562 Blow Out

[foofighters7]

Yeah, although 'Blow Out' is a decent film, it certainly is not great, and even more certainly not better than 'The Conversation' or 'Blow Up'. Not even close, in any way whatsoever.

[tojoed]

It's a great film, far superior to "Blow Up" and "The Conversation", and it's nothing like either film anyway. Really great news, if it is indeed "Blow Out", the best American film of the eighties by a long chalk.

Whoa! Whoa! Now granted I've never seen Blow Out, but better than the Conversation and Blow Up? I don't think so but to each his own I guess.

How can you not think so when you've never seen it? Watch it first and then you can say anything you like.... and we can argue about it.

[Jacey Cockrobin]

I gotta admit, I'd love to see PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE in the Collection!

Me too! Re-watched it the other night, and it is some over the top campy goodness.

You want really bad DePalma? Try The Fury. Yeach.

[Finch]

Count me among those who're thrilled to get Blow Out: I wouldn't put it on a level with The Conversation and Blow Up, but I also agree it's more fun than either, and certainly one of the best thrillers from that period. I'm hoping this is going to be a March title rather than April or May.

[cdnchris]

Most of De Palma's films (expecially the early ones) are direct influences from Hitchcock. He hardly puts anything genuine onto his pallette. He is somewhat overrated. Sorry guys.

This has always been my issue with De Palma, since I was a young kid getting into film, and agree he is somewhat overrated. I remember when I first watched Dressed to Kill and couldn't get past the fact it was pretty much a rip-off of Psycho, along with, to a certain degree, Sisters, and it always bugged me all of his films' best moments were usually "lifted" from other films. But I do still like a lot of his work.

I think Carrie is a great film, and I do usually like his more mainstream films (I really do love The Untouchables and the first Mission: Impossible) and actually wish he'd do more "blockbusters" because I usually find them more interesting than your usual ones.

Blow Out isn't my favourite of his but it's still good fun and works on its own. I don't think it should be compared to either The Conversation or Blow Up. I think those other ones are better but I don't think Blow Out is really trying to reach the levels of those.

[Thomas Dukenfield]

I guess De Palma divides critical opinion like few other directors. I maintain an Armond White-level appreciation for his work (and hopefully the Armond comparison ends there), and I consider Blow Out to perhaps be his finest film (along with Carlito's Way and Body Double), so I am very excited if we're going to see a blu-ray release. Since it was brought up, I consider The Conversation and Blow-up to be masterpieces (not really going out on a limb there), and would put Blow Out on an equivalent level.

In other words, I bought Mission to Mars on DVD (albeit for $4-5), so I'm sure as hell getting Blow Out if it comes out on blu-ray.

[kaujot]

For a minute, my brain confused "Blow-Up" and "Blow Out" and I was absolutely ecstatic. Now, I'm merely content. The old MGM dvd really could use an upgrade. There's nothing on it and it looks horrible.

[Noiradelic]

I'm not one of those De Palma true believers, but Blow Out is my favorite film of his. I saw it again in the theater a few years back and was forced to completely reevaluate it. It's a celebration of filmmaking, from the cheesy slasher movie-within-the-movie at the beginning to the Touch of Evil homage at the end. As the movie progresses, it leaves narrative logic behind and becomes a cinematic dream. Not in the same league as The Conversation or Blow-Up (a movie that hasn't aged well IMHO), but then plenty of films in the Collection aren't. But it is one of my 10 favorite American films of the 80s. It's more than just a Hitchcock pastiche, but if you want to call it a Hitchcock-Antonioni-Welles pastiche, I'm ok with that.

It never got a SE and is OOP so it's ripe for a rerelease. Blow-Up is Warner, so it's not going to be a CC any time soon.

I just don't see how it fits into the collection.

Compared to Broadcast News?

[Mr Sausage]

Blow-Up, The Conversation, and Blow-Out all have the same basic premise (there may or may not have been a murder, of which the main character may or may not have evidence), but only Blow-Out is truly about its premise. The first two films are thrillers only tangentially and use their central mystery as a way to explore other things entirely (alienation, paranoia, anhedonia, insecurity, failures of meaning and interpretation). It's telling that neither film is really interested in solving the mystery. Blow-Out, however, works backwards from its predecessors towards the mystery itself: how a plot is composed, how it is hidden, and most importantly, how it is reconstructed. Basically, the first two aren't about what they're about, while the third is aggressively about what it's about. They're really at cross-purposes.

Blow-Out is rather a good movie. It does not have the same ambition as the other two (all of which are successful in their ambitions), but that's not the reason it's my least favourite of the three. My problem is Blow-Out is less resonant: something about de Palma's surface sheen gives the feeling that the emotional moments are beats in a well-coiled machine, that they, and my reactions to them, are the product of a persistent and calculated purpose, and this feeling begins to intrude on the experience. As a consequence, the movie acquires an impersonal tinge that works against it. Not a major criticism, but it must be said that the character moments are less successful than the purely visual/aural sequences.

