Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the
suspense,
crime and
psychological thriller genres. His films include mainstream box office hits such as
Carrie (1976),
Dressed to Kill (1980),
Scarface (1983),
The Untouchables (1987), and
Mission: Impossible (1996), as well as
cult favorites such as
Sisters (1972),
Phantom of the Paradise (1974),
Blow Out (1981),
Casualties of War (1989), and
Carlito's Way (1993).
De Palma was a leading member of the
New Hollywood generation of film directors. His direction often makes use of quotations from other films or cinematic styles, and bears the influence of filmmakers such as
Alfred Hitchcock and
Jean-Luc Godard. His work has been criticized for its violence and sexual content but has also been championed by American critics such as
Roger Ebert and
Pauline Kael.
