Rating: 
Summary: WORTH A MILLION 'BASIC INSTINCT' s
Review: Brian De Palma -- the guy who gets all the Hitchcock-theft
accusations, but stayed well back from the scene-by-scene 'Psycho' remake -- has re-invented the modern erotic
thriller, and this reviewer cannot help but insist you see
... really SEE ... this instant classic.
Rating: 
Summary: They Call Him "Master of the Erotic Thriller"
Review: Pauline Kael loved De Palma, often giving him way more credit than he deserved. If she were alive today (and still reviewing movies), she (like many of the reviewers below) might find something positive to say about this film. Unfortunately I cannot. Femme Fatale is an absolutely ridiculous movie, treading over the same tired themes on which De Palma has built a career--- Hitchcockian rip-offs, outrageously implausible plot lines, cardboard characters, and the soft-porn sensibility of a dirty old man (although that's arguably the best part, and clearly the reason this film is receiving any modicum of attention). De Palma's style is garish as usual, and yet it still manages to feel cold and dull, like a film-school student who's run out of tricks and lost enthusiasm. Split screen? OK, cool-- but he nailed that with Carrie about 30 years ago. Overbearing stylistics don't make up for poor direction. Rebecca-Romijn-Stamos' performance is of typical T&A caliber, her acting ability even less impressive than that of her husband John-- which is quite a feat (it's no wonder they didn't give her any lines in the X-Men). I won't bore you with plot details, the film can do that well enough for itself. I will note however, that the big "twist" is so absolutely farfetched that I gasped in utter disbelief, almost choking on a pretzel. Sixth Sense indeed. The box cover bills De Palma as the "Master of the Erotic Thriller," and why he let them get away with this is a mystery to me -- though perhaps it's slightly better than simply "Director of Raising Cain" (remember that one?) So you say: but bad films are good, right? Sure-- but you can do much worse (better) than this. Try Never Talk to Strangers or Doppleganger for late night drinking flicks-- at least they lack the pretension, and don't depress you with evidence of a once interesting director gone sour.
Rating: 
Summary: One of De Palma's best! Four and a half stars!
Review: Femme Fatale is a fantastic return to form for director Brian De Palma. Forget what the critics say, this is a wonderful film. The story follows the titular character of the bad girls from the film noir genre. When we first meet her, she's watching "Double Indemnity" - a classic noir - in a hotel room, almost as though she's picking up pointers before she goes on a planned heist. But when she double crosses her accomplices and runs off with all the loot, she finds herself in trouble, fearful of her life. Or is she? This film continuously plays with the double-crossing that made the stock character of a femme fatale so popular. It will continuously keep you guessing as to the reality of the situation, but in a very fun, entertaining way. The problem many critics had with it is they felt the film was too over-the-top, with several clichés and many of the conventions of the genre, but that was the whole intent of De Palma's. He wanted to create a sort of exploitation film on the femme fatale character, and in doing so created a fun and highly stylistic film. There is very little dialogue in the film, which instead places a perfect score in its place to move the story along. The result is a film that seems to wash over you, and grabbing you to take you along for the journey. It is all at once a very artistic, exploitative, fun and gratifying experience. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos is perfectly cast as the femme fatale, it seems it was the role she was meant to play. She captures the deceit, looks, sexual energy and danger that the classic character has always oozed. And she does so, I dare say, better then just about any other actress playing the part. Femme Fatale gets a high recommendation from me. Not everyone will like it, many won't get what the film is trying to achieve, while for others they may just not appreciate it (to each his own), but if you go in with the right frame of mind, you're in for a fantastic treat.
Rating:
Summary: Hitchcock Lives... a 4.2 on scale of 1 to 5
Review: I first saw this movie in the theater last fall. I enjoyed it. I am a Hitchock junkie. De Palma resurrects so much of what I loved about Hitch: the cool blonde, beautiful clothes, funky plot twists, great settings.
Femme Fatale starts on the French Riviera-shades of To Catch a Thief-at the film festival in Cannes. You're drawn in immediately to the intrigue as our heroine (or anti-heroine) Laure sets up a tryst with a beautiful female model to steal jewels. From there, the movie moves on to Paris and carries the viewer forward in time with our pretty jewel thief. There is a sharp plot twist halfway-if you like it, you'll love the movie. If not, you'll hate it.
Like most Hitchcock movies, the acting performances are secondary to the plot, the story and the setting. Still Rebecca R-S and Antonio Banderas play parts that suit their styles. And they both look great.
I was disappointed in the special features on the DVD. There is no commentary throughout the film-and this film, of all films, demands a voice over.
Rating:
Summary: and I almost missed it ...
Review: I really liked this movie. When I first heard about it I was not interested at all - I was not impressed with none of the leading actors nor much with the director before. And the dvd cover is more appropriate for a B-movie. But I just got the latest issue of Sound&Vision and they think of it as a reference dvd. So, I bought it yesterday. And I was really impressed. I did not expect anything like that. It was the most memorable movie I watched for a very long time. Almost every next scene made me to re-think my prior impressions. The visuals are amazing. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Banderos CAN act. And I almost missed it ...
Rating:
Summary: Slick, Sexy, Style....It's more than most thrillers give us!
Review: I caught this in the theater and am glad to see all the positive reviews from people who have discovered this gem on dvd. Femme Fatale is an excellent twist a minute thriller. I love the opening heist scene at the Cannes Film Festival. It's great the way De Palma builds suspense by using the playful music theme, and builds on it, instead of using typical "shock" thriller music. It is fine movie making. However, while it is stylish and sexy throughout the first part, it is truly the ending that makes the movie. Some may say it counts too much on the conclusion, but I found the solution to be perfectly sly. I couldn't help but grin at the cleverness of the last 10 minutes. Both leads are good in their parts, but Rebecca Romjin-Stamos soars in this role. She is THE woman for THE part. Brian De Palma directs Femme Fatale masterfully with the wisdom he has gained over the years. It's a wild ride. Well Done! PS.
Rating:
Summary: the best film of 2002?
Review: Brian De Palma's later films continue to be massively underrated by critics and moviegoers alike. And this is the best of his recent work. It's a veritable treatise on the plot twist. And it harkens back to the day of expressive camerawork and directors with a vision. Some people say De Palma's films are about misogynist sex and cheap Hitchcock rip-offs. I'd say they're about space, time and consciousness.
Rating:
Summary: Antonio, definitely not Desperado!
Review: Really, just because 2 women get it on in a bathroom stall doesn't make this a great, ground-breaking film. So what? Antonio, I love watching your more gritty or your more humorous films. This story line really doesn't compliment your diverse acting abilities and it only tends to pigeon-hole you to specific roles. Bad move. Didn't like the female star in this. All fluff and no substance. Isabow
Rating:
Summary: Well Worth the Price of Admission
Review: It was interesting and fun. In particular, it was a kick to see a strong female lead character whose eyes are wide open.
Rating:
Summary: underated, interesting movie
Review: this is a well directed, very visually pleasing movie, rebecca romijn-stamos is hot and does a very good performance.
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