A Filmmaker's Guide to: 5 Films by Brian de Palma

Brian de Palma, known for his excellent work with facial expression, a large amount of 'cut to' sequences and obviously, the psychodramatic shaky-cam which made him so utterly loved in the world of cinema. His storylines often coincide with characters of sociopathy and psychopathy, criminality and/or storylines with strong social messages veiled behind a violation of every socially acceptable piece of behaviour known to man.

Brian de Palma's career spans over fifty years so far and yet, he is still the most well-known and well respected man of his genre of psychodrama since the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed. His use of music, characterisation and also the amount of effort that just goes into getting the correct juxtapositions of time, place and person are recognised as some of de Palma's most incredible traits.

Here, we'll briefly explore five films that have made their mark on Brian de Palma's career and notably changed the way people have thought about him as an audience and what these particular films offer to the wider world of cinema. They are in no particular order, but again I have taken the liberty of putting my personal favourite at number one.

5 Films by Brian de Palma

5. The Black Dahlia (2006)

Based on the book by James Ellroy (writer of "L.A Confidential"), this film by Brian de Palma brings his psychodrama ways into the new century with a great amount of gothic darkness, tragedy, criminality, anonymity and violence. With the set being historical with added bits of grandeur and even the costumes being coloured correctly and accordingly, this makes for one of Brian de Palma's best efforts at stating that he is well and truly still in the psychodrama game.

4. Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)

Based on the book by Tom Wolfe (writer of "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"), this film's response the the world of business drama is what I feel could've inspired work on the film adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel "American Psycho" (2000) purely because of its incredible notion towards the theme of heartlessness and compassion. The many different pieces of mis-en-scene that create the feeling of greatness in this film is unstoppable. Just go and have a look, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

3. Mission: Impossible (1996)

Brian de Palma brings back his shaky-cam and psychodrama in this film whilst also trying to innovate the world of action cinema. He does this gracefully and with amazing skill as he adds in one of the key scenes in 90s movie history that will be imitated over and over again in many other films. The fact that Brian de Palma directed this film means that other action films now had to live up to the thriller genre as well and from that we get so many unforgettable movies by other directors and an entire series of "Mission: Impossible".

2. Scarface (1983)

Starring Al Pacino in a remake of the classic movie that once flouted the rules of the Hayes' Code, this movie is an incredible symbol of criminality and social deviance. The scenes have amazing amounts of colour and seek to represent Tony's world as one that is constantly being held up by him but is also crumbling horribly - which leads us to the end of the film. It is a brilliant attempt to pick up and polish an old movie that was based on a work of fiction and Brian de Palma was the perfect person for the job as it has since become one of Al Pacino's most beloved roles.

1. Carrie (1976)

My personal favourite film by Brian de Palma will always be "Carrie" (1976) based on the book by Stephen King (writer of "The Green Mile", "Christine" and every other terrifying book from your teens that you can possibly think of). The nightmarish Hitchcockian quality of this film that comes from films such as "Vertigo" (1958) and the blood-induced body horror that can be traced back to "The Exorcist" (1973), Brian de Palma creates a near-perfect horror-thriller film from bits and pieces discarded from other greats of horror cinema. Launching into the spotlight the likes of Sissy Spacek and John Travolta, this film will go down in history as one of the greatest films of the 1970s. It is his most iconic work to date.