Many thank Jeffrey Wells over at Hollywood Elsewhere for linking a 3.18 AP interview Jake Coyle had with legendary director Brian DePalma.
When asked to name his peak career period DePalma didn’t choose any peak from the ‘70s or 80, but, rather, a one-two punch he had in the early ‘90s.
De Palma: “In my mid 50s [actually his early to mid 50s], doing Carlito’s Way and then Mission: Impossible. It doesn’t get much better than that. You have all the power and tools at your disposal. When you have the Hollywood system working for you, you can do some remarkable things.”
What would I have chosen as De Palma’s peak? That 9-year streak between 1980-1989 was his peak: Dressed to Kill, Blow Out, Scarface, Body Double, The Untouchables, Casualties of War. (Let's forget Wise Guys ever existed). However, I do agree with him about Carlito's Way, it's pretty close to a masterpiece and has aged very well. As for his '70s stuff, It's hit and miss, but Carrie, Greetings, and Phantom of Paradise are the standouts.