Review of Opera (1987) by Zak G — 20 Apr 2010

[i]NORTH BY NORTHWEST [/i]a classic? Please, bitch. It's good, but it ain't classic. In fact, I'm about to break down the films of Hitchcock into 3 categories.

[u][b]THE ABSOLUTE CLASSICS[/b](you know, the best ones)[/u].

[i]REAR WINDOW[/i].

[i]VERTIGO[/i].

[i]STRANGERS ON A TRAIN[/i].

[i]PSYCHO[/i].

[i]NOTORIOUS[/i].

[i]SPELLBOUND[/i].

[i]SUSPICION[/i].

[i]ROPE[/i].

[b][u]OVERRATED, BUT STILL VERY GOOD[/u][/b].

[i]NORTH BY NORTHWEST[/i].

[i]REBECCA[/i].

[i]THE 39 STEPS[/i].

[i]DIAL M FOR MURDER[/i].

[i]THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH[/i].

[i]SHADOW OF A DOUBT[/i].

[i]SABOTAGE[/i].

[b][u]UNDERRATED CLASSICS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT[/u][/b].

[i]I CONFESS[/i].

[i]THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY[/i].

[i]THE WRONG MAN[/i].

[i]THE LADY VANISHES[/i].

[i]FRENZY[/i].

[i]THE BIRDS[/i].

[i]MURDER![/i].

Of the Hitch films I have seen, that's how I would rate them. On with other, more pressing matters.

Dario Argento is one of the greatest "unknown" directors I have ever come across. I say unknown because your average so-called "film buffs" haven't seen one of his films. Arguably the greatest horror director to grace the screen, I am extremely saddened to see that almost no one knows his work. My fucking film studies teacher doesn't even know who he is.

[i]OPERA [/i]is probably my favorite Argento film, or at least one of my top 3 favorites, along with [i]TENEBRE [/i]and [i]SUSPIRIA[/i]. It showcases, to the greatest effect, his obsession with seeing and sight as a terror mechanism. Take one of the opening shots, for example. It's a long, fluid take as we are following the diva outside into the street. It's represented from her point-of-view, although we are seeing how everyone else sees her, as the selfish bitch that she is. If the careful spectator were to pay attention, they would realize that any De Palma film shares a number of traits with a lot of Argento films. Both are relentless fetishists, choosing to kill and destroy beautiful women over ugly ones. Both are also fascinated with seeing and sight. It's easy for the average viewer to toss off a lame Hitchcock joke in regards to De Palma, but a truly careful and loyal viewer will realize the greatness that comes from the works of both men.

Going to a haunted house tonight. It's gonna be one hell of a kick-ass frightfest, or at least I hope it will be. It's gonna be me, thedarby, MommaDarby, and littlesisterDarby. Gonna be the shiiiiite.

Go Sox, bitches.