This is a small movie very few people as ever heard of. The screenplay and the acting don't really matter in this case. I think Brian DePalma wanted to create a satire to the very popular pop stars and the glam rock era. It's a very weird movie; if you mixed The Phantom of the Paradise with The Portrait of Dorian Gray, satire touches and dark humor and set it in the glam rock era, this is probably what you'd get. The settings are amazingly well done and very original, as are the make up, clothes and cinematography. There are some incredibly original scenes that get you by surprise, which is just the objective. This is quite obviously done by a young director, with its wild imagination and ways of changing the direction of the movie (too) quickly. As an example in the scene where you find out what Swan did, and you only have clues, like, one minute before.
Though, the direction is greatly innovative. It perfectly captures the madness of drugs, singers trying to innovate the most ridiculous ways and the way pop stars are just images to society. The shots reach, sometimes, a level of brilliance. There's the scene in which Swan confronts Winslow, aside shot that's great; there are the scenes with Winslow writing, the light flickering and Phoenix appearing behind him, also incredibly beautiful, there are the lesbian sex scenes, there's the shower scene, a clear homage to Psycho, and much, much more.
The story is full of weird, interesting characters. Winslow Leach is quite an idiot, but I found myself rooting for him to get his way. William Finley doesn't do much, but his facial expressions during the first half of the movie are greatly funny, as are his lines. Paul Williams, who did the score too, is great as Swan, the malefic pop star/producer. His voice and mannerisms create a funny, scary character. Jessica Harper as Phoenix was cool. She was sweet, had just the right looks and sang well. Gerrit Graham as a...weird rock singer is hilarious. Obviously, the script isn't meant to be taken seriously: it's all a huge silly parody, with a lot of style and not a lot of substance (even if you can still find a lot of accurate, funny lines).
Finally the music. It's just perfect, fitting on the movie and having great lyrics. It's very original and unusual to listen to this type of music all in the same movie.
This is an hidden gem from the 70's, stylish and very well made, even if way silly. You need to be in the mood for it, but if you are, you'll definitely enjoy yourself. 8/10
Though, the direction is greatly innovative. It perfectly captures the madness of drugs, singers trying to innovate the most ridiculous ways and the way pop stars are just images to society. The shots reach, sometimes, a level of brilliance. There's the scene in which Swan confronts Winslow, aside shot that's great; there are the scenes with Winslow writing, the light flickering and Phoenix appearing behind him, also incredibly beautiful, there are the lesbian sex scenes, there's the shower scene, a clear homage to Psycho, and much, much more.
The story is full of weird, interesting characters. Winslow Leach is quite an idiot, but I found myself rooting for him to get his way. William Finley doesn't do much, but his facial expressions during the first half of the movie are greatly funny, as are his lines. Paul Williams, who did the score too, is great as Swan, the malefic pop star/producer. His voice and mannerisms create a funny, scary character. Jessica Harper as Phoenix was cool. She was sweet, had just the right looks and sang well. Gerrit Graham as a...weird rock singer is hilarious. Obviously, the script isn't meant to be taken seriously: it's all a huge silly parody, with a lot of style and not a lot of substance (even if you can still find a lot of accurate, funny lines).
Finally the music. It's just perfect, fitting on the movie and having great lyrics. It's very original and unusual to listen to this type of music all in the same movie.
This is an hidden gem from the 70's, stylish and very well made, even if way silly. You need to be in the mood for it, but if you are, you'll definitely enjoy yourself. 8/10