Blow Out (1981) Retrospective

[@nitrateglow2087]

This is one of the best commentaries on De Palma's work I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.

[@FilmJournal]

Wow thanks so much- huge praise

[@Warmtablefilms]

This is such a insightful and expertly made breakdown that includes some fantastically interesting historical context. Awesome video man!

[@FilmJournal]

Hey! I watched your Blow Out review- nice video as well. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

[@rowan631]

This is without a doubt the best film analysis I've ever seen on KZbin, really happy to find someone so informed by cinema history and actual academia who also has their own informed interesting opinions.

[@FilmJournal]

Wow! That's high praise- thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@joejack6305]

“It’s a good scream… it’s a good scream”

[@nathanslay6342]

What a haunting ending for sure.

[@cinesanti7]

depressing fuckin movie, Travolta one of the most underrated great actors

[@kdizzle901]

This is my favorite De Palma film

[@ChrisWolff2013]

Mine too.

[@airyanawaejah2323]

Definitely it is

[@Coldfire242]

I’m glad I watched this movie yesterday so I could search for a retrospective and discover your channel.

[@FilmJournal]

So great to hear! Hope you find more stuff to enjoy!

[@l.5679]

Brilliant video! De Palma is one of my all time favorites, and Blow Out is my favorite of his. What you do with your channel is really unique, I love it.

[@FilmJournal]

Very nice to hear! Thank you very much

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

In my opinion, De Palma's masterpiece.

[@FilmJournal]

I would agree- its the culmination of and best realization of all of his favorite themes and cinematic moves.

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

@@FilmJournal You read my mind. Your comment reminds me of parts of Roger Ebert's review of the film.

[@mateolachone8841]

i just watched it and loved it

[@nadagabri5783]

Serious? Better than Scarface ?

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

@@nadagabri5783 Yes, I'm serious!!

[@deanwhite1972]

I'm surprised this hasn't more views. I like your honest and truthful analytical style. Your critique is sophisticated and well written. I would say you could slow down a bit... You are good - so speak (i.e. narrate) a little bit more paced, more deliberately. But, on the whole, I enjoyed this. Really well done. Subscribed.

[@FilmJournal]

Wow, thank you! I will take your advice to heart bc I think you’re probably right- I have a tendency to talk to fast, but I really appreciate your notes on my writing. Likes, subs, and shares all always appreciated!

[@idahomike4254]

Excellent job, Mr Doll! Yeah, the ending of this film absolutely floored me and left me in a haze. Thank you for this. Cheers!

[@FilmJournal]

Thanks Mike, glad you enjoyed it!

[@xasdew9327]

It's great to see original film criticism on KZbin that doesn't just skim through the plot and read the IMDB trivia! Fantastically edited and researched, I assumed from the editing quality and insight in the writing that you'd have way more subscribers. You've got at least one more now!

[@FilmJournal]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. I'm growing everyday- albeit slowly- but it's all because of people like you who appreciate, and engage with films on a more than superficial level. Thank you for the subscription!

[@Arthurify]

Amazing video, thank you for your work, I appreciate the attention to detail and rich research. I subscribed asap

[@CameronInEgyptsLand]

I saw Blow Out in the theater with my parents and my brother. I was 7 years old and I very much remember it. It was common for kids to accompany parents back then, and we loved it. When the nudity scenes came on, my Mom had us cover our eyes (of course, we peeked). My favorite scenes were Travolta using his sound fx skills to investigate what he witnessed. As you discuss here, De Palma was a fan of Hitchcock, as my family is. Travolta, Allen, Lithgow, Franz were all excellent. Really enjoyed this retrospective, thanks!

[@dumpsta-divrr365]

Finally saw this yesterday, its an amazing movie and so is this video essay. Im excited to check out more of de palma's stuff

[@MicaelSG23]

I rewatched Blow Out yesterday, and today I got a recommendation of this video. Great review! I couldn't find any review last night that was this good. Subscribed

[@FilmJournal]

Really appreciate that! Thank you for the sub!

[@michaelb.42112]

Blow Out is spectacular. I thought the ending SUCKS, but now that I'm writing this is was perfect, otherwise it would've been a typical Hollywood Disney happy ending.

[@scientifico]

I once worked in a building with an editing company in the early 2000's. I remember briefly meeting DePalma as he was walking out and I was walking in. I called his name because... dePalma did Scarface... and Carrie and he was part of Hollywood's 70's pinnacle. What really struck me was the way he looked at me... like he was genuinely pleased . Now this was around lunchtime and the the lobby was crowded with people but it seemed none of them recognized him... except for me.

[@airyanawaejah2323]

Great video

[@FilmJournal]

Thanks!

[@billbrock85]

Excellent Job, George! This was a stellar retrospective of one of my all-time favorites! Saw the film in the theater back in ‘81 and The Criterion Blu-Ray arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. : ) Keep up the Good Work!

