De Palma Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy just talks about himself for an hour and a half, and it’s considered a movie because…Hollywood.

🍿 De Palma: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction: A Career Retrospective

‘De Palma’ offers an intimate look into the career of Brian De Palma, the acclaimed director known for his suspenseful and often controversial films. The documentary primarily features De Palma himself, providing a chronological journey through his filmography, discussing his creative process, influences, and challenges faced in Hollywood. It’s a rare opportunity to hear directly from the filmmaker about the evolution of his style and his perspective on his own work. The documentary explores De Palma’s early influences, particularly Alfred Hitchcock, and how these shaped his cinematic vision. He delves into specific techniques he adopted and adapted, giving viewers insight into the mind of a director obsessed with visual storytelling. The film also addresses the controversies surrounding some of his works, where depictions of violence and sexuality sparked debate and criticism.

Key Films and Creative Process

The film dissects key projects in De Palma’s career, from early works like ‘Greetings’ starring Robert De Niro, to breakout hits like ‘Carrie,’ and later successes like ‘Scarface’ and ‘The Untouchables.’ De Palma shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes, offering details about casting decisions, on-set dynamics, and the technical aspects of his filmmaking. He openly discusses both the triumphs and the failures, providing a balanced perspective on his professional journey. ‘De Palma’ examines the director’s collaborations with various actors, composers, and writers, highlighting the collaborative nature of filmmaking. It also touches upon the challenges of working within the studio system and the compromises often required to bring a vision to life. The film reveals De Palma’s pragmatic approach to navigating the industry while staying true to his artistic sensibilities.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Brian De Palma (Brian De Palma): A celebrated director who reflects on his career, the challenges of Hollywood, and his contributions to film horror and suspense.
• Mark Hamill (Mark Hamill): An actor whose archive footage is featured, representing De Palma’s influence on other artists.
• Steven Spielberg (Steven Spielberg): A fellow director whose archive footage appears, highlighting De Palma’s place in the ‘New Hollywood’ era.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Brian De Palma: “Being a director is being a watcher.” – De Palma explains his philosophy on directing and the importance of observation.
• Brian De Palma: “Holy mackerel.” – A recurring expression used by De Palma throughout the film, showcasing his personality and reactions.

💰Box Office

• Budget: None
• Domestic Gross: $165,237
• Worldwide Gross: $168,045

💥 De Palma Reviews

Personal Review

I love Brian De Palma’s movies, so this was a treat. Getting to hear him talk so openly about his career, the good and the bad, was fascinating. The behind-the-scenes stories made me appreciate his films even more. It’s like sitting down with a film legend and soaking in all the wisdom.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Film students”
  • “Fans of Brian De Palma”
  • “Those interested in filmmaking”
  • “Cinephiles”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Clips from Brian De Palma’s films, which may contain violence, nudity, and mature themes.”

Professional Reviews

• The Film Stage: “An essential and comprehensive retrospective with the auteur in complete focus. De Palma is candid and informative as he recounts his entire career. A must see for film enthusiasts, this documentary showcases the ups and downs of De Palma’s journey, making it both insightful and engaging.
• N/A: “The documentary is an excellent film school in 108 minutes, which is ironic. Brian De Palma shows his perspective and style throughout this film, from violent to messy. Definitely recommended for any film fan.
• N/A: “Brian De Palma is given a detailed look as he guides the audience through a chronological look at all of his films. Honest and interesting, he provides facts about his films in a way that allows the viewer to connect to them even deeper.

Audience Reactions

The film provides an in depth look at De Palma’s career from his perspective with detailed information about the process behind his filmmaking.: Viewers enjoyed hearing the behind-the-scenes stories and gaining a better understanding of De Palma’s approach to filmmaking.

It delivers candid insights and an opportunity to see a master filmmaker reflect on his successes and challenges.: The documentary provides an engaging look into a career filled with both memorable hits and intriguing flops.

Overall Consensus: A fascinating look into the career of Brian De Palma, offering valuable insights and entertaining anecdotes for fans and film enthusiasts alike.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The documentary features extensive interview footage with Brian De Palma, filmed over a week in 2010 in Jake Paltrow’s living room.”
• “De Palma wore the same shirt every day during the interview for continuity, as the filmmakers didn’t initially anticipate the project taking so long to complete.”
• “The filmmakers originally collected around 30 hours of interview footage.”

🖥️ How to Watch De Palma?

As a documentary, ‘De Palma’ is widely available on various streaming and digital rental platforms. You can often find it on services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu for rental or purchase. Check your local listings for availability on cable on-demand services as well. Keep an eye on film festivals and independent cinema screenings for potential viewing opportunities.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed De Palma, you might like these similar films:

• Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015): Explores the work of another master director through extensive interviews, providing insight into his techniques and philosophy.
• Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (2003): Documents the ‘New Hollywood’ era and the directors who revolutionized filmmaking, including De Palma’s contemporaries.
• Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991): Chronicles the troubled production of ‘Apocalypse Now,’ offering a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of filmmaking and a director’s vision.

🛒 De Palma Related Products

• Blow Out (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A restored Blu-ray edition of De Palma’s thriller, featuring exclusive interviews and essays exploring the film’s themes and legacy.
• Scarface [Blu-ray]: The classic gangster film directed by Brian De Palma is one of his most popular movies. The Blu-ray is a must for his fans to see it in HD.
• Brian De Palma: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series): Features a collection of interviews with Brian De Palma spanning his entire career, offering unparalleled insights into his filmmaking process and creative vision.
• De Palma T-Shirt: A T-Shirt that is for fans of the director Brian De Palma. The T-shirt features his name with a picture of him on it.

🎧 Soundtrack

De Palma features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “De Palma (Main Title Theme)” – performed by Nathan Johnson
• “Dancin’ in the Dark” – performed by Bruce Springsteen

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Tom Cruise on dinners with Spielberg and Brian De Palma

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a fly on the wall at a dinner with Spielberg, De Palma, and Tom Cruise? Cruise shares a quick story about their get-togethers—sounds like some seriously inspiring conversations happened at that table!

De Palma and Scorsese on Welles and Hitchcock | The Dick Cavett Show

Imagine De Palma and Scorsese chatting about the legends, Welles and Hitchcock! It’s a fascinating peek into their own artistic influences and how they view the masters of cinema. Prepare to geek out!

WTF Really Happened to THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987)?

How much of ‘The Untouchables’ is Hollywood magic and how much is real history? This video dives deep into the facts behind the film, separating truth from fiction. You might be surprised by what you learn!

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