‘Phantom of the Paradise’ (1974) is De Palma’s ambitious pop opera
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Some will get into the groove of this “Phantom of the Opera” for the ’70s, others will be bored. I was somewhere in between.
This time, De Palma’s Hitchcock ‘Obsession’ (1976) doesn’t pay off
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): Sometimes a screenplay’s interesting ideas don’t coalesce into a compelling film. Such is the case in this “Vertigo” riff.
‘The Fury’ (1978) is weirder than ‘Carrie,’ but also worse
Frightening Friday (Movie review): You’d think a re-team of De Palma and extra-sensory abilities would be a winner. You’d be wrong.
De Palma breaks out with Hitchcock mashup ‘Sisters’ (1972)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The director’s first horror film is a ridiculous but undeniably watchable romp.
‘Dressed to Kill’ (1980) is De Palma’s Hitchcock master class
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The writer-director expands on the filmmaking principles and themes of “Psycho” in a candidate for his best film.
‘Blow Out’ (1981) blows it at the end, but is still great
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): A likeable Travolta and Allen guide this conspiracy noir through its beats, but De Palma doesn’t stick the landing.
‘Carrie’ (1976) not scary, but nonetheless great
Stephen King flashback (Movie review): De Palma and Spacek turn King’s novel into a stylish take on the twin hells of high school and religion.
‘Mission: Impossible’ (1996) is more brainy than brawny
‘M:I’ flashback (Movie review): Tom Cruise’s saga is more brainy than brawny as this eventually huge action series launches.
Every David Mamet film, ranked (except ‘The Water Engine’)
Movie rankings: Mamet has given us a new appreciation for the way men talk, outlined the keys to long cons, and provided historical insight.
‘The Untouchables’ (1987) a flat telling of the Prohibition battle
Mamet Monday (Movie review): This is a nice-looking but flat telling of the Prohibition battle between Al Capone and Eliot Ness.