[@FilmJournal]

Really glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time out to leave a comment! I really appreciate it

[@eugenelopez8482]

Great review. You pick a number of seldom remembered movies and persons to analyze and your depth in really insightful. I was wondering what Bow Out was but as I followed your video I remembered seeing it years ago. You also touch on other less known movies like Sisters which I will check out. I love the mystery/horror/thriller franchises, especially those that are done with intelligence that puts viewers in the catbirds seat. Thanks for all you do.

[@FilmJournal]

Wow, thank you! So glad you enjoyed the video. My goal is do something with this channel that I don’t see from all the others. Thanks for identifying this and for the lovely comment. Really appreciate it!

[@Melarancida]

Great retrospective on Blow Out, I really enjoyed this! I’ve been in love with this movie for such a long time and I always find it odd that is not talked about more. Very interesting parallel you make between the movie and De Palma’s life. Also thanks for mentioning “Winter Kills” which I had never heard of before. I went ahead and bought the blu ray immediately. I am a sucker for the genre.

[@LuxuryPossum]

For fans of DePalma and Hitchcock, I would recommend Hitchcock's Frenzy from 1972. It's one of the last films Hitch made, but it feels like he was able to do and show things on screen, that he could have never dreamed of doing 30 years prior. There are explicit scenes of violence and sexuality in the movie, but Hitchcock still knows when to pull back, and create suspense through the camera work. Also from 1972, DePalma's Sisters is one of my all time favorites. It is a genuinely unsettling psychological horror, with an equally unsettling score by one of Hitch's former contributors, Bernard Herrmann.

[@FilmJournal]

Wholly endorse both Frenzy and Sisters.

[@petarzivojinovic3976]

Amazing video! Good job, keep it going!

[@FilmJournal]

Thank you! Will do!

[@rodolfoleyva5157]

One of the best, and most under-rated films of all time

[@afonsolucas2219]

Just found this channel. Wanted some interesting discussions on Blow-Out cause I’d just rewatched it. Just subscribed. Top notch stuff man!

[@FilmJournal]

Wow dude! Huge praise. Thanks so much! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@afonsolucas2219]

@@FilmJournal You deserve them! It's tough to find film channels that give me an insight I didn't have before. Also love the retro vibe of your opening. Believe me, I learned more here than in a regular day in my film school. Keep up the great work, I'll be browsing through your catalogue now :)

[@dexxfilm]

Blow Out, Body Double, Dressed To Kill, Obsession... its hard to pick a favorite of De Palma's catalog but Blow Out takes the cake for me.

[@georgetop7277]

Brilliant video essay I Just saw the movie and is really a Masterpiece. I really Love the mood and the message behind the plot. Perfect. Again very Good video essay

[@FilmJournal]

Really appreciate the kind feedback! That’s what keeps me going!

[@georgetop7277]

@@FilmJournal i hope that you Will continue making very intersting video essays!!!!

[@MrOctober44]

Fantastic movie. Depalma's second best film. Very cool review. 👍

[@FilmJournal]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[@digitalcoffin666]

best essay of this movie i've seen

[@snoo333]

Wow, bro, the moment i saw the video on my subscription page, i was excited to sit down and watch this on my day of from the family. A day where i get to surf the net on topics i like. i am not sure if your married yet but you will find out not all subjects are shared by our loved ones. love your cuts on this video. I grew up in Jersey in the 80's. so i know a brawler when i encounter them. You my friend can take on a couple guys if you had to. can't hide that bro. lol You can't hide Alpha vides. looking forward to more content when you can. Good luck on the film.

[@p_nk7279]

God I love this movie

[@SquabbleBoxHQ]

Excellent work, subscribed! You need more views. If you'd ever consider making a guest video for another channel, looks us up.

[@FilmJournal]

Would love to! Thanks so much. That would be a great opportunity for me! What are you guys looking for? My next video is going to be on Michael Wadleigh's "Wolfen" with Albert Finney from 1981- thoughts?

[@SquabbleBoxHQ]

@@FilmJournal It would be an honour. I've watched a few of your videos and I'm really impressed. I tried to comment with my email address but it isn't posting so find it in our "about" tab if you want to discuss it - Dave.

[@anrun]

I really enjoyed the video and your analysis, thanks. However, with so many other DePalma films mentioned, I'm surprised Carlito's Way didn't come up all (unless I missed it). I think it is his best and I believe he thought so as well as he once said of it, "I can't make a better film than that." Do you have any thoughts on it?

[@gozorak]

This is a film and work of fiction, not a documentary, so I never had difficulty reconciling what some feel to be the tonal incongruity of the political conspiracy thriller and homicidal sex murder story lines. Within the world of the film it is entirely plausible to me that the Lithgow character is not only a seasoned political fixer and dirty trickster but a serial killer of women as well. The incident and need to cover up and clean up whatever evidence exists that might reveal the truth of what happened serves as the perfect storm of opportunity and "official justification" for Burke to indulge in his horrific crimes on behalf of "the greater good".

