Whenever you introduce a De Palma, it's always in the same defensive "De Palmagist" attitude, and sometimes I think the love there is strictly in who he is -- but also, maybe unnecessary reservations because De Palma is actually a proficient director. What are we apologizing for?
Sisters may be the best film in which he uses all his talents (and kinks) in a thematically pleasing way. Sure, he's known for trashy delights in the soft hue of austere outrageousness,…
Slam Dance, for me, is a psychological sublimation to the likes of Vertigo, Jacob's Ladder or Liebestraum. I choose to believe it is purely an adventure in escapist fantasy, driven home by Drood's creative inclinations prone to introverted delusions from reality, reconciling the demise of his nuclear family to that of being swept up in a noir plotline. A little neo-Jungian noir playground. Virginia Madsen's character is not the traditional Femme Fatale however, is actually his inner anima "Yolanda the…
A trashy wine movie that's great with takeout and hits so many keywords that I couldn't say no: writer, voyeurism, obsession, darkrooms, Madeline Zima. If you squint your eyes and are possibly inebriated enough, you could trick yourself into thinking it's a cutting room floor De Palma.
We have to talk about this. A portrait of NYC Gen-Xism in the most genuine and unpretentious portrayal that negates the fact it is made by one person. What I mean is, this isn't a Neil Breen situation or the issues I had with Ferrara's Addiction -- it never traps itself in heavy-handed monologues or tries to represent the themes as more profound than they are, or the protagonist as any cooler than they are. However, Fessenden looking like a young Nick Cave may…
A Proto-Little Miss Sunshine: unseen micro-budget family van ride story. Everyone’s idiosyncrasies and flaws comedically on display, subtle holiday feel goods of Seinfeld relatability.
Highlight is Liev Schrieber playing “smartest guy in the room” writer-type who loves indulging about his Kafkaesque novel and aristocracy. Parker Posey plays mostly blasé cool Posey (I’m not complaining) who chain smokes and has a weakness for said intellectual writer types (raises hand), and Hope Davis as adorable older sister tracking down her husband in…
I really love this movie, and not for the obvious reason, so here’s a little female perspective for you chuds.
Whaley is so incredibly charming as doofy outcast, never over-fixated with Josie, but relatable self-involved idiosyncratic Jim. Right on the cusp of the “mall movie” aka Clueless, Mallrats, etc. quirky shenanigans in the only place young people can convene after high school and before twenty-one. Includes intense flashbacks to the time I worked at PetSmart for the summer, not really…