Still a fine film to have in the collection.

[whaleallright]

Blow Out has two or three exciting set-pieces, mostly involving Travolta's use of audio technology. But many of the dialogue scenes are excruciating (especially those with Nancy Allen; De Palma just strands her in endless, poorly-composed two-shots), and the climactic chase sequence is laughably bad. In other words, it's another De Palma film.

[Jeff]

For me, Blow Out is easily DePalma's best film. It's a favorite from my youth -- one I used to watch over and over. I wouldn't place it in the same echelon as The Conversation or Blow Up, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. The current DVD is bare bones, which was a big improvement from the Goodtimes SLP VHS. Laurent Bouzereau produced the special edition DVD releases of Carrie and Dressed to Kill for De Palma, but MGM already had their DVD release of Blow Out well into production when that happened, and they weren't willing to backtrack for a special edition. I was as pleased by Criterion picking this up as I was any of their other MGM acquisitions. I would love to see a quality documentary, a Tarantino intro, a Travolta interview, a DePalma commentary (I think he's only done one for the Criterion Carrie laserdisc), and a reprint of Pauline Kael's ecstatic review. Lots of possibilities, and I couldn't be more excited or anxious for this release.

[Tom Hagen]

One of the oddities about De Palma, or more specifically the reactions and sympathies that his work inspires, is the level of devotion that his apologists demonstrate. I can't think of another post-1967 American filmmaker who has developed a group of fans and critics whose fervor runs as deep as De Palma's does. There are people out there who seriously maintain that anything the guy touches -- up to and including Mission to Mars -- is work of unparalelled genuis. For me it has set a lot of unreasonable expectations on his work, and has probably colored my judgment of his films.

[Cold Bishop]

Bravo! Not my favorite De Palma of the period (that would be Body Double) but it's a great film, and capable of a lot more than people give it credit for. And I also enjoy it a lot more than its two predecessors. Blow-Up always struck me as a lesser film than the four Antonioni's that came before it, and a less moving one than what came two pictures later. The Conversation is very good, but something must be said for De Palma's absolute love for the possibilities of the cinematic apparatus, which is really the subject of the film. It's both a lot more frivolously fun and deadly serious than a lot of people give it credit for.

One of the oddities about De Palma, or more specifically the reactions and sympathies that his work inspires, is the level of devotion that his apologists demonstrate. I can't think of another post-1967 American filmmaker who has developed a group of fans and critics whose fervor runs as deep as De Palma's does. There are people out there who seriously maintain that anything the guy touches -- up to and including Mission to Mars -- is work of unparalelled genuis. For me it has set a lot of unreasonable expectations on his work, and has probably colored my judgment of his films.

That's just us compensating for the unnecessary and misinformed vitriol that his films receive. His detractors are just as numerous and passionate.

[Fortisquince]

As a lot of people here no doubt know, some of the controversy surrounding critical reception of De Palma's films can be directly attributed to Pauline Kael and the "Paulettes", Edelstein, Rafferty, Denby, and others, I suppose. Their coronation of De Palma in the late 70s and early 80s appears to have inspired equally strong reactions from other prominent critics. I think this critical shitstorm has tended to get in the way of more objective analysis of his films.

I think De Palma has made good films and bad films and has his strengths and weaknesses. I think Blowout is a very good film and one of De Palma's best, if not the best.

If anyone from Criterion is checking out the forum today, I imagine they would have to be pleased by this rather opinionated, but productive discussion. This kind of contentious debate should be good for sales.

[Mr. Ned]

Yes! Excellent news. I think I predicted this at some point, when CC said they had a De Palma in line on facebook months ago.

This is my favorite De Palma of all, next to the near-universally abhored Body Double. When I first saw this, around this time in November a couple years ago, I think I watched it a dozen or so times in a row; it's a beautiful mix of sleaze, cheese and tragedy with some exciting sequences fiddling with how audio can be used as a storytelling device in a visual world (the one shot super-imposed on the tire blow out as Travolta listens to his recording of the crash, and the 360 track around the room as he rifles through his now empty sound catalog are the two best).

Say what you want about him--all his best stuff comes from other movies, he's too tacky and artificial, he hasn't got a tender bone in his body--but De Palma has made some indelible marks on cinema because he's such a dastard addicted to the superficial side of filmmaking. Blow Out is a great addition to the CC and I hope they get some outstanding and unruly extras (interview with Lithgow! some explanation from Tarantino on WHY the soundtrack was briefly used in the Death Proof texting scene, etc.) to do this gem justice.

But, outside of this and a few others from early on, his filmography also contains a lot of garbage. I can't understand all the positive notes on Sisters in the last page or so, one I find to be one of his worst early films. And if I remember correctly, Cahier through the ages has adored anything de Palma touches, even giving Carlito's Way one of the top spots on a "Best Of" list whatever year it came out (and that one's crap too, as far as I'm concerned). He's a polarizing figure, but that's probably one of the best thing he's got going for him--especially for CC's inclusion of another of his film's in the collection.

