermann) and yet, truly original. The opening of the film will throw off some viewers but just stick around, you won’t regret it. The sequence where he uses a split screen to depict the different character’s viewpoints has been a favorite of mine.  (The clip below may be out of sync.) A good exercise for the filmmaker and his future awaits him at this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEmV9vQ0zh8&index=5&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ

5. Scarface (1983)

This gangster epic follows Cuban exile Tony Montana as his rise in the criminal underworld also leads to his downfall. Writer Oliver Stone and De Palma update the 1930’s story into the 1980’s. Taking advantage of real life events like the Mariel boatlift and the violence in Miami as a result of the drug trade.The film stars Al Pacino as the titular character, Steven Bauer as Tony’s friend Manny, and in her debut, Michelle Pfeiffer as the mistreated but well pampered Elvira.

 I think De Palma made the film over the top to portray the world these characters live in. Violence, language, drugs and Al Pacino’s line are probably what most viewers would remember this film for. I think it was intentional to show that this is a world we should not glamorize. The chainsaw scene was filmed to not show anything but the reaction of Montana as he witnesses it. The story reminds me of my favorite Shakespeare play, Macbeth. Both characters are ruthless when assuming power and they both fall once on top. Its cult status in the hip hop community still continues to this day. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLSTE7fsLoM&index=6&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ

4. Carrie (1976)

The first adaptation of Stephen King’s first novel follows Carrie White, a social outcast who discovers she has telekinesis. Along with that, she has to deal with bullying at school and abuse from a religious mother. The prom scene will make people remember the scene.

This was De Palma’s fist major hit and one that led him to make other studio films. The cast includes Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Nancy Allen and in his film debut, John Travolta. The prom sequence uses the same split screen like in “Sisters” to show the deaths that result from her powers. However, the first dance scene is a favorite mine and how he shot it. The actors were placed on a platform that was spinning in one direction. The way the colors change in this scene reflects on the mood of the characters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St-1iO1_flU&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ&index=7

3. Femme Fatale (2002)

During a heist at the Cannes Film Festival, a beautiful jewel thief (Rebecca Romijn) double crosses her partners and assumes the identity of a Parisian woman that resembles her. Along the way, she bumps into her old crime partners and a photographer (Antonio Banderas) that took her picture years prior.

Upon release, the film was not a success with critics or audiences. However, my first viewing of the film had an impact on me. The film opens with a twenty minute heist that will keep audiences up on the edge. From there, it goes through these twists and turns that I won’t give away. It is better to go into this film without knowing anything. For being a supermodel, Romijn does a good job with her performance. She is clearly having a fun time for the role, especially during her striptease. In this sequence, we become the voyeurs like Antonio and the lucky French man.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLQo3T-N3NA&index=8&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ

2. Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

This rock and roll musical thriller follows a composer whose work is stolen by a music producer and following an accident, is turned into the titular character haunting a music venue. He also falls for a beautiful singer, whose voice attracts him.

De Palma not only borrows Gaston Leroux’s “Phantom of the Opera” but also from the Faust tale. The song numbers are great as are the performances by Finely, Williams and Harper. It is one kind of a film that should be seen as it took me years to watch it. Luckily, I rented it at a library and was not disappointed. Picking a scene from this won’t do justice as the whole film needs to be seen. If you are a fan of “Rocky Horror”, then check this one out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5qVJEg3qA&index=9&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ

1. Blow Out (1981)

 A sound technician (John Travolta), who is working for a B movie studio, is caught in a murder conspiracy after recording sounds one night and witnesses a car accident that may not have been an accident. A call girl (Nancy Allen) also gets involved as they are pursued by a murderer (John Lithgow) killing anyone in his way.

This masterpiece of a thriller shows De Palma at the top of his game. From the story, performances and technique are on a higher level.  One of my favorite sequences in the film is when Travolta’s character is assembling that mini film using the newspaper pictures and the sound he recorded. As is shown, it was how film is assembled in the old days before digital. For me, this makes the film a personal one for De Palma who also wrote it. The film’s title is a homage to Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Blow-Up” about a photographer who may have witness a murder. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u5sAz3_AwQ&list=PL6WTKIn1rxFSSYr8ST3VAqaYgRw5hDKcQ&index=10

I would like to thank Chris Bench in taking a look at my post and for providing feedback.