Doble cuerpo

I've been a fan of De Palma long time and I just saw this one this night. To my enjoyment, I had a few smiles, even laughters, intensity, involving to the storyline, getting that suspense that is needed.

This movie is a perfect example to pull of what Hitchcock has done best in "Rear Window" and "Vertigo". De Palma set up those two basic ideas into a story that's really enjoyable and intense same time. Especially when you are in the knowledge of the movies of the 40s and 50s and the art of making a thriller you are just going to be pleased.

My guess is that De Palma made this movie out of pure pleasure, doing all those great stuff with claustrophobia, sexual need, voyeurism, grotesque murder, and most of all terrifying suspense.

The murder sequence was in my opinion of a well crafted exercise in suspense. You fear, then you hope, then you try to guess, it goes all right, then all wrong, the hero comes, it seems at right time, but still too late, it all goes on and on and you can't believe it happened. Loved and hated the sequence, for film-making and emotional purposes.

Not the greatest, but definitely one of De Palmas best.

Sort of a cross between "Rear Window" and "Vertigo" but instead of James Stewart we get Craig Wasson as a struggling actor mixed in with some sly jokes at the film studios, actors, and adult films. Visually very stylish with hypnotic score. Bizarre music video sequence is well done to the tune of "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. If you can look past the plot holes, it's an entertaining over-the-top effort from De Palma.

Body Double is ridiculous. One of the more ridiculous movies I have seen, maybe ever. Everything about it is completely over the top - while this is probably why a lot of people love this movie, for me it mostly had the opposite effect.

First, let me talk about what mostly weighs it down. The lead character is pretty much unbearable. He has very little personality aside from an overblown and unrealistic claustrophobia problem, though he does end up unsheathing some major things it's still painful to watch the journey because he is an awkward, despicable creep the whole way getting there. I disliked him more and more with each shot. While the story seems to be written to be purely entertaining and not realistic (AT ALL), it just doesn't work for me in this case. There are too many cases in nearly EVERY scene where I found myself getting frustrated, saying aloud "That would not happen!", "That is not how that works!", "Why would anyone ever do that?!" constantly, over and over, more than I have done with the majority of movies in my life. The entire thing feels like a "complex" plot that someone planned out a week or two before shooting, and didn't give it any time to marinate and tweak anything to make it feel more organic. But, hey, if you just want an over-the-top B-movie sort of experience, this might tickle you the right way.

One thing that is starting to win points with me after letting this film sit in my mind overnight is that due to it's extremely unrealistic unfolding of events, it does give the film a sort of dream-like or nightmarish sort of quality in your memory, which is always something that I value. Other strong elements are the fantastically eerie and intense music score by the legendary Pino Donaggio, Melanie Griffith at her sexiest and most scant possible, and a few sequences that you won't forget due to some really effective and very Hitchcock-ian cinematography.

Overall, this film really does stand out, but I could never call it a GOOD film. If you just want to see something that is absolutely over the top, functions under it's own set of rules, and is a bit of an anomaly in movie history, especially as something that was created by someone who is considered "a legendary film director", then you'll want to see this at least once. Generally I'm sucker for rule-breaking, absurdist films but this one just hit wrong in too many different ways, which I could not ignore.

this is a classic 80s flick, and a one of a kind from that period. i remember seeing this in high school and being blown away. seeing it today brings back memories of the effect it had on me then; and little of it to do with the "plot", but with the sleepy, dreamy atmosphere the film builds, the beautiful view Jake sees through his telescope (not the dancer either, but the home!), etc. I always wanted to see a revamped rear window type thriller, and this let me see at least an attempt at it through an 80s lens in LA/Bev Hills. I thought that was cool. I did feel sympathy for Jake - somebody said he's the weak willed everyman's character and he is that. Didn't like the end, too bad it had to dissolve into stupidity. Still a very good quirky 80s movie.

Favorite scenes of mine - when Jake follows Gloria shopping (the whole scene), and when he finally meets up with her on the beach, after chasing down the purse snatcher. I would definitely go through what Jake did to have a 1 minute fling with a former Miss USA.

Jake is a washed up actor who walks in on his girlfriend with another man and so it means his got to find another place to live. Plus he is fired from the vampire movie he was involved in because that of his phobia of confined places. So, when Jake is checking about for some acting gigs he meets another struggling actor who offers him place to house sit and it does have its perks. Through a telescope he can spy on his neighbours, which through one window a lady goes through the same strip routine every night. Jake becomes extremely obsessed with the woman and he gets caught up in a seedy web of intrigue when he witness the woman being killed.

De Palma goes all out on this occasion with his obsession with Hitchcock and the master's films that are under the spotlight in this voyeuristic thriller are "Rear Window" and "Vertigo". While, there might be elements borrowed from those films, De Palma still brings to the party his own distinguishable style and perspective. I've enjoyed most of his works and this one joins the ranks. Well, maybe one of the lesser ones since I was a bit iffy on it at times. I'll admit - it's pure trash, but technically it's done so well with many fashionable touches worked into this artistic piece of steamy erotica that I just found it hard to take my eyes off it. Some of those facets that make a mark is the camera-work that's handle rather silkily with it's many gliding shots and innovative angels. The taunting score rallies up the tension remarkably well and actually generates an alarming awe. There are some odd, kinky and down and out heart stopping images like that of the infamously lurid drill scene and a couple of downright claustrophobic build ups. The female cast involving Melanie Griffith and most definitely Deborah Shelton are desirably seductive. Craig Wasson as the down on his luck actor Jake was solid, but it's the freaky villain of the piece "The Indian" that will catch your eye and make you real nervous. Also there's a neat cameo role by Dennis Franz as a director, which is a neat treat. The over-the-top story tightly constructs itself around a complicated web of twists and turns involving sleaze and murder, but when it came to its climax it felt convoluted and rushed. The confusing revelation doesn't seem as effective and clever as it may think. Hollywood even comes under fire with it being mock with De Palma using the porn industry to do so. Anyhow, remember to shut your blinds, as who knows maybe someone is peering into your window right now. ;)

"Body Double" is a flawed, but an interesting concept that I could not help but go with the flow.