Wednesday, January 16, 2008
This may be a case of kicking someone when he’s down, as Redacted is a total flop at the box office and reviews have been, shall we say, lackluster… but it was something that was picking at me since I read about the film’s plot. I don’t fault Brian De Palma for wanting to air his views in the medium of film — I feel that’s every artist’s right and indeed responsibility. But why would you do so by treading ground you went over eighteen years ago? It seems, I dunno, cheap. De Palma’s films usually entertain the crap out of me. However, he’s never been accused of being original. Masterful with a camera, yes, but thematically his movies play more like homage (to Hitchcock, to Antonioni, etc) than actual visions. Now he’s paying homage to himself. Weak.
Transcript| Brian De Palma: | Hi. I’m director Brian De Palma, and I’d like to say a few words about the controversy surrounding my new film, “Redacted.” |
| Brian De Palma: | Of course there’s been criticism of the film’s political slant, and its depiction of American troops. That’s to be expected. |
| Brian De Palma: | But I’m troubled when critics comment that I made basically the same film in 1989, as “Casualties of War.” |
| Brian De Palma: | It’s true, “Casualties” told the story of the rape of a young girl by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, and “Redacted” shows the rape of a young girl by U.S. soldiers in Iraq... |
| Brian De Palma: | ..But what these critics fail to realize is that these similarities are intentional, as these films are part of what will be a thematic trilogy! |
| Brian De Palma: | My next film will be about soldiers raping a chick in space! |
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January 16th, 2008 at 10:23 am
One of De Palma’s main arguments with this project is that the U.S. itself is treading dangerous ground with this war in Iraq, because we don’t seem to have learned anything from Vietnam. Hence, the deja vu feel. Both films are based on actual events, so I guess if you think De Palma is “treading ground,” what does that say about this current administration?