De Palma

Name: De Palma
Genre: Biography, Documentary
Released: June 10, 2016
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 83

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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De Palma

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: June 10, 2016 | R

Summary: One of the most talented, influential, and iconoclastic filmmakers of all time, Brian De Palma’s career started in the 60s and has included such acclaimed and diverse films as Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Blow Out, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission: Impossible. In this lively, illuminating and unexpectedly movingOne of the most talented, influential, and iconoclastic filmmakers of all time, Brian De Palma’s career started in the 60s and has included such acclaimed and diverse films as Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Blow Out, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission: Impossible. In this lively, illuminating and unexpectedly moving documentary, directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow engage in a personal and candid discussion with De Palma, exploring not only his life and work but also his singular approach to the craft of filmmaking and his remarkable experiences navigating the film business, from his early days as the bad boy of New Hollywood to his more recent years as a respected veteran of the field. [A24]… Expand

Director: Jake Paltrow and Noah Baumbach

Genre(s): Biography, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Barry Hertz

Jun 16, 2016

De Palma is a true visionary, even if you might not quite agree with what that vision is. Either way, a trip through his wild and hugely influential filmography is mandatory for any film fan, and that’s just what directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow offer in their new documentary. Read full review

100

Drew McWeeny

Jun 9, 2016

DePalma emerges as a charming storyteller, funny and slightly wicked, and he offers up some terrific anecdotes about his casts, his process, and his choices over the years. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jun 16, 2016

The hidden magic in De Palma is Baumbach and Paltrow’s editing. The pacing is just right, and the stories flow, one from another. Sit back, relax, watch, listen and learn. It’s a good time at the movies. Read full review

The Film Stage Rory O'Connor

Jun 8, 2016

De Palma is a fascinating, revealing, and compelling overview of a remarkably eclectic career, but it’s also a seldom-heard first-hand account of what it’s like to work inside and outside the Hollywood system. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Jun 9, 2016

Like any good work of criticism, De Palma will be catnip for passionate fans while also serving as a primer and a goad for the skeptical and the curious. Mr. De Palma is remarkable company — witty, insightful and neither unduly modest nor overbearingly vain. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Sep 12, 2015

Acolytes of Brian De Palma’s flavorful, flamboyant filmography hardly need reminding of his acrobatic ability as a visual storyteller; what they’ll learn from De Palma is that in front of the camera, he’s a pretty marvelous raconteur, too. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Sep 12, 2015

De Palma is a timely reminder of one of cinema's most infuriating yet entertaining characters. Read full review

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User Reviews

StanleyKubrick

Jul 28, 2016

I want to see more films like this: Just one important director talking me through his filmography step-by-step. Nothing else. No critics, no friends, no actors, no nothing, just the filmmaker explaining
what he did why...This film showed that it works! And I want more...

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

foxgrove

Oct 28, 2016

As a card carrying member of the De Palma fan club it is much appreciated to find this an absorbing and fitting tribute to the best director of all time. There are no talking heads here, only the big guy himself tossing out facts or anecdotal tidbits on all his films from A-Z. And indeed theAs a card carrying member of the De Palma fan club it is much appreciated to find this an absorbing and fitting tribute to the best director of all time. There are no talking heads here, only the big guy himself tossing out facts or anecdotal tidbits on all his films from A-Z. And indeed the work speaks for itself. Even a lesser De Palma was always better than the best from a journeyman director. His best work, Carrie, is my favourite film of all time, but his other greats include Phantom of the Paradise, Obsession, Dressed to Kill, Blow out and The Untouchables. Another couple of his films would also deserve this accolade – Scarface and Casualties of War. However, their distressingly unflinching content makes them far more difficult to want to revisit. De Palma himself states that most Directors do their best work in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and it would certainly seem to be true when assessing his filmography. His later films whilst never less than interesting are nowhere near the quality of his best work. In fact between 1990 and 2016 he has only made one outstanding movie – Carlito’s Way.
The 70’s was indeed a great decade for both movies and directors. Spielberg, Coppola and Scorsese were all getting their due. King of them all though was this man, comparatively under appreciated. His imaginative use of the camera, stylisation and fearless audacity are just breath taking. He certainly knows how to produce a ‘set piece’. Hitchcock should, and I’m sure would, have been flattered by his visual tributes. His many critics were arbitrarily dismissive and uncomprehending of his nods to the ‘master of suspense’. Only the legendary Pauline Kael seemed to truly champion him. De Palma can also be proud of the absolutely beautiful music scores that accompany most of his films from composers like Pino Donaggio, Bernard Herrman and Ennio Morricone.
Film makers Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow are to be congratulated, not only for the wealth of film clips on offer, but for allowing us to feast on the brilliance that is Brian De Palma. It is, as Films Illustrated said in their review of ‘Carrie’ in 1977, a superb treat.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DarkwingSchmuck

Mar 8, 2022

A fascinating documentary that's a must-see for anyone even remotely interested in the director's work, or even film in general.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jamess

Sep 19, 2016

Many years ago my older brother and I went to the Ramona Theater in Detroit to watch a movie that, based on the newspaper ad, was being compared to Hitchcock's Psycho. As soon as Bernard Herrmann's music started, I was hooked. And from Sisters on, I've loved De Palma's films. And I forgot heMany years ago my older brother and I went to the Ramona Theater in Detroit to watch a movie that, based on the newspaper ad, was being compared to Hitchcock's Psycho. As soon as Bernard Herrmann's music started, I was hooked. And from Sisters on, I've loved De Palma's films. And I forgot he basically discovered Robert De Niro and was in the midst of George Lucas, Stephen Spielburg Francis Ford Coppola, etc. at the beginning of their careers. And instead of the traditional documentary, it's De Palma telling stories and clips. And what a storyteller he is. Great trip through his movies.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Jun 11, 2016

Very solid movie. One of the worst aspects of those Q&As with directors and stars when you see a screening is when the interviewer/moderator poses long-winded, ridiculous questions. There is NONE of that here. You get 2 things - De Palma taking, and clips from his movies (and a few othersVery solid movie. One of the worst aspects of those Q&As with directors and stars when you see a screening is when the interviewer/moderator poses long-winded, ridiculous questions. There is NONE of that here. You get 2 things - De Palma taking, and clips from his movies (and a few others he was involved in at one time or another - and nothing more! It's concentrated De Palma for the entire movie, and he imparts some amazing nuggets about directing and movie-making in general. I'm a huge fan of Blow Out and Body Double, so I was VERY happy that he spent plenty of time on each. This is a guy who pushed the limits, and he made some incredibly unique films. I whole-heartedly recommend this picture.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

EpicLadySponge

Sep 16, 2016

De Palma is one of those movies you must see all over again until you get to one certain point where you're just so tired and want to do something else instead. It's that great.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 12, 2018

Brian De Palma doesn't even enter my top 30 of favorite directors but some of his movies are among my all-time favorites. Strange but it happens. Therefore although I was interested enough to see this documentary I always postponed it but sometimes it's good to let things age and in thisBrian De Palma doesn't even enter my top 30 of favorite directors but some of his movies are among my all-time favorites. Strange but it happens. Therefore although I was interested enough to see this documentary I always postponed it but sometimes it's good to let things age and in this case, this documentary is an excellent example.

It's just De Palma and his career. Full of ups and downs but it doesn't stop being fascinating.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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