Femme Fatale (2002)

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer (WGA):

Brian De Palma (written by)

Release Date:

6 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing is more desirable or more deadly than a woman with a secret

Plot:

A woman tries to straighten out her life, even as her past as a con-woman comes back to haunt her.

Plot Keywords:

Identity | Photographer | Ambassador | Suicide | Cannes

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Rebecca Romijn	...	Laure / Lily (as Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
Antonio Banderas	...	Nicolas Bardo
Peter Coyote	...	Watts
Eriq Ebouaney	...	Black Tie
Edouard Montoute	...	Racine
Rie Rasmussen	...	Veronica
Thierry Frémont	...	Serra (as Thierry Fremont)
Gregg Henry	...	Shiff
Fiona Curzon	...	Stanfield Phillips
Daniel Milgram	...	Pierre / Bartender
Jean-Marc Minéo	...	Seated Guard (as Jean-Marc Mineo)
Jean Chatel	...	Cannes Commentator
Stéphane Petit	...	Bodyguard One (as Stephane Petit)
Olivier Follet	...	Bodyguard Two
Eva Darlan	...	Irma
Jean-Marie Frin	...	Louis
Philippe Guégan	...	Bespectacled Man (as Philippe Guegan)
Denis Hecker	...	TV Moderator
Laurence Breheret	...	Flight Attendant
Salvatore Ingoglia	...	Truck Driver
Matthew Géczy	...	Embassy Guard
Laurence Martin	...	Nathalie
Jo Prestia	...	Napoleon
David Belle	...	French Cop
Françoise Michaud	...	Woman with Blind Man
Alain Figlarz	...	Sex Shop Man
Bart DePalma	...	Power Room Guard (as Bart De Palma)
Valérie Maës	...	The Blonde in Restroom, at Bridge and in Cafe (as Valerie Maes)
David Cuny	...	Groom Hotel Sheraton
Eric Fesais	...	Policeman
Bertrand Merignac	...	Photographer
Dan Herzberg	...	Surveillance Room Guard
Samuel Olivier	...	Surveillance Room Guard (as Sam Olivier)
Pascal Ondicolberry	...	Surveillance Room Guard
Gérard Renault	...	Surveillance Room Guard (as Gerard Renault)
Joaquina Belaunde	...	Woman in Panic (as Jaoquina Belaunde)
Ugne Andrikonyte	...	Festival Guest
Faco Hanela	...	Poster Man
Marie Foulquie	...	Tourist
Régis Quennesson	...	Tourist (as Regis Quennesson)
Matilde Tancredi	...	Medium on TV Show
Pascale Jacquemont	...	Medium on TV Show (as Pascale Jacquemot)
Serge Gonnin	...	Thierry
Aurélie Pauker	...	Brigitte - Lily's Daughter (as Aurelie Pauker)
Isabelle Auroy	...	Grandmother
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Régis Wargnier	...	Special Guest at Cannes Film Festival (as Regis Wargnier)
Beata Ben Ammar	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival (as Beata Sonczuk-Ben Ammar)
Yves Marmion	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Ada Marmion	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Leonardo De La Fuente	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Stephen Van Nukerk	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Driki Van Zyl	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Pascal Silvestre	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Henri Ernst	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Olivier Albou	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Stephen Van Nietert	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Emilie Châtel	...	Special Guest at Cannes Film Festival (as Emilie Chatel)
Dorothée Grosjean	...	Special Guest at Cannes Film Festival (as Dorothee Grosjean)
Chloé Crémont	...	Special Guest at Cannes Film Festival (as Chloe Cremont)
Justine Renard	...	Special Guest Cannes Film Festival
Gilles Jacob	...	Cannes Film Festival Participant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fanny Crawford	...	(uncredited)
Jean-Yves Freyburger	...	Bit part (uncredited)
Paul Périer	...	Released prisoner (uncredited)
John Stamos	...	Cheesy Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian De Palma

Writing credits (WGA)
Brian De Palma		(written by)

Produced by
Tarak Ben Ammar	....	producer
Marina Gefter	....	producer
Mark Lombardo	....	executive producer
Chris Soldo	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Ryûichi Sakamoto

Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bill Pankow

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Anne Pritchard

Art Direction by
Denis Renault

Set Decoration by
Françoise Benoît-Fresco		(as Françoise Benoit-Fresco)

Costume Design by
Olivier Bériot		(as Olivier Beriot)

