Body Double

Mysterious story , competent performances and sense of style about a second-rate actor who witnesses a brutal slaying . The film begins and ends with the protagonist, Jake Scully (Craig Wasson), playing the part of a vampire on the set of a low-budget horror film . After he ruins a take by being unable to rise from a coffin due to claustrophobia , a fire breaks out on the set and he is sent home by the director Rubin (Dennis Franz) . Scully arrives home early and catches his fiancée (Barbara Crampton) having sex with another man . Since it is the girl's apartment , he must leave, so without a place to stay he heads to an acting workshop, where he makes a new friend, Sam (Gregg Henry) . Sam offers him a house-sitting arrangement at an opulent Modernist bachelor residence high atop the Hollywood Hills . He also points out a sexy female neighbor, Gloria Revelle (Deborah Shelton),whose seemingly exhibitionistic antics can be viewed by telescope. Then the young actor's obsession with spying on the bombshell woman who lives nearby leads to a baffling series of events with drastic consequences . A seduction !. A mystery !. A murder !. Brian De Palma the modern master of suspense invites you witness . Do you like to watch? You can't believe everything you see.

A classic in suspense from De Palma , pitching us right into the action from the beginning and baffling most of us to the ending. Concerning a B-actor that when a grisly murder happens it leads him into an obsessive quest through the world of pornographic movies . The film displays a great and haunting musical score by Pino Donaggio , De Palma's favorite composer and imitating former hits , along with appropriate cinematography . There is much for De Palma buffs to savour in this thrilling and atmospheric handling of a complex story with deliberately old-fashioned treatment. Craig Wasson is assured as ever as the obsessed actor battling against his obsessions and Melanie Griffith in a difficult role as the porno actress who looks exactly like the woman on the the window , she strangely adds depth to her acting . An adequate frisson is supplied by Melanie Griffith , the daughter of one of Hitch's favourite blondes , Tippi Hedren , star of ¨Marnie¨ and ¨The Birds¨ . There are tense key images that that are brilliantly staged. This thriller flick is plenty of mystery, intrigue, and suspenseful . Adding special characteristics techniques as ominous camera movements .

It contains colorful and evocative cinematography by cameraman Stephen H. Burum , as well as perceptible , impressive musical score by Pino Donaggio . Very good and graphically mysterious direction from Brian De Palma . Brian De Palma's homage to Hitchcock and the chief amusement turning out to be inquire what scenes taken from Master of suspense . That's why takes parts especially from ¨Vertigo¨ and ¨Rear Window¨. All this said, the mechanics of suspense are worked quite well and may frighten the easily scared quite badly , but De Palma has made a habit of dwelling on their more sordid side-shoots . The picture is brilliantly directed by Brian De Palma. This one along with ¨Sisters¨, ¨Dresssed to Kill¨, ¨Blow out¨ are outwardly another ode to Hitchcock , but the Master might well shift uneasily in his grave at the long-drawn-out tension , and the shock effects with the accent on the killing , but on most occasion is thrilling . Rating : 7/10 . Above average but gets some riveting basic ideas and fascinating images . Nowadays , being a highly considered film ; that's why it is deemed by many to be one of the Brian Palma's best.

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.

I admit when I rented this movie, I did so just to get some cheap thrills. I was aware of the negative reviews from uptight critics who dismissed it as sleaze, and to be honest, that's what I was in the mood for. Besides, my curiosity was aroused. (No cheap jokes, please!)

To my surprise, this is actually a compelling, well-crafted thriller. Let me take it a step further. It's an improvement over DePalma's effective but overpraised "Dressed to Kill." "Body Double" is actually better-constructed and better-paced. Perhaps the extremes of the film's content turned off some members of the critical community. And keep in mind that many of these people loved Dressed.

However, if you can stomach some of the content (it would certainly warrant an NC-17 in today's climate), there's much to like here. DePalma's approach might be manipulative, but when he does so this effectively, it's hard to complain. Technically, it's a marvel of film technique. Wasson's claustrophobic attacks are effectively conveyed to the viewer. When they hit him, they hit us just as hard. The very ending, which I wouldn't dream of giving away, is a work of pure genius. The infamous drill murder is a terrific setpiece.

One aspect that interested me was its attitude towards porno. So-called "dirty movies" are not condemned, but treated as simply being another side of the film industry. It's not considered right or wrong; it's just there. Such a nonjudgmental outlook is refreshing after hearing the tiresome rants of self-appointed "moral watchdogs." Likewise, there is a loving tribute to B-movies during the opening and closing credits.

"Body Double" isn't good art by any means, but it's good trash. Watch it, and you will behold DePalma at his sleazy best. He makes no apologies for what he does, nor would we want him to do so.

***1/2 (out of ****)

Released by Columbia Pictures

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.

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.