July 15, 2004

I was not myself last night

It seems to be DVD week. I just saw Phantom of the Paradise again after many years. It is still amazing. Released in 1974, it's early Brian De Palma and early rock opera. It's almost as twisted as Rocky Horror Picture Show, which came out around the same time, but less sexual and more intellectual.

Picture a massive cross between Phantom of the Opera, Faust, The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Sha Na Na, the Beach Boys, Alice Cooper, and David Bowie. It was the film debut for Jessica Harper, and yet another creepy part for Paul Williams. The direction is great, the editing (particularly the lip-synching) are mediocre, and the story is wonderful if you like strange. Well worth a look if you've never heard of it. Posted by lookit at July 15, 2004 10:21 PM