I had heard mixed reviews about De Palma's new film "Snake Eyes" but I really didn't care because I absolutely had to see it. I read the opening shot in the film is a twenty minute steadicam shot with no cuts and I had to see that. I saw it and loved it. There were a couple of hidden cuts but it still was an incredible achievement. Other films like "The Player", "Touch of Evil", "Boogie Nights", "Bonfire of the Vanities", "Halloween", and "Titanic" have all made great use of the tracking shot but "Snake Eyes" does it best. The shot is so busy, so well choreographed and so instrumental in the rest of the film that this shot works perfectly for the film.
Unfortunately though, the rest of the film doesn't quite hold up. With exception to a couple of very interesting POV tracking shots and an impressive crane shot, the film doesn't meet its opening. "Snake Eyes" is a director's film; De Palma is such a technically advanced filmmaker that his knowledge of the camera and the editing process makes this film watchable but his story is sacrificed in the process. If you like a lot of style in a film, "Snake Eyes" has it but not everywhere.
Unfortunately though, the rest of the film doesn't quite hold up. With exception to a couple of very interesting POV tracking shots and an impressive crane shot, the film doesn't meet its opening. "Snake Eyes" is a director's film; De Palma is such a technically advanced filmmaker that his knowledge of the camera and the editing process makes this film watchable but his story is sacrificed in the process. If you like a lot of style in a film, "Snake Eyes" has it but not everywhere.