I’m a huge
fan of Brian De Palma – except when he does war and mafia-movies. That’s not
especially interesting. Instead I prefer when he dives right into Hitchcockian
thrillers, giallo-esque murder mysteries and just insane crime flicks. I even
enjoy the stuff he’s done the last 20 years or so, Black Dahlia, Snake Eyes,
Femme Fatale and so on. Light-weight stories, but visually stunning and playful
to the max. I actually never saw him as a “deep” director. He makes original,
over-the-top entertainment. That’s it. Blow Out and Dressed to Kill are still
two of my favorite movies ever, and Body Double and The Fury isn’t far behind.
Carrie? Haven’t seen it for at least 20 years, so I can’t comment on its
qualities – I hope it will be out in a new fresh blu-ray special edition as
soon the remake is released.
Passion has so far divided the fans into two groups: the haters and the even-more-haters. The fanboys always seem to want to give De Palma a hard time, even when he make something original, something that stands out from the rest of the crap coming out every day. Oh, I’m aware Passion is a remake of a French movie (or something), but this one have De Palma all over it – from every technical trick in the book to the absurd twists and plenty of red herrings.
I really don’t want to reveal the storyline, but let me put it this way: Rachel Adams is a successful advertising genius, Christine, – her assistant Isabelle, kinda, is Noomi Rapace. One day Noomi comes up with a brilliant idea and Rachel steals it in front of her. Then everything goes to hell. One bizarre twist after another. That’s all I’m gonna tell you. But beware; I wouldn’t say this is a thriller. Far from. It’s closer to a very black, twisted comedy/satire on the advertising business and how greed can fuck things up totally. The opening 30-40 minutes have so many twists, so many surprising turns that it can be hard to follow if you’re not watching every damn minute of it.
The script is almost flawless, even if it’s absurd and of course highly unlikely. But remember that more or less every De Palma-thriller have delivered stories that just doesn’t work if you look at them closer. You just have to, as usual, sit back and let the madness unfold in front of you. What takes the movie down is a very bad performance by Noomi Rapace. She’s just not good. Maybe on a stage, but not when it comes to something the demands subtle and realistic acting like film. Everything Rapace makes a movement it stands out – but in the wrong way. I wonder when the biz will realize this and dump her? Not to be mean, but her lack of talent bothers me. She was way better in Prometheus. Passion also has a cheap look. A TV-esque style, flat cinematography… even Pino Donaggio’s scores doesn’t stand out the way it should. The very obvious product placements aren’t that beautiful either…
The flaws aside, this is a fine movie. It delivers entertainment, which few other movies do nowadays. It’s an unpretentious positive mess of twists and absurd scenes – but oh, that’s so god damn lovely. I love all the tricks De Palma pulls on us. For example, which is brilliant, after half the movie everyone starts talking German with each other. Which is totally logical, that’s when all the German characters starts to interact with each other and not with non-German characters! It’s such a bold idea, and so much fun.
No, Passion is not masterpiece. But I really, really, really, really, really like it. It gives me what I want in a movie: surprises. And it has a lot of them. De Palma is one of the few classic directors who still do what he does best. He never tries to be modern or update his style to something more contemporary. He doesn’t need to. He’s Brian Awesome DeFuckingPalma. He’s my maestro. And he always will.
"I’m a huge fan of Brian De Palma – except when he does war and mafia-movies."
Awww...come one now, Fred, nobody does war & mafia like De Palma, sure, it´s hardly groundbreaking and they almost look like remakes(look at Casualties of War (1989)& Redacted(2007) but...I like them.
"Instead I prefer when he dives right into Hitchcockian thrillers, giallo-esque murder mysteries and just insane crime flicks. I even enjoy the stuff he’s done the last 20 years or so, Black Dahlia, Snake Eyes, Femme Fatale and so on. Light-weight stories, but visually stunning and playful to the max."
Oh yeah, that side of him is so awesome in many ways.
"I actually never saw him as a “deep” director. He makes original, over-the-top entertainment."
No, I definetly felt that he has a deeper side, just look at the faustian myhology in Phantom of the Paradise(1974) but the film is also a serious attack on the bland, mainstream, pop culture, etc.
Sisters (1973), Casualties of War (1989), Redacted(2007) is another sign of his darker, deeper, side.
