Brian De Palma was one of the original film school "brats" alongside the likes of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, and though he's often regarded as one of the best and most talented filmmakers of his generation, there's barely any proof in his body of work to back that statement up. Okay, maybe that's a little harsh: De Palma was the man behind the camera on Carrie, after all, but that film aside (which is probably the "closest" any of his works come to being perfect), almost every single one of his pictures is a muddled mess. Which is to say, De Palma doesn't seem to be able to handle all of the aspects that are required to be a true director - he focuses way too much on visuals (which are usually awesome, of course) and rendering his flicks like Hitchcock films that he forgets that there are other things that need his attention, too. So pacing is pretty much a major issue in all of his pictures, including the likes of The Untouchables and Scarface, two of his better films (films which also, by the way, highlight De Palma's ineptitude for choosing the right musical cues - awful). De Palma's flicks are also frequently cheesy, and he isn't particular good with actors - they all seem lost. Scan the man's filmography and you'll notice the lack of consistency between works. There are a few great flicks, but nowhere near enough to justify his reputation. Perhaps he should have been a cinematography instead?