Femme Fatale

**SPOILER ALERT - The last paragraph makes reference to a 1940s film that constitutes a spoiler. **There rarely seems to be anything in between where Brian De Palma films are concerned, cinematic lovers of all kinds by and large either trash or laud his films. Femme Fatale is no different, one critic - both professional or amateur - will have it as a 1/10 movie, another will have it at the maximum rate available. Femme Fatale is high grade stuff if one is either a De Palma fan or a lover of film noir. Conversely if these two things don't tick your film loving boxes then the law of averages suggests you should have - or should - stayed/stay away from it.De Palma opens up the doors to his fun house and invites noir lovers to come on in and enjoy. It's difficult to write about the plot because it holds many twists and turns, it's a veritable supply of uppers and downers, twisters and benders, all sexed up and pumped full of De Palma's trademark tricks and devilish rug pulls. In truth the story and set-up is predictable, but the journey is what makes the pic ooze quality and bare faced cheek, with the director giggling away like a schoolgirl in the background.Opening up with a sequence that sees our titular fatale (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) watching famed noir classic Double Indemnity, De Palma proceeds to homage and love the film noir world. As he uses split-screens, canted angles, up-tilt shots, shadow plays etc, the narrative pulses with eroticism and impending cruelty, this really is a femme fatale based movie of the grandest kind. As events unfurl, with hapless photographer Nicola Bardo (a fun packed Antonio Banderas) caught in the web, Ryuichi Sakamoto's magnificent classical based score swirls around like some sort of peeping tom. The latter of which finds a shifty accomplice in Thierry Arbogast's noir photography.It's a picture awash with dupes, dopes and vengeful criminals, where the themes of identity, duality, sexuality and distorted perceptions gnaw away at those investing fully in the viewing experience. Some critics (prof and amat) have lazily likened the film to David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, as if De Palma in 6 short months watched Lynch's movie and then knocked this film out! The copy-cat charge as funny as the rug-pull that De Palma pulls here. Besides, as any film noir lover will tell you, this has more in keeping with Fritz Lang's 1944 noirer "The Woman in the Window" than Lynch's film, which is no bad thing at all, and De Palma knew that. 8/10

This should have possibly been called 'Improbable Coincidences' it was that implausible. It also had one of those "Oh, it was all a dream" endings. Yet, this was still one of Brian De Palma's better films. He was still over the top with his stylings but told this most unlikely of narratives in a very entertaining way.The beginning of 'Femme Fatale' is fantastic in the way it is shot, the building of the tension and with its whole look and then the outcome. I did think it would then slowly sink into a cliched revenge thriller but it managed not to do so by having a ludicrous double crossing x infinity plotting but it did keep it entertaining.De Palma doesn't do sensual. Yet, the enjoyment described above was greatly helped, in this film, by the fact that unlike in some of the directors other films the sex scenes were neither too blatant or as sometimes just plain tawdry. Naturally, it also helps that Rebecca Romijn and Rie Rassmussen are, indeed, just very sexy.A good film to admit being a guilty pleasure.

As my review title indicates, be sure you read the description carefully.I thought I was getting the original version shown in the U.K. or even the U.S. .... not so.The only English version on the disc does not have subtitles for the French language parts on the film, so unless you are quite fluent in French you won't understand the parts spoken in French.The version that was originally shown in the UK had subtitles for the french spoken parts, but this version or even an option for this is not present, so in my case (I don't speak French apart from a few words) I didn't understand about 50% of the dialogue.Apart from this glitch it's still a great film. I saw it a few years ago and it stuck in my mind because of the leading actress/actor's performances. The twist towards the end is unexpected and steers off what initially appears to be a straight line story.I'm only giving it 3-stars because the description only says 'English version' and doesn't explain the '50% English & 50% French version'. I'll take more notice in the future whether 'UK version' or just 'English version' is declared on a dual language film. I may try for a refund but don't hold out much hope as the description on Amazon is none commital.

who have a bag of tricks and too clever for most of us ...........I managed to get subtitle working - so it was erotic, well made - clever -- must watch ... lots of twists -- worth another watch in 2021

BDP does it again with this beautiful dramatic and don't know where it will go film about a woman who does not know her past but is being hounded by criminals.The Start Ravels Bolero soundtrack is the icing on the cake.

Good film but cannot stand films with made half in sub titles as I have to keep going back to read them. I was looking for a film I could multi task with. Watch the good bits and look away and just listen when they are just talking.

Average film, direction a bit chaotic, trying too hard in places with cliches all over the place. Good twist at end. Good eye candy and dircetor indulges his sexual fantasies in places. Casting a bit dodgy - French detective is over acted. Music is terrible. In fact, I would say it has the most wrong sound track of any movie - the composer thinks he's writing a score for a 1930's horror movie. This is essentially a thriller.

Brian De Palma's best film since MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.De Palma is the king of erotic thrillers such as the underrated BODY DOUBLE.FEMME FATALE is a film you should watch before any of the extras, as they give away 'spoilers' and so just watch this brilliant, stylish and erotic masterpiece from De Palma.Bet you won't guess the ending!Rebecca Romijn is sexy in her title role and Antonio Banderas is good as the photographer. Watch and enjoy.