Review of Blow Out (1981) by Timothy M — 15 Oct 2011

Blow Out, Great Movies.

*Blow Out* is one of the most masterful and well-crafted mystery and suspense film that I have ever seen in my whole life. Think of some films that inspired this movie like *Blow Up*, *The Conversation*, and some other Alfred Hitchcock movies. All are great movies, but the director Brian DePalma, brilliantly executed this movie in an unique way that even most filmmakers today can't possibly do even the film was released 30 years ago. I'm sure that when the film first came out, it lead to some controversies, such as the Watergate scandal and the JFK assassination, and I can see why. The movie opens and ends on a same scene which is a movie in a movie scene that the character of John Travolta is putting sounds on, he's Jack and he is a sound man for movies. As you know in *Blow Up*, the protagonist is involved in a crime or an accident? We go along as well as audiences for searching the clues for the real incident, and also knowing more about this woman that he saved from that drowning car who is Sally, played by Nancy Allen. The two seems to have a pretty good chemistry together but I'm not gonna tell you what will happen at the end. Anyways, what's also get this more intriguing is that Sally is to believe with the president to be in that wrecked car, and Jack goes deeper about this, if he did really heard a gunshot or something else, and what is he doing at that place, well he's just recording some sounds to use for some movies. And there are some other supporting characters that helped as well moved this picture to it's last frame, they're Burke and some other folks there! If you think all those people, I think they all worked out together, their performances is magnificent especially this villain Burke, he's one of a kind, he's just gonna be there not knowing to kill you and even portray someone else, what a stalker!

Now, I'm sure I can talk about now the otter stuff on why it's a great movie. From DePalma's direction to the script that is so tight, you feel the suspense is so incredibly awesome and totally unpredictable. Every shot is well shot and every BANG scene is just mesmerizing with a very intense soundtrack that makes it movable, and you'll see when something bad is about to happen, listen to the music! The subplots about this political conspiracy and this Liberty Bell festival is also well told that we never forget we're dealing with Jack's situation. I just simply think this movie is a marvelous one, from Jack putting those sounds he recorded and putting it to those photographs, I mean, they all worked together, like a real movie, and I say all the time, WOW!

I think I'm done here, so *Blow Out*, is a very well made thriller that makes other DePalma films or other Hitchcock movies like Legos. Trust me, you will never disappoint on this one, the 100 minutes is not enough, I'm sure you want another watch like I do. And for that, I'll give this movie no stars, JOKE! 5 stars of course!