[Roger Ryan]

Since the film has been mentioned numerous times today in this thread, I thought I'd add that THE CONVERSATION will be released on Blu-ray next year by Lions Gate (according to a brief promo graphic contained on Disc 2 of the new APOCALYPSE NOW set).

[jedgeco]

a DePalma commentary (I think he's only done one for the Criterion Carrie laserdisc)

Laurent Bouzereau did the commentary on the Criterion LD. De Palma has never, to my knowledge, recorded a commentary.

[tojoed]

De Palma wanted to call the movie "Personal Effects", which better conveys what the film is about. I'm sure if the studio had not insisted on the title "Blow Out", no-one would have thought it had anything to do with "Blow Up".
After all, De Palma had already said what he had to say about Antonioni in "Greetings" and by

Spoiler

blowing the wretched Cassavetes to bits at the end of "The Fury".

Anyhow, this film is so visually stunning it should be perfect for Blu-Ray.

[jerome]

a DePalma commentary (I think he's only done one for the Criterion Carrie laserdisc)....

Laurent Bouzereau did the commentary on the Criterion LD. De Palma has never, to my knowledge, recorded a commentary.

De Palma recorded an audio commentary with Paul Williams for an aborted Criterion Laserdisc of The Phantom of the Paradise. it was mentioned in a Video Watchdog issue.

A few weeks ago, Movie Geeks united made a radio show about Blow Out featuring special guests author/critic John Kenneth Muir, actress Nancy Allen, and producer George Litto, with additional insights from cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond.

[Jeff]

Laurent Bouzereau did the commentary on the Criterion LD. De Palma has never, to my knowledge, recorded a commentary.

Ah, that makes sense. Never actually owned it. I don't know why I had in my head that he had done the commentary himself when I know they're not his cup of tea.

this film is so visually stunning it should be perfect for Blu-Ray.

Can't wait to see the transfer. I believe this is the first Collection entry from the incredible Vilmos Zsigmond. It won't be the last though... :-$

Hopefully, Criterion has solicited Zsigmond's participation.

[tavernier]

I'm sure we'll be getting an Armond essay, since he loves De Palma more than anyone.

He wrote this back in 2000:

Film School. Learn how De Palma takes film savvy tropes and uses them to his own purpose at Film Forum’s March 27 showing of Blow Out. Yes, Rear Window, The Conversation and Blow Up are referenced, but in one of his greatest films, De Palma revives a Chabrol routine from Les Cousins (the 360-degree spinning camera) to convey John Travolta’s panic. As a film technician who has witnessed a political murder, his world caves in and security spins off into the void. Magnificent.

[swo17]

I believe this is the first Collection entry from the incredible Vilmos Zsigmond. It won't be the last though... :-$

Until you say otherwise, I'm going to assume this means that The Long Goodbye and/or Heaven's Gate are entering the Collection.

[tavernier]

One of the oddities about De Palma, or more specifically the reactions and sympathies that his work inspires, is the level of devotion that his apologists demonstrate. I can't think of another post-1967 American filmmaker who has developed a group of fans and critics whose fervor runs as deep as De Palma's does. There are people out there who seriously maintain that anything the guy touches -- up to and including Mission to Mars -- is work of unparalelled genuis. For me it has set a lot of unreasonable expectations on his work, and has probably colored my judgment of his films.

Armond on MTM: "DePalma singlehandedly matures the genre"

[tojoed]

Can't wait to see the transfer. I believe this is the first Collection entry from the incredible Vilmos Zsigmond. It won't be the last though... :-$

Hopefully, Criterion has solicited Zsigmond's participation.

I hope it's "The Long Goodbye". If so, 2011 promises to be a great year.

[colinr0380]

Wonderful news! I've only seen this in panned and scanned television versions (which for a widescreen Brian De Palma film means I've not really seen it!), not having picked the film up on previous DVD releases, so I'm very happy that Criterion are releasing it hopefully on Blu. Here's the trailer, featuring some owl and headphones action.

On the subject of Brian De Palma films being 'worthy' I'm afraid I'm, Mission To Mars aside, an utter fanboy of the director - give me Redacted over The Hurt Locker any day! Even if you are not a fan of De Palma though, Blow Out is nowhere near as flawed as the rather clunky Vertigo-inflected Obsession (though that's an interestingly flawed film in its own right), and should really be seen as one of the defining films of De Palma's wonderfully excessive early to mid 80s period of films focused on voyeurism, flawed analyses of data and reality and fiction blending together in an interesting manner. This one is more political as well (compared to the more sexually focused Body Double) due to the Chappaquiddick-esque inciting incident.

And Finch should be happy - isn't this Dennis Franz's first entry into the Collection? (And John Lithgow's! I hope there are interviews!)