If you have ever wanted to just sit in on a shoot the breeze session with a mainstream director and find out what really makes them tick, then the new documentary “De Palma” is the film for you.

It’s a fascinating retrospective of the career of Brian De Palma, a filmmaker who has earned a reputation as one of his generation’s most visionary directors.

“De Palma” is essentially the director talking about his life and career to Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow with cameras rolling, resulting in some fascinating insight behind some of De Palma’s signature films.

Baumbach and Paltrow intercut footage from De Palma’s films throughout the conversation – displaying how Alfred Hitchcock provided a major influence on his work, but also how De Palma created his own techniques. (His use of split screens is now legendary).

What I found most interesting about “De Palma” wasn’t revisiting a resume that has so much diversity – ranging from “Dressed to Kill” to “The Untouchables” to “Scarface” and “Carlito’s Way” to “Mission: Impossible” – but the admissions of mistakes or regrets in his work. De Palma talks about why he thinks his adaptation of “Bonfire of the Vanities” was a critical and commercial failure quite candidly and also tells of how he was nearly replaced as director of “Scarface.”

This is a man who fought the studio system, did it his way, and ultimately created a body of work that has influenced many of today’s fiilmmakers.

After watching “De Palma” I have a greater appreciation for the director’s work and am eager to revisit some of his films.

Thankfully, the Belcourt theater is making that possible with a 10 film career retrospective beginning this week.

Starring: Brian De Palma

Directed by: Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow

Rating: R for violent images, graphic nudity, sexual content and some language

Playing at: Belcourt Theater in Nashville (opens Friday)

Grade: B+