Strong and Moving!

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

O yes ...was just telling how extremely BAD a director De Palma is ... i mean i have seen at least a couple of notable movie he made ... Carrie ... (the only work of Stephen King made to film i have really liked so far btw ...) or Scarface ...i do admit i haven't seen all of his works really although have seen enough not to be very curious in seeing the rest ... so pardon my harshness if i'm going a little bit too fast ...but this one's a really weak movie imo! only a few slightly noteworthy moments that don't last long enough to make you feel good really while some well known actors offer very bad acting ... and that tells me only one thing: the director didn't make it!the story is cheesy as well ... too obvious i'd say ... and considering at the time of making this failure of a movie the director's been into making movies for two decades already yet failing at it would make me feel a little bit surprised in fact, especially when he's already made a good one not so long before this and another very good one only three years later ...i guess De Palma's kind of overly obsessed with sex and violence himself or he wouldn't be making movies like this that actually fail in delivering both items in a decent manner! he did so even more badly in another one of his movies but can't remember its name now ... it was more like a porn movie actually but dressed over with an apparently serious story ... another bad work of his imo ...please don't get me wrong though! most of his movies i have seen so far are VERY WELL MADE indeed from the viewpoint of 'art direction' so to say ... but even in the best of them there are often some really bad 'silly mistakes' here and there that makes one think what's going on really ...

— Sexual pickups always end badly— Transsexuals are mentally disturbed people— Black men on subway platforms are dangerous— Nerdy guys can build anything— If you really put your mind to it, you can wear anything and it will fit just fine, even a nurse's uniform clearly four or five sizes too small.This really has to be one of the worst films I've ever seen, with the one star given it for the cinematography. Everything else — acting, writing, direction, even the freaking music — is so bad that it becomes almost unwatchable halfway through. Never mind that the film starts and ends with naked women taking showers (and no, author of synopsis, Angie isn't taking a shower while her husband is shaving: that entire sequence is a fantasy she needs to get off while her husband is screwing her in the next sequence) with plenty of way over the top shots of naked breasts and vaginae. Never mind that the film's twist that the doctor is actually the killer is glaringly apparent looooong before anyone in the movie figures it out. Never mind tat the music score makes it sound like something from the Hallmark Channel. This thing is just a sad, sad, sad piece of work: misogynist, transphobic, far too sadistic in its use of close-up violence to inform the audience that sex is bad, no matter how it's being carried out.Appalling.

Dressed to Kill is written and directed by Brian de Palma. This film is essentially a hybrid between an American erotic thriller and a Italian Giallo. It features all the hallmarks of both genres of that time, a crazed slasher, sultry female leads, and buckets of blood, the only thing missing from this films is a synth score by Goblin or Tangerine Dream. This film has a far better structure then most Giallos. Even if this comes at the cost of not being surprised by who the killer is.Brian de Palma brings an extra level of finesse to this film. It's a more mature take on the Giallo genre, without it ever skimping out on De Palma's usual motifs. The shot compositions and his excellent camera movements are as good as any in his filmography.The film stars Nancy Allen as Liz Blake a high-class call girl, that witnesses a murder, and soon finds herself in the killers cross-hairs. Allen gives an alluring performance as the seductive Liz Blake. Even though her acting chops begin to stifle in any scene that requires any range or emotional weight. Though at times she's given some truly horrendous lines, that even George Lucas would cringe at.The film also stars Michael Caine as therapist Dr. Robert Elliott. After the murders begin he starts to receive messages on his answering machine, from one of his former patients, giving accurate accounts of the murder whilst claiming to be the killer. He begins to fall deeper into trouble, as he tries to reach out and help his former patient. He goes off on his his own Investigation, without the help of Police Detective. Marino who's played with typical gusto by Dennis Franz. The cast is rounded out with good performances from Angie Dickinson as Kate Miller a patient of Elliott's and Keith Gordon who plays her son.Dressed to Kill does have some issues, the dialogue at times can be rough on the ear, and the overall mystery is fairly simplistic, which leads to a slight lack of tension. Despite this, Dressed to Kill is an Incredibly fun and engaging film. It's masterfully shot, and is one of the best hybrid Giallos Iv'e seen.

**** May contain strong spoilers ****This is a review made by StoneDraim... and that means that if you want to read a probably different kind of review, keep reading....This is my personal experience, my personal point of view/perspective and my personal opinion... and my opinion is just one of like 7 billions in this world.Typical Brian De Palma movie magic, this movie begins like a blend of a romantic adult scene and a deeply psychological thriller with a little touch of "Psycho". Were I surprised and a little chocked over all the details that were shown during the woman's shower? Yes, I was.About 16 minutes into this one, there is an epic scene where the lady is at an art gallery. Her emotions and impressions is very effectively enhanced by the wonderful orchestra doing the music in a almost Italian sense of way. Her desperation is matched perfectly by the strings. Just the fact to give about 5 minutes of a movie describing a sexual frustrated woman's own inner war in chasing a man, then turning the back to the man, losing her glove to the man and chasing him in a subtle way is fantastic! These five minutes following the opening scene is showing what is going on inside of her. A successful lady bored of life and starting to walk the edge of experimental minds a little too much... to the edge of madness.Brian De Palmas usual technique of camera angles and zoomings blended together with close shots is all over the place and gives "Dressed to kill" that special Mr. De Palma touch.Amazing work on the script. Almost 35 minutes of the entire movie is spent to the woman and her life in more than one way. Then she is killed and the main character is suddenly all gone... the story turns around and continues with other characters following that. Piece of art! The killing is very intense and blood is floating everywhere. The razor is drawn along the woman's throat and in details I can witness the brutality. From a observation in psychology into this immediately and effective turn. Well done, Mr. De Palma!1 hour and 35 minutes... I am in awe! Like a psychological version of an insane asylum with the touch of....yes... Dracula.... with an escaping patient rounding it off in "Psycho" way!Over to the movie as a product: - The production : Brian De Palma. All through a great production from 1980. Pino Dinaggio's score lifts it up a great deal. - The actors : Michael Caine is.... Michael Caine; hooray! He delivers every time. Nancy Allen.... I saw Robocop and went crazy on her good skills. Now... well....... From 1980 to 1987 of Robocop, she made the major leap, let me tell you that. Besides that, good acting on the behalf of the other actors. Dennis Franz is making a hilarious portray of a little over the edge experienced civil "cop". - The story : Major twists makes this a solid top notch story. From a little intense drama to a combination of thriller, crime and detective mystery thing. - Entertainment : Hard to really appreciate it to the fullest 36 years later. Even so... more than good. - Age : 15. A good old slashing makes the age pop up more than 5 years.7,0 out of 10. (The final rate is based most on my own entertainment of the movie. Short elucidation of the rating: 7 Well made movie. Proper entertainment.)