Phantom of the Paradise

Brian De Palma left the waters of Hitchcock variations to try to make a musical. True, this film version has little in common with Gaston Leroux's classic book "The Phantom of the Opera," but it's all the more typically De Palma-esque, with its plethora of bizarre directorial ideas, overacting actors, and awful 1970s pop. Yet it ultimately makes for an utterly unique viewing experience, which the director drives mainly from the haunting musical numbers, a few successful murders, and one aptly black-humored reference to the famous shower murder from Psycho that knocked me off my feet. Bravo, Brian. I wonder how high you must have gotten during this sweet period! (01/15/2007)

While I consider Rocky Horror Picture Show to be a decadent, crazy, and undoubtedly controversial film that nonetheless has atmosphere, energy, an interesting cast, and a few catchy melodies, I didn't find anything similar here. Of course, a fan of 70s music can find the "spirit of the time" and songs that meant something in their time, but it doesn't make an impression on me, and neither does the famous and respected director. I rather consider Phantom of the Paradise to be, in plain words, nonsense and a mess. Overall impression: 5% for the costumes. (12/04/2011)

Brian De Palma's funniest film to date (and quite possibly it will remain so). Watching this bizarre and wacky musical, a combination of The Phantom of the Opera, Faust, 1970s glam rock and suspenseful Hitchcockian murder mysteries, where few rules apply, one thinks: Wow, that De Palma guy must have been really high when he was thinking and filming that. I'm rounding up three and a half stars. (12/04/2011)

I'm not saying I watched the movie with my mouth open and my chin on my chest, but I was surprised that such a relatively bizarre work doesn't have a more cult status among films, because it definitely deserves it. Brian De Palma once again showed his sense for directing and for individual scenes, and he manages to captivate the audience with meticulously crafted details, but especially with absolutely great musical pieces. Yes, they are not visually exaggerated, but this time the music speaks for itself. It's just a shame that there is really not much horror in it. (01/27/2014)