Blow Out (1981)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Written by Brian De Palma
Starring John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis Franz
Release Date July 21st 1981
Published July 20th, 2001
Style over substance, technique over plot. Just some of the many things said of Brian De Palma's directorial style. In Blow Out we are treated to a rare De Palma effort that combines style and brains for an entertaining suspense filled ride. If only De Palma weren't so enamored of Nancy Allen.
In Blow Out, John Travolta is a movie sound man who, while standing on a bridge recording ambient outdoor noise, witnesses a car go off the road and into the river below him. After saving the car’s female passenger played by Nancy Allen, and taking her the hospital he finds that the man killed in the accident was a popular presidential candidate. After being told that the events of the evening were to be covered up he then discovers the accident wasn't really an accident and Travolta becomes obsessed with finding the truth.
De Palma's long languid tracking shots and unique camera work is once again on display and added to it is a love of sound appropriate for a movie about a movie sound man. The film makes great use of surrounding noise and microphones. Travolta's character is a former police expert in surveillance, which is put to excellent use in the film’s tragic crescendo. The films main flaw is lead actress Nancy Allen whose tiresome whine makes you want to root for John Lithgow's nut-job serial killer to cut her heart out.
Thankfully De Palma's direction and Travolta's cool obsessiveness save this first rate thriller that is one of De Palma's best.
