Love And Menace

BODY DOUBLE is one of my favorite films, mostly because it's a Brian De Palma film, but also because it's the De Palma film that few seem to care about.

It also contains one of my favorite Pino Donaggio scores, which brings me to this remix of the main theme which I found on YouTube. (Initially, I was going to post this on Facebook, but I gotta be careful not to "offend" some of the lamenheimers whom I once considered cool. Don't get me started on the rant.) The visuals in this video suck and it drives me nuts, but the music is the reason to watch(?), so, whatever.



Critically, De Palma took a bit of a swan dive with this one, following his SCARFACE (which the critics loathed at the time), but when I finally was of age to see this, I couldn't believe this film was as lambasted as it had been. Although, I know why it was, that still doesn't make it okay. Critics could not get over the whole Hitchcock influence thing. And, by the time BODY DOUBLE came around, I think they were sick of it. Too bad, as this is a very clever take on REAR WINDOW and a total blast from the '80s.

Another remix...

And, of course, I couldn't leave out Frankie (seems the volume always gets cranked up during this particular scene)...



The above music video is actually the second made for "Relax." This is not a direct port from the film, rather the rare companion music video which is also directed by De Palma. Very cool tie-in, since this incorporates a certain character from the film. Would have been a nice addition to the special edition DVD.

CUT!

Al Pacino in "88 Minutes"

He has 88 minutes to solve a murder. His own.

And, I have 108 minutes in a theater, all to myself, to watch him do it!

YIKES! Give me more time!

But seriously, I did see this film and it's probably my biased Pacino appreciation talking here, but I did enjoy it. Nothing original, but it's Pacino running around with a cell phone and talking (and sometimes, more than talking) to some tantalizing females in a NICK OF TIME-esque plot riddled with bullets and wet streets. Also, Pacino reunites with previous co-stars, Amy Brenneman of HEAT and William Forsythe of DICK TRACY. A double WHAM-BAM, right in line with the recent double Pacino reunion in OCEAN'S THIRTEEN with Ellen Barkin of SEA OF LOVE and Andy Garcia of THE GODFATHER, PART III. And, yes, both of them were in that HBO film, CLINTON AND NADINE! I know! It's insane!

Speaking of reunions (and who isn't), Pacino's next film is a re-teaming with his 88 MINUTES director, Jon Avnet. The film is RIGHTEOUS KILL featuring another Pacino reunion, with fellow titan Robert De Niro of THE GODFATHER, PART II and Michael Mann's HEAT. This time around, they're due to share much more screen time... AND, the Pacino reunion continues with the additional casting of his CARLITO'S WAY co-star, John Leguizamo. (Remember the SUPER MARIO BROS. reunion he had with Dennis Hopper in George A. Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD? How could you not?! Everyone's talking about it! When I say "everyone," I'm speaking specifically of "me".)

AND, speaking of CARLITO'S WAY...

88 MINUTES felt like a Brian De Palma film, which reminds me... he and Pacino need to do another film. Let's make it a trilogy, fellas!

Sincerely,

-Cuckoo for Pacino Puffs*

*A new cereal idea that I'm working on.