Review of Blow Out (1981) by Danny R — 10 Dec 2011

An intriguing, inventive thriller which is one of Brian DePalma's finest and most under-appreciated films. It concerns a motion picture soundman Jack Terry, played brilliantly by John Travolta in a dynamic performance of great subtly who was a former police technician and know makes his liviing creating sound effects for third-rate slashers films, one night Jack is standing on a small bridge in a Philadelphia park that overlooks a road he is recording some new ambient sounds when he hears a speeding car approaching he points his microphone at the direction of the oncoming car and hears a gunshot and then a blowout, the car skids off the roadway and crashes into a lake, Jack does not know it yet but he has inadvertently recorded the murder of a sitting governor and leading presidential hopeful, Jacks runs down and dives into the lake, where he sees a young woman banging on the glass trying to get out of the submerged car, he also sees the lifeless body of of a man, he grabs a rock and breaks in the car window rescuing the woman, later at the hospital he discovers that the dead man was the governor and meets with the young woman who's name is Sally, superbly played by Nancy Allen in a amusing performance.

A young John Lithgow impressively plays the nefarious and cunning assassin who is making sure he ties off all loose ends, by discrediting Terry and killing Sally, now Terry must race against time to try to save Sally from this psychotic killer.

Splendid direction by Brian DePalma with exquisite camerawork by the great cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond who's work in this film is truly remarkable, he utilizes all of DePalma's favorite trademark techniques of slow motion, crane shots, extreme close-ups and wide angle shots.

A savvy piece of entertainment, that is suspenseful and well-crafted. Highly Recommended.