Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Fast Moving, but Story Needs Improvement
Brian De Palma is at home in the world of the fast moving thriller, and "Femme Fatale" surely encompasses this genre. Not only is the pacing swift, but the photography is superb, with an accent on the beauty of France. Those who love Paris will thrill to the city's beauty once more as accented by one key shot on the bridge above the Seine River overlooking the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower.The film opens at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where a ruthless criminal called Black Tie, played by Eriq Ebouaney, seeks to pull off a $10 million jewelry heist by having beautiful blonde Rebecca Romijn-Stamos seduce gorgeous international star Rie Rasmussen, who has the jewelry adorn her shapely body. The seduction scene involving two beautiful, slimly shapely women, is given proper close-up treatment by the camera's riveting eye. Stamos ultimately decides to flee the scene with Rasmussen, crossing the ruthless Black Tie. The chase is on from there and the film switches gears as Rasmussen apparently commits suicide and Stamos takes the plane ticket she had bought from Paris to the United States. On the plane Stamos meets Peter Coyote, who we later learn is American Ambassador to France and the world's richest man. The film enters another phase when, after returning to Paris with Coyote as his wife, Stamos becomes enamored with down at the heels local photographer Antonio Banderas and hatches a plot to shake down Coyote for $10 million on the assumption she has been kidnapped and her life is in danger. At that point the film moves from what was a dream sequence to an apparent esp juncture where the dream of Stamos ultimately becomes reality, at least up to a point. The plotting needed more imagination, with the meeting between Stamos and Coyote being just too pat, along with his super wealth. One wonders also about the lack of security in view of the $10 million in diamonds adorning Rasmussen at Cannes.
Rating:  - A Hot and Stylish Erotic Thriller
Brian DePalma is back in top form with this exceptional thriller that toys and plays with the viewer's head. I have to say that these mind puzzle movies like "Memento" and "Mullholland Dr." are more fun and original than anything else and "Femme Fatale" can be added to that list. Rebecca Romign-Stamos gives a surprisingly good performance as a woman who during an elaborate (and very erotic) diamond heist on the French Riveara, turns on her team and keeps the diamonds for herself. In all this chaos, she is mistakenly identified as a widow and retreats to the US. Seven years later she returns to France only to be photographed by a paparazzi photographer (Antonio Banderass). Her past also catches up with her as her former partners are out of jail and looking for her. The way the film plays out is extroidanary but the true fun of the film are the small details. Definately a film Hitchcock would be proud of.
Rating: - Derivative Delight
This movie is derivative. As are most classic films noirs for that matter. But this is one of the great movies of all time. It will be playing on late night video for centuries. Along with Casablanca, Double Indemnity, Body Heat. If this film were only rated for the music soundtrack - derived from multiple classics (old and new) but innovatively orchestrated, scored and tracked - it would merit 5 stars. If it were judged only on Rebecca's tour-de-force performance covering perhaps 6 distinct characters, accent and all, it would earn a max rating. She captures the best of the best of the classic film noir actresses right up through the 80's. You want Ingrid? Bette? Kathleen? She's got em in her pocket. With a ton of steamy heat. In France no less. Antonio hangs in with the best of the male leads of the last century. The supporting cast is top drawer. Even the extras hold up under close scrutiny. If your thing is editing; or cinematography; or set design; or costume; or sound; or writing; or direction - again you are treated to a masterpiece. You want to talk about plot? Talk about 5 plots then. Talk about twists as clever as 'the snake and the cat'. The first time you see this movie, you have seen maybe half of it. To really get it, take another look. If for no other reason than to figure out why so much didn't make sense - and of course to wallow in the pure pleasure of this sparkling cinematic jewel.
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