Makeup Department
Davy Newkirk	....	hair stylist
Kay Philips	....	hair stylist (as Kay Phillips)
Patricia Planche	....	makeup artist
Jean-Luc Russier	....	key makeup artist
Nena Smarz	....	makeup artist: Antonio Banderas (as Magdalena Smarz)
Mauro Tamagnini	....	key hair stylist
Olivier Seyfrid	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tao Guiga	....	post-production supervisor
Yorick Kalbache	....	unit manager
Ginette Mejinsky	....	production supervisor
Keri Weisblum	....	post-production supervisor: New York (as Keri Weissblum)
Feriel Benouarka	....	production manager (uncredited)
Yorick Kalbache	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerome Borenstein	....	first assistant director
Dominique Delany	....	first assistant director
Gilles Kenny	....	second assistant director
Ariane Lacan	....	third assistant director
Franck Vestiel	....	second second assistant director (as Franck Westiel)
Romuald Weber	....	second second assistant director
Emilie Cherpitel	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Vanessa Djian	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)
Delphine Lhomme	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Adam Marchand	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Denis Adelet	....	set striking
Olivier Andre	....	set striking
Marie José Arnautin	....	head painter (as Marie-Josee Arnautin)
Brice Blasquez	....	construction buyer
François Blatrix	....	carpenter
Olivia Bloch-Lainé	....	set dressing buyer (as Olivia Bloch-Laine)
Philippe Boucheron	....	carpenter
Marie Chapuis	....	painter
Bernard Courteix	....	construction buyer
Millie Dardenne	....	painter trainee
Bart DePalma	....	special art projects (as Bart De Palma)
Marc Fivel	....	carpenter
Jean-Philippe Geoffriau	....	first assistant art director
Julien Grisot	....	leadman
Peter Hammond	....	painter
Laure Hug	....	set dressing assistant
Bernard Husquin	....	construction coordinator
Jacques Husquin	....	carpenter
Emmanuelle Lebail	....	draper
Guy Lionel	....	painter (as Lionel Guy)
Françoise Malaplate	....	assistant painter
Flavia Marcon	....	art department runner
Fabrice Maux	....	painter
Elli Medeiros	....	jeweled serpent designer: Chopard
Jacques Mizrahi	....	carpenter
Henri Moisan	....	propman
Yvon Moreno	....	property master
Philippe Naert	....	carpenter
Patrice Notaise	....	welder
Nathalie Oger	....	second assistant art director
Vincent Panossian	....	construction buyer
François Pernod	....	head carpenter
Catherine Pierrat	....	set dressing buyer
Hervé Poeydemenge	....	draper (as Herve Peydomenge)
Madeleine Poli	....	second assistant art director
Olivier Puyrenier	....	construction assistant
Fabrizio Scapin	....	construction trainee
Nathalie Serrière	....	art department coordinator (as Nathalie Serriere)
Gérard Simonet	....	head carpenter (as Gerard Simonet)
Michel Toubkis	....	carpenter
Bertrand Vuarnesson	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Katia Boutin	....	dialogue editor
Harriet Fidlow	....	adr editor: New York (as Harriet Fildow)
François Groult	....	sound mixer
Grégory Lacroix	....	cable person
Anne Le Campion	....	sound mixer
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley editor
Bernard Leroux	....	foley recordist
Marion Lorthioir	....	head ADR editor
Marilyn McCoppen	....	adr editor: San Francisco (as Marilyn Mccoppen)
Mario Melchiorri	....	foley assistant
Jean-Paul Mugel	....	sound engineer
Laurent Quaglio	....	sound editor
Laurent Quaglio	....	supervising sound editor
Pierre Tucat	....	boom operator
Thomas Whiting	....	adr editor: Los Angeles

Special Effects by
Rémi Chouroulinkov	....	mechanical effects assistant (as Remi Chouroulinkov)
Philippe Hubin	....	special effects coordinator
Jean-Christophe Magnaud	....	special effects assistant
Pascal Molina	....	mechanical effects designer

