Brian de Palma – EricReports

Blow Out (1981)

Sound man (John Travolta) accidently records a political assassination. Can he prove it? Loosely based on the Ted Kennedy-Chappaquiddick “accident” and other political deaths (John Kennedy, Nelson Rockefeller.) Costars Nancy Allen as a witness who’s in too deep for her own good. John Lithgow is the loose-cannon hit-man. Topical Brain De Palma thriller that was ignored by the public.

Nancy Allen

Being There (1979)

Political fable on how a mentally-challenged man takes Washington, D.C. by storm, when his simple-minded quips on gardening are mistaken for profound thought. Superb performance by Peter Sellers as “Chance” aka Chauncey Gardiner. He should’ve won the Oscar that year. Based on the book by Jerzy Kosinski. Directed by Hal Ashby.

Peter Sellers

Willard (1971)

Lonely young man is befriended by rats. Willard uses them to exact revenge on his enemies. Cult film spawned a sequel and a remake; however, the original is still the best. Stars Bruce Davison, Sondra Locke and Ernest Borgnine. Based on “Ratman’s Notebooks” by Stephen Gilbert.

Ben the rat

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Be careful what you wish for.

Wishing Stairs (2003)

Best of the Korean-Asian horror genre. An outside stairway, leading to a girl’s school for ballet, has an invisible stair on top. If it appears, your wish will be granted – but, with unexpected results. Mostly a cast of young Korean actresses, all impressive, especially Park Han-byul as Kim So-hee.

Park Han-byul as Kim So-hee

Directed by Jan-yeon Yun. Written by Soyoung Lee. Outstanding in every sense of the word.

The Love God? (1969)

Don Knotts stars as Abner Peacock IV, owner/editor of a bird magazine, which is taken over by gangsters and turned into a porno magazine. Unwittingly, he is transformed into the next Hugh Hefner. Almost surreal; the courtroom scene where Don Knotts is called “a filthy and perverted little degenerate” will permanently blow your mind. Flopped when it opened – director Nat Hiken died of a heart attack.

The Comic (1969)

Touching look at the rise and fall of Billy Bright (Dick Van Dyke), a silent-film star who fades into obscurity. Films about losers seldom connect with the public. Stay with this one until the conclusion. You won’t forget it. Costars Michelle Lee and Mickey Rooney. Directed by Carl Reiner.

Night and Fog (Nuit et brouillard) (1955)

French documentary on the Holocaust. Focuses on Hitler’s final solution and his WWII concentration camps. Masterful narration, although the film speaks for itself. Unbearable for some to watch. What have we learned since then? Not a damn thing.

Directed by Alain Resnais. Written by Jean Cayrol.

Holocaust victims

Suspiria – 1977

Italian giallo director Dario Argento’s masterpiece. Girl (Jessica Harper) enrolls in a school for dance, then slowly begins to discover that it’s a cult of witches. (Partially based on a true story.) Blood-red Technicolor rolls off the screen. The extreme style + beautiful camera work and direction – put current horror films to shame.

Suspiria (1976)

Magnum Force – 1973

Second of the “Dirty Harry” film series. Detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) uncovers a death squad of fanatical cops who execute criminals that slip through the justice system. The absolute flip-side of the first Dirty Harry movie and every bit as good.

Seconds – 1966

A middle-aged businessman finds a second chance for a new life. Sound too good to be true? Nightmarish black & white cinematography by James Wong Howe, bleak, hopeless story by David Ely and razor-sharp direction by John Frankenheimer. Intelligent sci-fi that was way ahead of its time.

Macbeth – 1971

Whoever said Shakespeare was boring, never saw this version of “Macbeth”. Directed by Roman Polanski, a few years after his wife and unborn son were murdered by the “Manson Family” and it shows. Bloody, bloody violence and a foreboding sense of disaster. Polanski said he was only giving the public what was expected of him. Rich, dynamic performance by star Jon Finch.

The Shootist – 1976

Last, best performance by John Wayne as an aging gunfighter dying of cancer. Great all-star cast, Richard Boone is especially good. Don Siegel directs; based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout. Despoite the sad theme, “The Shootist” remains upbeat. A fitting tribute to the Duke, who died from cancer three years later.

My Name is Nobody – 1974

Comedy-western starring Henry Fonda and Terrence Hill. Based on a idea by Sergio Leone. Memorable music composed by Ennio Morricone.

The Manchurian Candidate – 1962

Forget the lame 2004 remake. Returning Korean War POWs all have the same recurring nightmare. What’s the connection? Set against the Cold War-McCarthy Era, this fictional story proves more true every day: how a Communist agent could one day occupy the White House. Frank Sinatra-Lawrence Harvey-Angela Lansbury, all excellent. John Frankenheimer directs, based on Richard Condon’s novel.

The Manchurian Candidate’ from page to screen (twice)

Sisters – 1973

Director Brian de Palma’s first horror-suspense film. Story about separated Siamese twins (the Blanchion sisters) both played by Margot Kidder. Which one is the psychotic killer? Loud, pulsating score by the man who composed “Psycho” – Bernard Herrmann.

Sisters (1973) Poster

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