``Snake Eyes'' long takes and split screen, just the excitement and madness that is unique to Brian De Palma

Wonderful camera work that colors the opening

The opening is spectacular. Right from the start, you are exposed to the raging excitement of the boxing title match. The enthusiasm and excitement of the spectators reaches its peak inside the venue, and outside the venue, a hurricane is about to hit the coast, and the wind and rain are already blowing.

A high-spirited Nicolas Cage makes his way through the madness. The camera follows him as it smoothly moves through the corridors, dropping in here and there the appearances of important people and giving a glimpse into the atmosphere at the venue.

Depending on the person who shot it, this sequence may have ended up being nothing more than a trivial depiction. However, this is a De Palma film, no one else. The first thing he uses in his hand is the astonishing "long take" technique. We are battered by this raging baptism from the very beginning, before the gong of the match even sounds.

"Snake Eyes" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

According to one theory, this long and complex opening sequence was never shot in one breath. The footage was switched several times as people passed by and the camera panned.

But no matter what anyone says, this 10-minute opening is fantastic. It's truly first-rate. The skill with which the director managed to create a perfect "long take-style video" while gradually increasing the tension without interrupting the flow of human emotions or the sense of realism should be highly praised.

De Palma's famous split screen