[@FilmJournal]

Well said my friend!

[@iangalley3464]

Nice video. I have nothing to add, except for this weird observation. In Blow Out, Nancy Allen's character mentions how she would like to be a make-up artist in the movies, in Romero's Dawn of the Dead, the make-up artist is.... Nancy Allen. This could all be a mis-remembering on my part, or a coincidence, but I'd like to think it's neither? One thing I always got from DePalma, was a cruel, sadistic, weird humour and I can just imagine him chortling as he wrote that line.

[@Warpedsmac]

Nice to view a video like yours where you, the host, JUST SPEAKS NORMALLY !!! Without the notion of "performance". So many hosts speak unnaturally....I just move on. Thank you George, from sunny Australia.

[@ExplosiveDisregard]

have you seen the movie Kimi? it was the 13th favorite film of Patrick willems of 2022 and i watched it 2 days ago. after watching it, I thought it seemed similar to Blowout. I had seen that Blow Out was on Criterion but had never watched it, so i watched them back to back. Kimi was written by the same writer that wrote Mission:impossible which of course was a Brian De Palma film. I have kind of been obsessed with Blowout after watching it. I was trying to figure out if I liked Blow Out better because i watched it second or if there were other reasons. they both have a scene where they realize that someone has erased their recordings and you show the scene in this video, its great, and its two and a half minutes if you include the over head shot of Travolta on the phone. the same scene in Kimi is a 15 second text massage in a slow zoom.

[@tremblingcolors]

I love this movie and I love the idea of Lithgow’s assassin character using a fake serial killer angle in order to hide that only one of the prostitutes he kills is an actual target. I believe it’s probably a real tactic used by shady assassin types. Whether creating a fake serial killer narrative or taking advantage of one that’s actually operating as a scapegoat for the killing of a specific target.

[@tracegage3505]

Great video. Does anybody know the music used at the beginning over the jfk video??

[@FilmJournal]

All of the music used is just the Pino Dinoggio score- there are full versions of it on KZbin, just scrub through until you find the track.

[@ninfilms]

Blow Out is a great film.

[@Tolstoy111]

14:32. Hitchcock died a few months before “Dressed to Kill” was released.

[@FilmJournal]

Interesting…John Landis must be lying? Good catch. Possible they were talking about Sisters or Obsessions and he mixed up the movies.

[@Tolstoy111]

@@FilmJournalor maybe Hitchcock saw a preview screening that DePalma set up for him?

[@samrotolo2006]

How did they do the 360 degree firework shot? Was that a green screen?

[@FilmJournal]

From the matte lines that are visible around Travolta I would say it's a blue screen (same thing, but they didn't use chroma key green back then) still, pretty impressive! Thanks for watching!

[@muddi900]

Mission Impossible did not have a DePalma stamp?

[@FilmJournal]

I recently re-watched MI and I would not make the same claim today

[@nathanslay6342]

First of all, Blow Out is a great movie! It’s a combination of great directing, great writing, great acting, great cinematography, great editing, great dialogue, and just a great story in general! However, what I will disagree with you on is that Scarface lacks the auteur nature he brings to Blow Out. Scarface is super well directed by De Palma and is a masterpiece and is my favorite film of his.

[@whipivy]

All I know is the real Travis Bickle is still out there babbling about how a candidate will never leave office if elected. I've always liked De Palma and Blowout I've felt was a Giallo if not a bow to it. Couldn't help but notice the style in juxtaposing the killer in line of sight with the victim, particular with his style of split focus really worked to create a sense of impending doom. And the colors in many of the scenes, especially in the killings really reminded me of Mario Bava and his style. I would recommend Blood and Black Lace to those who liked Blowout.

[@sha11235]

Snake Eyes is from 1998, not 1996.

[@demirhanserhan]

I'm really surprise that you didn't mention the great "Blow-Up" by Antonioni. Although i know you know the movie since you mentioned in your "The Hot Rock" review. Blow Out is one of the favorite movies of most people with similar cinematic tastes as mine but if you saw Antonioni's "Blow-Up" first like me which is probably the 2nd movie on my all time list, you just cannot see the "Blow Out" like other people. Still great film and LOVE De Palma but.. it's not "Blow-Up" for me and this comes from a man who thinks De Palma is better at making a Hitchcock movie then the guy himself. The "Rope" analogy and that clip you put on the video were great. I think it fits the situation between them just perfectly.