Visual Effects by
Mark Allen	....	digital artist: Quinta logo designer
Luc Augereau	....	visual effects producer: L'Est
Kevin Berger	....	digital artist: L'Est
Nabila Daniault	....	digital grader: Mikros Image
Sophie Denize	....	production coordinator: Mikros Image (as Sophie Denize.B)
Richard Deusy	....	digital grader: Scan Lab
Claire Didier	....	coordinator: Scan Lab
Christel Doebele	....	digital artist: L'Est
Cédric Fayolle	....	digital artist: Mikros Image (as Cedric Fayolle)
Arnaud Fouquet	....	digital artist: L'Est
David François	....	digital artist: L'Est
Eric Fréchou	....	digital artist: L'Est (as Eric Frechou)
Mathilde Germi	....	production coordinator: L'Est
Brice Halary	....	scanning: Scan Lab
Pascal Laurent	....	visual effects supervisor: Mikros Image
Jean Baptiste Le Guen	....	shoot supervisor: Scan Lab
Basile Maffone	....	I/O technician: L'Est
Eric Martin	....	visual effects supervisor: Scan Lab
Stephane Martini	....	visual effects supervisor: Scan Lab
Kilou Picard	....	assistant production coordinator: Mikros Image
Jean-Christophe Sanchez	....	I/O technician: L'Est
Agnès Sébenne	....	visual effects supervisor (as Agnes Sebenne)
Christine Szymkowiak	....	digital artist: Mikros Image
Jean-Francois Theault	....	digital artist: L'Est

Stunts
Jean-Charles Andrieux	....	stunts (as Jean-Charles Andrieu)
Virginie Arnaud	....	stunt double: Laure and Veronica
Francis Auguy	....	stunts
Sedina Balde	....	stunts (as Seydina Balde)
Francis Bataille	....	stunts
Affif Ben Badra	....	stunts (as Afif Ben Badra)
Michel Bouis	....	stunts
William Cagnard	....	stunts
Gilles Conseil	....	stunts
Yannick Derrien	....	stunt coordinator
Alain Gaudiard	....	stunts
Pascal Guégan	....	stunts (as Pascal Guegan)
Philippe Guégan	....	key stunt coordinator (as Philippe Guegan)
Enrico Horn	....	stunts
Mouloud Ikhaddelene	....	stunts (as M. Ikhaddelene Bouloud)
David Julienne	....	stunts
Michel Julienne	....	stunts
Patrick Médioni	....	stunts (as Patrick Medioni)
Florent Mismetti	....	stunts
Alison Parsons	....	stunts
Francis Roblin	....	stunts
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Yves Agostini	....	additional camera operator
Thierry Alais	....	grip
Sophie Bosquet	....	assistant camera
Tahar Boualam	....	generator operator
David Campbell	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Mathieu Caudroy	....	Steadicam operator
Emmanuel de Fleury	....	assistant camera
Alain Dondin	....	best boy electric
Denis Garnier	....	assistant camera
Etienne George	....	still photographer
Jean-Pierre Gesbert	....	grip
Graham Hall	....	focus puller
Claude Hirsch	....	key gaffer
Larry Huston	....	Steadicam focus puller: Cannes
Patrick Lavaud	....	director of photography: Mystic System, Infra-Red
Gilbert Lecluyse	....	camera operator (as Berto)
Melanie Maillet	....	assistant director of photography: Mystic System - Infra-Red
Laurent Malek	....	electrician
Laurent Martin	....	grip
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator: Cannes (as Larry Mcconkey)
Nils Moreau	....	grip
Benoît Pain	....	video assist operator (as Benoit Pain)
Luis Peralta	....	electrician
Xavier Renaudot	....	electrician
Jean-Pierre Supe	....	focus puller
Benoît Theunissen	....	dolly grip (as Benoit Theunissen)
Benoît Theunissen	....	key grip (as Benoit Theunissen)
Stéphane Thiry	....	best boy grip (as Stephane Thiry)
Vincent Muller	....	assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Roger Simonsz	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Antoinette Boulat	....	casting: France
Christophe Canavaggio	....	crowd casting assistant
Andrea Fontana	....	crowd casting assistant
Muriel Habert	....	crowd casting assistant
Annette Trumel	....	crowd casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mélik Bénard	....	costumer (as Melik Benard)
Corinne Bruand	....	assistant costume designer
Mahemiti Deregnaucourt	....	costumer
Lorenzo Mancianti	....	costumer
Alice Mayeux	....	on-set costumer
Sophie Mollier	....	costumer
Tina Morel	....	on-set costumer
Emmanuelle Pertus	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Marie-Claire Duboc	....	negative cutter
Christian Dutac	....	color timer
Sabine Emiliani	....	second assistant editor
Jean-Daniel Fernandez-Qundez	....	first assistant editor (as Jean-Daniel Fernandez)
Julien Johan	....	second assistant editor
Colette Kassabian	....	negative cutter
Isabelle Le Faucheux	....	negative cutter
Frederique Veillard	....	first assistant editor (as Frederique Veillard-Gardiner)
Andrew Weisblum	....	assistant editor: New York (as Andy Weissblum)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Fernando Aponte	....	music mixer
Fernando Aponte	....	score recordist
Katia Boutin	....	music editor
Steven Danenberg	....	orchestra consultant (as Steve Danenberg)
Edouard Dubois	....	music editor: temp score
Edouard Dubois	....	music supervisor
Wally Dunbar	....	music preparation
Andy Gardiner	....	music producer: "Télégraphe Beats"
Andy Gardiner	....	composer: song "Télégraphe Beats"
Gil Goldstein	....	additional orchestrator
Elli Medeiros	....	composer: song "Altar"
Joseph Racaille	....	music arranger: "Altar"
Damien Saez	....	musician: "Sexe" (as Saez)
Ryûichi Sakamoto	....	musician: piano
Ryûichi Sakamoto	....	score mixer
Rosanne 'Mrs. Danenberg' Soifer	....	music librarian
Kevin Townend	....	orchestrator
John Moses	....	musician: clarinet (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Segolene Amice	....	production driver
François-Xavier Anseaume	....	production driver
Georges Barrier-Carron	....	transportation coordinator
Herve Charbonnier	....	production driver
Frantz Folliot	....	production driver
Pierre Alexander Marie	....	production driver
Stephane Mariot	....	production driver
Christian-Paul Peyron	....	picture car coordinator
Segolene Amice	....	driver: Mr. De Palma (uncredited)
Olivier Suffert	....	production driver: Rebecca Rominj Stamos (uncredited)

