"IN A WEIRD WAY THE FRAGMENTED QUALITY ONLY MAKES IT MORE INTRIGUING"
Jeremy Smith ("Mr. Beaks") refuses to assign a star rating to Domino on Letterboxd because, he insists, "it’s not a finished movie." Another Letterboxd user, pynechone, says Domino is "Clearly botched but still manages to be one of the most formally creative and impressive action/thrillers of the past few years." Some, like pynechone, as well as film critics such as Calum Marsh, are assigning four stars or more to Brian De Palma's new film, which has yet to be officially released (that happens May 31st). Here are some links, mostly from Letterboxd, and one from Twitter:
DOMINO: A refraction of the thematic concerns of REDACTED filtered through the antiseptic, high-def DV sheen of PASSION. An exploration of modern warfare as a clash between panoptic/synoptic surveillance, based on a dichotomy between digital image monitoring devices as tools of oppression and tools of emancipation. Toxic notions of American exceptionalism pitted against idealistic ambitions towards multicultural cooperation.
Ben Nash
****1/2 starsThis will show the world the destruction of the infidels."
"This will show the world your sacrifice.""We're Americans. We read your emails."
Some of the most impressive shit Brian De Palma has ever shot. A continuation of the ideas and themes seeded in Redacted by way of Passion's aesthetic adventures. Definitely not the film it was originally supposed to be, but in a weird way the fragmented quality only makes it more intriguing. I pity the poor bastards who tried to market this as a straight action thriller.
James Healey
****1/2 starsCLEARLY compromised yet despite this still manages to be one of De Palma's best. Almost feel's like if an amazing director tried to make a thriller in the style of The Room, but as crazy as that sounds it fucking works. This film is pure camp combined with De Palma's masterful filmmaking. If we ever get his cut, it could truly be a perfect film.
PS: Features the greatest use of split screen in cinema.
NewSock
Truly preposterous, bizarre movie. Plays as a satire/parody of political thrillers like Homeland almost because (in spite of?) the clear studio-mandated editing. Although the film was obviously compromised, the wacky plot developments reveal De Palma wildly indulging in his vintage trademarks: insane split screen POV massacre via laptop screen, a third act showdown almost told entirely in slow-motion, smoldering split diopter closeups, roaming overhead crane shots.
Jeremy Smith
No star rating for this one because it’s not a finished movie. It’s agonizing to watch at times. There’s a fun rooftop chase that was pretty clearly temp tracked to the “Kidnapped” cue from NORTH BY NORTHWEST (which is amusing because the sequence is a riff on VERTIGO), but it plays like a walk-through. The bullfight finale is brilliantly conceived, but it feels like the money shots are missing. De Palma was forced to rush through principal photography due to shady behavior from his financiers, and isn’t doing press. I’m surprised he kept his name it. But if you’re a fan, it’s an interesting companion piece to REDACTED, as well as a politically radical inversion of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. What could’ve been...
pynechone
**** starsWhew. Clearly botched but still manages to be one of the most formally creative and impressive action/thrillers of the past few years. The final neon-drenched set-piece (mostly in slow motion) is truly something to behold.
Brendan Michaels
****1/2 stars90s De Palma with the political intrigue of Redacted. I’m glad this finally came out, this film is fantastic.
Calum Marsh
**** starsholy mackerel
Updated: Friday, April 19, 2019 11:39 PM CDT
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