Movie Review - Sisters

Sisters (1973)

Starring Margot Kidder and Jennifer Salt

Directed by Brian De Palma

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Brian De Palma is a director that has been greatly influenced by Alfred Hitchcock.  I've seen a couple of De Palma's films and while he doesn't even come close to matching Hitch's talent, I appreciate De Palma's efforts.  Creative camera techniques, sexy women placed in perilous situations, interesting musical scores (including this film's which comes from the great Bernhard Hermann who scored Psycho) -- all of these are De Palma staples that were influenced by the Master of Suspense himself.  While Sisters certainly doesn't come close to great (or even good) Hitchcock, it's a film that kept me interested until the rather odd ending which, although shot rather brilliantly, didn't quite sit well with me.

Grace (Jennifer Salt), a news reporter, witnesses a murder take place in an apartment across the street from hers.  (Sound vaguely familiar to a Hitch classic to anyone?)  When she tries to get the police to investigate, their search turns up empty.  However, Grace is certain that the woman living in the apartment, Daniele (Margot Kidder), knows something about the murder even if she didn't commit the crime herself and the reporter will stop at nothing to solve the crime.  

Most interesting here is De Palma's camerawork and directorial style.  Several times throughout the film, De Palma employs a split screen effect where we see two scenes occurring at the same time.  While a technique like that could seem overbearing, it never does here.  In fact, it adds a bit of excitement and intrigue to this seemingly rehashed plot.  

The rehashed plot of Rear Window, however, is given a few new spins involving medical and psychological intrigue, but it's in these added storylines where the story falters for me.  I was with the film all the way up until the last twenty minutes and even though I admired the way the film's conclusion was visually presented, I didn't like the story that I was actually watching.  

Nonetheless, De Palma films always interest me when I watch them.  They may not be fantastic works of cinema, but he's a director that tries things that others don't and for that his flicks are worth a watch.

The RyMickey Rating:  C