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Since when is Noah Baumbach is a De Palma fan/scholar?


My biggest question regarding Noah Baumbach so far is where did this sudden "I am a huge Brian De Palma fan boy and he's a big influence on me" thing come from? Their movies and styles are NOTHING alike. Baumbach's movies are abstract and cerebral hipster drones, while Brian De Palma is known for his overly-stylized self aware thrillers with a dash of campy black homor. Now out of nowhere Noah Baumbach becomes a self-proclaimed definitive De Palma "scholar" and regurgitates a documentary about him? Did I miss something?

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I'm sure Noah Baumbach could go through his work and point out the scenes in his films that were influenced by something DePalma did. It's just not obvious to us. I also think filmmakers don't have to make films similar to their favorite director to be influenced by them. After all Noah is Noah and Brian is Brian. As two different people they're not going to make similar films even if they tried. Plus, I know Tarantino, who is in the same age group as Noah, was heavily influenced by DePalma. So I think DePalma came along in their lives when they were starting to think about making films, and those first influences tend to leave an impression even if you don't pick up their style completely. Being an auteur like Baumbach and Tarantino means finding your own style, and I'm sure Baumbach and Tarrantino initially went into filmmaking wanting to make films like DePalma but their lives intervened and shaped them and their style.

I hope this documentary gets released soon. I'd love to see it.

My latest short film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8674fFiF8ps

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There is nothing sudden about it, they go way back. Baumbach, Paltrow, Wes Anderson and De Palma are freinds who hang out together on a regular basis.
He is one of his closest buddies and probably the best person to do this doc. He did extensive interviews with De Palma for Dressed to kill and Blow Out Criterion editions. Just because Baumbach directs different type of films doesn't mean he can't be a fan.

Who'd want to be men of the people when there's people like you?-A.M.

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^This

Filmmaking is a unique experience and perspectives are usually far different from one another. When asked who the next Martin Scorsese is, Marty said Wes Anderson. They are NOTHING alike but that's because they grew up in different eras, in different areas of the Country, had different influences etc. The respect is still there. Even the New Wave of American Cinema is a good example of this. They may have had similar tastes and approaches to Cinema early on, mostly because of budgets and such, but they all went their own ways. Spielberg, Scorsese, DePalma, Lucas, FFC, Milius... I mean, they certainly all became successful in one way or another but each and every one of them had a unique road. Even when tackling similar subject matter(Goodfellas, The Godfather, Scarface), all of those are incredibly different takes on American Crime and/or the Mob. In fact, I believe DePalma said it was the difference in style that attracted him to make this Documentary. Well that and telling his OWN story.

Just as an added gem...

One of Kubricks favorite films, that's been admitted by not only the man himself but close friends and associates is 'White Men Can't Jump'! Something he'd never make BUT I see what would draw him to the film.

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I feel sory for anyone saying Baumbach's movies are "abstract and cerebral hipster drones". Frances Ha alone is one amazing movie. But i guess you must be the older generation that can't relate to topics about younger people. Sad.

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Erm, yes, Baumbach is a big De Palma fan. So what if Baumbach's own films are very different in style and content from De Palma's? Baumbach's knowledge and respect for De Palma are quite clear if you check out the sit-downs he did with De Palma that you can watch on the special features of both Dressed to Kill and Blow Out (the Criterion Collection releases for each). Sounds like you should give those a look.





Fighting the frizzies, at 11.

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