Other crew
Michèle Abitbol	....	unit publicist (as Michele Abitbol-Lasry)
Evan Balmer	....	executive: KAB America Inc.
Stéphane Barlow	....	assistant location manager (as Stephane Barlow)
Chantal Bégasse	....	production secretary (as Chantal Begasse)
Tarak Ben Ammar	....	presenter
Feriel Benouarka	....	laboratory coordinator
Tanya Blumstein	....	dialogue coach: English
Sonia Brahim	....	production assistant
Denis Brami	....	coordinator: Quinta
Juliette Caron	....	dialogue coach: French
Frederic Chene	....	accountant trainee
Emilie Cherpitel	....	set production assistant
Celia Cornil	....	legal assistant
Matthieu Courtay	....	production assistant
Ariane Culiersi	....	payroll accountant (as Ariana Culiersi)
Pascaline Degbo	....	accountant: Quinta
Michel Degrange	....	assistant location manager
Sara Delval	....	office production assistant
Vincent Dicop	....	assistant production accountant
Denis Evrard	....	stand-in
Kathy Farkas	....	stand-in
Florence Forney	....	additional production secretary
Jacques Foussat	....	production assistant
Mia Frye	....	choreographer: "Sailors' Bar"
Jeanne Geiben	....	financial director: Quinta
Frédéric Greene	....	production controller (as Frederic Greene)
Hafidha Khallouli	....	production assistant: Quinta
Valerie Kula	....	production assistant
Rodolphe Lanaro	....	location scout
Miguel Mata Langlois	....	production assistant
Dinah Lary	....	personal assistant: Mr. Banderas
Philippe Letode	....	location scout
Delphine Lhomme	....	set production assistant (as Delphine L'Homme)
Olivier Lhoste	....	location scout
Valérie Maës	....	stand-in (as Valerie Maes)
Nora Makaci	....	production assistant: Quinta
Marie McFerran	....	production coordinator (as Marie Mcferran)
Fabrice Merlaud	....	production assistant
Katharina Nicol	....	assistant to producer
Patrick Pesenti	....	location manager
Paul Rosenblum	....	production executive: Quinta USA
Alexis Royneau	....	production assistant
David Rubinson	....	executive: KAB America Inc.
Julien Sabourdin	....	production accountant
Brigitte Segal	....	business affairs: Quinta
Brigitte Segal	....	legal advisor: Quinta
Norika Sky-Sora	....	executive: KAB America Inc. (as Norika Sora)
Valentine Traclet	....	assistant script supervisor
Sophie Verliere	....	assistant: Mr. De Palma
Aruna Villiers	....	script supervisor
Christophe Bernard	....	location scout (uncredited)
Frederik Bois	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Epsilon Motion Pictures
• Quinta Communications

