tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post4496059102186651486..comments2023-11-28T15:20:59.369-05:00Comments on Cinema Viewfinder: De Palma Blog-A-Thon: Phantom of the Paradise (1974)Tony Dayoubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-67243939513428980242013-04-25T04:46:22.056-04:002013-04-25T04:46:22.056-04:00Nice review! That 'fuck-it spontaneity', m...Nice review! That 'fuck-it spontaneity', mash-up quality is what keeps me coming back again and again. All the cheese, the music which is more complex than at first imagined, the fact the hero is a bug-eyed six-foot-four bondage-outfitted freak and the villain is a five-foot-two babyface, the gothic horror/grand guignol elements, giallo-style cinematography, tragicomedy and utterly random dialogue mesh together to create what is perhaps my favourite film of all timeMadame Enferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06237938029432864327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-88331780938739757962009-09-12T21:59:11.253-04:002009-09-12T21:59:11.253-04:00I think what's pretty amazing is that Finley s...I think what's pretty amazing is that Finley sang the song "Faust." And what's pretty funny is that he sang the song and then did a lousy job lip-syncing it in the movie. <br /><br />Finley really has had no career outside of DePalma movies.PIPERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054305230216613759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-82345103329081952822009-09-12T19:06:37.130-04:002009-09-12T19:06:37.130-04:00I'm right up there with both of you in nodding...I'm right up there with both of you in nodding that <i>The Phantom of the Paradise</i> is one of De Palma's purest works. It is also, I have to say, the first time I ever noticed William Finley as a strong force in De Palma cinema. It's perhaps much easier to forget Finley as Margot Kidder's wicked assistant in <i>Sisters</i>, but man, was De Palma taking a gamble when he cast Finley as the star of the show in this one! Though the film didn't succeed at the box office, a lot of De Palma's great films don't; box office isn't much of a factor in his quality, after all. <br /><br />1974 was a smashing year in film, wasn't it? <i>The Godfather Part II, Scenes from A Marriage, F for Fake, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, Amacord, The Phantom of the Paradise</i>, the list goes on. I'll bet De Palma was proud to be sharing the year with a bunch of other legends!Adam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-81150657480606210142009-09-12T10:17:15.503-04:002009-09-12T10:17:15.503-04:00Thanks Ryan.
I've always loved this movie for...Thanks Ryan.<br /><br />I've always loved this movie for, like you say, it's energy. Not to say that all movies aren't made out of love or passion, but you really feel like this was a film close to DePalma. It's fun from beginning to ending frame.PIPERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054305230216613759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-12276091890700579122009-09-12T10:15:23.487-04:002009-09-12T10:15:23.487-04:00Great piece on one of my very favorite De Palma...Great piece on one of my very favorite De Palma's, my friend. Like you say, I just love how inventive and energetic it is --- that's certainly as valuable, perhaps even moreso, than a 'perfect' film. Glad someone not only chose this film, but did it justice.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.com