Blow Out (1981)
Microphones are a conspiracist’s best friend.
Presentation:
Palma creates a conspiracy thriller that bounces back and forth between popcorn flick and criterion cinema. The film evokes Palma’s signature dark yet campy tone, which is actually quite funny at times. What makes this film so cinematic is how the story revolves around sound. The analogue aspects of sound recording in this film are extremely well done. I think they made the technicals understandable so even the layman can follow how all the cutting and editing works, which is probably how it entered The Criterion Collection. It could nearly be considered a love letter to filmmaking. The acting in this movie isn’t that strong, it’s mostly carried by Palma’s technique and editing prowess. He combines a lot of techniques including split screen and split diopter effects. John Travolta is okay, nothing Oscar worthy but still has the star power. Apparently it was strong enough that Tarantino knew he would be perfect for Vega in Pulp Fiction. But after watching, I realized all he saw in him was the perfect popcorn thriller detective.
Conclusion:
The thriller aspect of this film is okay, but why you’re really enjoying this is the cinematic experience of the sound recording universe. It’s a fantastic concept that enables a very grounded framework within the sleuthing genre. I’m less than ecstatic about the rest of the film, but it’s satisfying enough. Palma really knows how to dance on a knife’s edge.
Recommendations
Political assassination is never what it seems…