Distributors

• ARP Sélection (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2002-2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Solo Film Verleih (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Canvas (2007) (Belgium) (TV)
• Hollydan Works (2004) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• Talpa (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• L'Etude et la Supervision des Trucages (L'E.S.T.) (visual effects)
• Mikros Image (visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Limosines  picture limosines
• Auditorium S.I.S. La Garenne  sound mixed at (as Auditorium S.I.S.)
• Bogard  steadicam
• Cap Ciné  avid editing equipment
• Car Grip  technical vehicles (as Car Grip Films)
• Central Color  stills processing
• Centralcolor  stills laboratory (as Central Color)
• Chopard  jewelry and watches by
• Cinéstéréo  optical transfer (as Cinestereo)
• Clavicorde  sound editing
• DCA Audiovisual  sound transfer (as DC Audiovisual)
• Eclair Studios  sound stage
• Ercidan  title design
• Fendi  fur coats and accessories
• Festival International du Film  special thanks
• France Telefram  telecommunications equipment courtesy of
• Hopkins, Smith & Barden  casting: USA
• Howard Schwartz Recording  post-production facilities (as Howard Schwartz Recording - New York)
• Jean-Charles de Castelbajac  wardrobe: Rie Rasmussen
• KAB Studios  score recording
• KGS  grip equipment
• Kodak  film stock supplied by
• Laser Video Titres  titles (as LVT)
• Les Auditoriums de Joinville  sound mixed at (as Auditorium Joinville & Boulogne)
• Locafête  catering
• Lumitre Unique  35 mm conform
• Lumitre Unique  avid editing equipment
• Marques et Films  product placement
• Night & Day Protection  security
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Right Track Recording  score mixed and recorded at (as Right Track Recording Studio A)
• Scan Lab Saint Cloud  digital laboratory
• Scanlab Saint Cloud  digital post-production
• Sheridan Paris Airport Hotel  acknowledged assistance of
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facilities (as Sound One Corp. - New York)
• Studios d'Arpajon  sound stage (as Studios of Arpajon)
• TSF  production limousines
• Technovision  telescope crane (as Techno Vision)
• The City of Cannes  special thanks
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  post-production facilities (as Todd AO Studios - Los Angeles)
• Transpalux  electrical equipment
• Universal Studios Licensing  "Double Indemnity" clip courtesy of, ©1944 by Paramount Pictures Inc.
• Walker & Associates  legal consultants

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, violence and language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Epsilon Motion Pictures

Trivia:

The film opened in North America, on star Rebecca Romijn's 30th birthday (November 6, 2002).

Goofs:

Continuity: The envelope and passport change their relative positions in Laure's hand between shots during the climactic scene.

Quotes:

Lily: All your boyhood stories make you so damn lovable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Transgression

Auteur theory is alive and well with De Palma

Mr. De Palma is not a critics' darling, and as such his latest, Femme Fatale, has come in for his usual roasting. Is it deserved? Not if you love a film that embraces the visual splendour and techniques that make cinema a unique art form.

Femme Fatale sees De Palma returning to his forte: the suspense thriller. It is a welcome return considering his recent fare have seen him straying to more mainstream efforts - Mission to Mars, Mission: Impossible - that were shells of his virtuoso films of the late 70s and early 80s.

The film leads off with a stunning 20-minute Jewel heist sequence that takes place during the Cannes film festival of 2001. Completely bereft of dialogue, a la Topkapi, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos's character has the enviable task of lifting a diamond dress from Rie Rasmussun in a bathroom encounter. His first original screenplay in 10 years, De Palma writes a tightly-plotted tale that certainly does not lead the audience by the hand, and the resulting twists it provides will allow different perspectives on the film's events with repeat viewings.

Antonio Banderas - usually lost without cause if not working with Robert Rodriguez - does what he needs to do with efficiency; Romijn-Stamos, the Femme Fatale of the title, provides the eye candy. The acting is not top drawer, but it does not need to be: we're here to see an auteur in his element: De Palma delivers. Cinema is more than a stage with a camera - De Palma uses his camera and cinema technique to brilliant effect. Huge swooping camera movements, split-screen, slow motion sequences, no dialogue and an enveloping orchestral score; De Palma's signature is prevalent. And that is good: a director should never be an autonomous entity, happy to turn out derivative drivel that get the masses in and out - directors for hire are too commonplace in Hollywood today - and that is something that De Palma could never be accused of.

Femme Fatale is a great example of a director working in a genre he loves and understands, and given the freedom to create. Total cinema? Its smell is sure intoxicating. Welcome back, Mr. De Palma.