[@FilmJournal]

That is honestly a huge omission on my part- and I thought about it- but I didn’t think it fit the overall thesis-idk maybe it does, but once I saw I was crossing the half hour mark I figured I wouldn’t let it get any longer. Thanks for the comment

[@Jeckxdeel]

BLOW OUT is way far better than BLOW-UP! BLOW-UP is a very slow moving, boring and pretentious art house movie. A real boring piece of shit movie!

[@Borella309]

I agree! Having already seen "Blow-Up", "Blow Out" though I enjoyed it, really did seem like a knock off of "Blow-Up" in so many ways - especially the synching the sound to the animated still images part, really felt just like a different take on the photo enlargement sequence in "Blow-Up", so it did to a degree spoil focusing on the movie while constantly being reminded about the earlier movie.

[@Jeckxdeel]

@@Borella309 Ok. But BLOW OUT is wonderful. And on the other side, BLOW-UP is really a very slow moving, boring and soporific piece of shit!

[@Borella309]

Well in its favour as well, we do get a glimpse of Swinging London in the 1960s PLUS The Yardbirds performing (the great Jeff Beck getting into a bit of guitar-destruction to boot)!!!@@Jeckxdeel

[@jeffreybussmann3313]

The car goes into Wissahickon Creek.

[@Frednelore]

Blow out, 1981. Blow Up. 1966. Look it up.

[@FilmJournal]

Yeah, I was going to include a small portion on Blow Up, but decided against it. Mindset was really the only character idea ported over from Blow Up- bc the conspiracy is not real in the end.

[@talhashahbazali1433]

Great video

[@FilmJournal]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sha11235]

You sound a bit like John Cusack.

[@jezzalexander]

Watched it some years back - rewatched just tonight. Solid movie, beautiful and engaging, and a third act that doesn't make any sense whatsoever. The film isn't a political conspiracy doo-dah, it's a serial killer thriller with the conspiracy thing acting as an amuse bouche. This film is bollox. Entertaining and elegant, but utter bollox.

[@rydellbrundage6954]

I watched this movie for the first time last week because it was one of Tarantinos top 10 movies. I have to say i thought the movie was horrible. The pacing, along with the acting was bad. I dont understand why so many people think its a masterpiece. Damn. It was just bad.

[@FilmJournal]

Sorry to hear that. Do you disagree with the things I praise about the movie then? I’m just curious as to what rang hollow to you and why?

[@rydellbrundage6954]

@FilmJournal no. You made valid points, I just didn't see and/or appreciate it the way you did.

[@nadagabri5783]

I DON’T GET IT. Many comments saying this is BD’s MASTER PIECE, or their FAVORITE BD FILM, WTF? I suspect some say this because they have been influenced by QTs views on this film THIS IS NOT A MASTERPIECE. The lead FEMALE is horrid (in this film) I like her in others yet in this she is shite, almost unbearable. She only got the part as she was married to the director. It looks like a cheap TV production. When she hits Dennis over the head with a bottle, no liquor in the bottle clearly a break away cheap prop. I’m watching it now for the first time. 80% of the sounds in the film is like nails screeching on a black board. So not a masterpiece. There is one thing OT is right about JT’s acting is superb. He carry’s this entire film. He elevates it single handedly. All the other performances are 1980 TV series level, at best. Even John Lithgow DOING THE SAME OLD SMAE OLD. How in the world anyone can think this is BD’s master piece is beyond comprehension!!!

[@FilmJournal]

I’m sorry you’re going through this right now. I take it you didn’t like my video lol

[@nadagabri5783]

@@FilmJournal my view of this film doesn’t relate to your vid other than it finally motivated me to watch it - I did not complete your vid so do not know if u are one of the ones that say this is BD’s master piece - you are sorry I’m going through …. what ? Not having group think ? Not sure what u mean … doesn’t matter. I know QT talks about JT performance in this film and for that he is spot on yet not sure he gives the film itself respect. Maybe yes maybe no … Scarface is a far better than this film. if not for JT this film would be complete garbage

[@gidgetgartner1533]

5:13 uhhhh... ya, taken from the original movie "Blow Up". This isn't some master script. This movie is a joke.

[@FilmJournal]

I think it takes an idea from Blow Up ( a film which I find to be overrated) and expands upon it in a unique and creative way.

[@Tolstoy111]

“Blow Up” is very dated. This is one of the best American films of the 80s.

[@nadagabri5783]

I only know about this film from QT talking about that JT performance is exceptional in it . AND I still have never watched it - wonder if its really that good. Just watched JT performance excellent most everything else about this film SUCKS

[@Jeckxdeel]

Just go to bed!

[@bucksdiaryfan]

I just could not accept Nancy Allen's whiny, baby voice acting. Did she have to be so dumb for the work? Also, Dennis Franz was WAY over the top. I hated him until NYPD Blue when I loved him (he introduced subtlety into his acting) Travolta was magnificent

[@Justdisco2]

blow out is so similar to the Ted Kennedy scandal