Review of Blow-Up (1966) by Maggie S — 29 Oct 2007

Finally seen this.... A commentary on the 60s, modernity, aesthetics, and decadence. Antonioni treats the film as if it were still photography, which is apt, since it's a film about photography. What made the film work was the impact on Hemmings' character, which I can't say for Antonioni's recently re-released "The Passenger," which failed for me since there was no convincing motive established for Jack Nicholson's character.

But here Hemmings pulls off the fatuous pretentiousness of his character and the life-changing shock to his worldview from which, one thinks, he will never recover. Some things about it are dated, like the final scene, but other aspects are not, like the lack of musical score which heightens the suspense and intensity.