Brian De Palma’s Blunt Take on Directors’ Lack of Depth
Brian De Palma, famed for his bold filmmaking, once called out fellow directors for their lack of depth in discussing philosophy, life, and politics, despite his own career being shaped by cinematic legends like Hitchcock.
In the world of filmmaking, every new generation borrows from the last, building on the vision and techniques of those who came before. For Brian De Palma, Alfred Hitchcock was the guiding light, but De Palma himself has become a touchstone for countless directors since. As a key figure in the New Hollywood era, his films pushed boundaries with their raw energy, explicit content, and willingness to shock, all while tipping his hat to the legends he admired. His 1983 reimagining of Howard Hawks’ classic Scarface is just one example of how he honored the past while forging his own path.
De Palma’s circle included other giants like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Sidney Lumet. These filmmakers often drew inspiration from each other’s work. A prime example is De Palma’s 1981 thriller Blow Out, starring John Travolta, which took cues from Coppola’s 1974 masterpiece The Conversation. Coppola, in turn, had been inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up, a 1966 film about a photographer who accidentally captures a murder. Blow Out stands out for its immersive sound design, best experienced with headphones to follow Travolta’s character as he records the assassination of a political candidate. De Palma’s use of audio tricks and striking visuals created a stylish blend of slasher and conspiracy thriller, featuring early performances from John Lithgow and Nancy Allen.
De Palma’s Critical Eye on His Peers
Throughout his career, De Palma made no secret of his influences, from Hitchcock to Orson Welles, Jean-Luc Godard, and Antonioni. He was a self-described obsessive, deeply immersed in both theater and film. Yet, he often felt that many of his peers lacked the same depth of knowledge or curiosity. In his own words,
“It ’s a terrible thing to say, but the problem with most film directors is that the process of becoming a film director does not necessarily make you particularly sophisticated. I’m not saying I know more than anybody else, but you’re not dealing with a lot of heavyweights in this business. They are not well-read, everything is a property, and they really don’t have many outside interests. So, when they give their statement about philosophy, life, politics, or whatever, it’s kind of, I guess, shallow and dumb for the most part.”
His blunt assessment, published in the early 1980s, ruffled feathers in an industry where he was already known for pushing the envelope with violence and sexuality.
Legacy of a Provocative Visionary
Despite the controversy, De Palma proved his artistic range with films like Carrie, the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Even amid the blood and chaos, he crafted unforgettable images that have stood the test of time. Over two decades, he delivered landmark movies such as The Untouchables, starring Robert De Niro, and genre standouts like Casualties of War and Carlito’s Way with Al Pacino. While his output slowed after 2000, with only a handful of films in the following years, De Palma is reportedly working on a new project titled Sweet Vengeance, hinting that his provocative voice is far from finished.