Frugal Theater: "Body Double"

So like, over the last month I've been on a huge Brian De Palma kick.

It started with late night youtubing of clips from "Blow Out," and well, from there I managed to watch the whole film on the website. Good quality picture and sound for youtube too. And it was immediately removed soon after.

But after watching it, I got that itch. You know the feeling. You see a movie that really entertains or interests you, and then you want to carrie on and watch more work from that director, or series, or star? Like that time I was really into "Police Academy" (ages 8 to 23).

Anyways, I remember "Blow-Out" on late night cable when younger, thinking it was totaly pretentious crap. Now, at 23, I realize that I was very wrong. "Blow-Out's" garishly awesome! Full of wacky camera angles, gauche music and dialogue, and purely visual language, "Blow-Out" was absolutely the work of a nutso auteur. Tarantino even once said that it made him want to direct movies. I, on the other hand, just really wanted to see more of De Palma's movies with a new eye for them. Besides, "Ghostbusters" and Coen Brothers movies make me want to direct... where was I? Oh yeah!

In the last month, I've watched: "Scarface," "Dressed to Kill," "Carrie," "The Fury," "Blow Out" and "Body Double." All impressively visual thrill-rides. And that's why I feel compelled to share some of DP's work with you. And "Body Double," as it just so happens, is available for free on Crackle. Click here to watch (http://www.crackle.com/c/Body_Double).

Smutty, slutty and sensational, "Body Double" is De Palma's hit back at criticisms for his use of artifice in previous movies. Previously, he was chastised for using a double in "Dressed to Kill" on Angie Dickinson. Didn't bother me (shoulders shrugged). It's about an actor coping with crippling claustrophobia and a wife cheating on him. From there, the actor begins housesitting while peeping on his neighbor, getting wrapped up in a mystery. Also, he appears in a Frankie Goes to Hollywood video! I'm not making that up!

Oh well. Too odd to explain. Just watch the thing.