Review of Blow Out (1981) by Spyros T — 16 Nov 2012

I think Blow Out is probably De Palma's best work. It's also Travolta's only good performance alongside his comeback in Pulp Fiction. One of the more interesting meta-whodunits, although John Lithgow didn't really sell me as the fanatical assassin type.

I really liked the intense ending and the 360 degree shot of the fireworks. Also, when Travolta returns to his sound studio and runs around the room, trying out every tape leaving them on as he keeps going, the rotating camera works brilliantly with the sound design.

So elegantly done, De Palma used to be a filmmaker with great vision.