"Carrie? Haven’t seen it for at least 20 years, so I can’t comment on its qualities – I hope it will be out in a new fresh blu-ray special edition as soon the remake is released."
Never liked it....I actually think that this film, and some of the other genre flick he made are better.
"Passion has so far divided the fans into two groups: the haters and the even-more-haters. The fanboys always seem to want to give De Palma a hard time, even when he make something original, something that stands out from the rest of the crap coming out every day."
I just don´t understand why......especially in this case, this film is very nice giallo-esque film.
"Oh, I’m aware Passion is a remake of a French movie (or something), but this one have De Palma all over it – from every technical trick in the book to the absurd twists and plenty of red herrings."
Even though I prefer the original by Alain Corneau, this film is like you say, a technical love letter from De Palma.....I mean, look at the cinematography, editing, pacing of the film.....FLAWLESS!
And the way the camera pans.......visual orgasm all the way!
"But beware; I wouldn’t say this is a thriller. Far from. It’s closer to a very black, twisted comedy/satire on the advertising business and how greed can fuck things up totally. The opening 30-40 minutes have so many twists, so many surprising turns that it can be hard to follow if you’re not watching every damn minute of it."
Exactly, it isn´t really a thriller....more black comedy, satire, but remember the original was darker.....
"The script is almost flawless, even if it’s absurd and of course highly unlikely. But remember that more or less every De Palma-thriller have delivered stories that just doesn’t work if you look at them closer. You just have to, as usual, sit back and let the madness unfold in front of you."
Yeah, also De Palma added some of his own stuff here(SPOILERS), POV shots during the murder, twists, etc.
But don´t analyze too much.....this is entertainment, not serious drama, thriller etc.
"What takes the movie down is a very bad performance by Noomi Rapace. She’s just not good. Maybe on a stage, but not when it comes to something the demands subtle and realistic acting like film. Everything Rapace makes a movement it stands out – but in the wrong way. I wonder when the biz will realize this and dump her? Not to be mean, but her lack of talent bothers me. She was way better in Prometheus."
Overall I think, the main leads are badly cast, in the original you had some great performances by Ludivine Sagnier, Kristin Scott Thomas.
Kristin Scott Thomas played Rachel McAdams character with such nuances, sublety that it felt more like Bergman drama almost.
But I get the feeling that De Palma went for style over substance......script is way more flat and aimed for mainstream audiences, even though there are some great metaphors like when (was it Dirk?) shows up at Rachel McAdams house wearing a dog mask.....the lap dog returns to his master....literally.
Noomi Rapace can act....give Babycall(2011) a chance.
But she is badly cast here and doesn´t fit in.
"Passion also has a cheap look. A TV-esque style, flat cinematography… "
I disagree Fred.....the original was even more flat and truly had a straightforward, TV-movie style over it....this one was a from a technical standpoint wonderful, at least I felt so when watching it.
"The very obvious product placements aren’t that beautiful either…"
No, that´s right.....but De Palma is no longer considered a bankable director, so some compromises was probably in order so he could make his movie.
I´m glad he did.
"For example, which is brilliant, after half the movie everyone starts talking German with each other. Which is totally logical, that’s when all the German characters starts to interact with each other and not with non-German characters! It’s such a bold idea, and so much fun."
Yeah but the film takes place in Europe, this is a multi international corporation, and don´t forget Rachel McAdams wants the office in NYC.
"No, Passion is not masterpiece. But I really, really, really, really, really like it. It gives me what I want in a movie: surprises. And it has a lot of them."
Yeah, it´s not as dark as the original, not as surreal as Sisters (1973) or as sleazy(I wonder why De Palma was so prudish here....even original was steamier.....I suppose his producers didn´t want any hanky panky) Femme Fatale(2002) but it has something....I just loved it.
"De Palma is one of the few classic directors who still do what he does best. He never tries to be modern or update his style to something more contemporary. He doesn’t need to. He’s Brian Awesome DeFuckingPalma. He’s my maestro. And he always will."
Yes sir!!!!
This is an entertaining film, sure it has flaws, mainly in the casting, but I liked it, and I hope more people will see it.
Great fucking review, Fred!
Posted by: Megatron | June 28, 2013 at 17:17