THE MOON IN THE GUTTER ARCHIVES
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Operation Screenshot (Films of the 2000s): Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale (2002)
One thing that struck me capturing these stills is that every shot in this film screams Brian De Palma. Had I never seen the film, I would still be able to immediately name who directed it just from these ten shots without problem. Femme Fatale will no doubt be one of the most controversial choices for this series, but it is still the only film of the decade that I literally stood up and applauded for at the end.
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14 comments:
Yesssss! I'm including it on my list too! It's a fucking mess, but it's still the best thing De Palma's done in a long while. The opening scene is fantastic.
Thanks Joe,
It's pure in your face De Palma and it still gives me a rush few films from this decade can match.
Fantastic movie. This and Carlito's Way demonstrated that De Palma had not lost his touch.
De Palma needs another one like this after Black Dahlia and Redacted before he's allowed to retire.
Thanks Tony,
Carlito's Way and this are my favorite post Body Double De Palma works so it is great to hear some love for both.
Even though a lot of people poop on it, I really like his entry in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series. Easily the best of the bunch (not saying much, I know). Unlike the other 2 films it's not all about Tom Cruise saving the world on his own but actually working with other team members.
Thanks JD,
I really need to revisit his Mission Impossible as it is one of teh few De Palma filsm I have only watched once.
It seems that i'm one of the few who didn't like at all this film lol
Aside from a decent opening and Rebecca's charisma,i think that it is a badly acted,written and lit De Palma's "greatest hits"...
Where's the still of the girl in the snake top! I love that part! :)
I liked this movie and agree that it's one DePalma's best later efforts. I kind of lost the feel for his work around Raising Cain.
And yeah, I love Body Double! I must have seen that movie 100 times. I actually first saw it on USA Up All Night and was just enthralled!
I'm neither a DePalma lover nor hater, but you are absolutely right - this is outstanding! Such a love for the medium itself pouring out of it.
Don't worry guys. Hang your likes and dislikes at the door where you came in... The Flying Maciste Brudders are going to set everybody straight on DePalma in the coming months...
Nobody knows DePalma like the Macistes know DePalma.
I love this film! Never met too many people I know who cared for it though. I thought it was awesome.
Can't believe I missed this entry last week. I am almost a De Palma apologist, and I whole-heartedly agree that Femme Fatale is one of the greatest films of the decade. It's without a doubt my personal favorite of his, and the perfect amalgamation of De Palma and his many cinematic fetishes.
The split field diopter says it all....
So glad you posted this. FF is one of the most underrated films of the decade. I remember being totally stunned and intoxicated by this nearly-abstract film. It seems to be the film that DePalma has always been reaching for; rich in atmosphere and portent, fractured and challenging while coherent. It both relishes in and mocks high style and pushes cinematic games right over the edge into dream logic worthy of David Lynch. Bravo! A peak cinema-going experience.
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