Review of Blow-Up (1966) by Katie S — 21 Sep 2008

Jane: What are you doing? Stop it! Stop it! Give me those pictures. You can't photograph people like that.

Thomas: Who says I can't? I'm only doing my job. Some people are bullfighters, some people are politicians. I'm a photographer.

A 60s art house film that has an easy setup for its premise, but is no doubt focused on being a swinging 60s film that deals with the perception of reality.

David Hemmings is a London photographer who spends his days taking pictures and screwing hopeful models. During a walk in a park while taking pictures he meets a mysterious women. Later, after developing the pictures he finds what seems to be an obscure image in his shot, possibly a body. He must now find out if he has in fact photographed a murder.

The plot I have described does not start until over an hour has passed. Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni is known for his unconventional narrative structures and this is another example. The film is much more about the photographer moving about London, while we share his point of view.

This doesn't necessarily make it a bad movie, but it certainly works better for certain audiences. People like different things and while I certainly like a lot of different art house movies, this one did not hold my interest as much.

There are a number of things I did like, including the music, the ending, and the presence of Vanessa Redgrave and Sarah Miles.

For me a decent movie, but will work differently for different people.

Thomas: Don't let's spoil everything, we've only just met.

Jane: No, we haven't met. You've never seen me.