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Blow Out (1981)

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User Rating: 7.1/10 (7,160 votes)
Photos (see all 5 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
Brian De Palma
Writer:
Brian De Palma (written by)
more
Release Date:
24 July 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Mystery | Thriller more
Tagline:
The Blow Out took them to the edge of terror . . . his questions took them way beyond [Video Australia] more
Plot:
A soundman accidentally records the evidence that proves a car "accident" was murder, and consequently finds himself in danger. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
Great thriller more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

John Travolta ... Jack Terry
Nancy Allen ... Sally

John Lithgow ... Burke

Dennis Franz ... Manny Karp
Peter Boyden ... Sam
Curt May ... Donahue
John Aquino ... Det. Mackey
John McMartin ... Lawrence Henry
Deborah Everton ... Hooker
J. Patrick McNamara ... Detective at hospital
Missy Cleveland ... Coed lover (as Amanda Cleveland)
Roger Wilson ... Coed lover
Lori-Nan Engler ... Sue
Cindy Manion ... Dancing coed
Missy O'Shea ... Dancing coed
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Additional Details

Runtime:
108 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Singapore:M18 | Germany:16 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | France:U (re-release: 2000) | Norway:16 (1982) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 8% since last week why?
Company:
Cinema 77 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The idea of a man discovering a crime by listening to a recording is a reinterpretation of Michelangelo Antonioni's film Blowup (1966), but using sound instead of photographs. more
Goofs:
Continuity: After Jack gets out of his vehicle to go into the train station to try to find Sally, he leaves his Jeep door open. When he comes out and gets back in the door is closed. more
Quotes:
Jack Terry: No one wants to know about conspiracy any more! more
Movie Connections:
References Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination (1963) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful:-
Great thriller, 13 July 2006
9/10
Author: BroadswordCallinDannyBoy from Boston, MA

Jack Terri is a soundman for a B-movie studio. One night as he is out recording sounds for a film he sees an accident - a car swerves through a guard rail and into a river. Jack jumps in in effort to help and sees that the driver is dead, but he manages to save the passenger. He soon finds out that the driver was the current favorite in the presidential election and after listening to the recording he suspects that what happened was no accident.

This is the type of movie many people call a rip-off as not only does it take an idea from a previous story and film ('Blow Up') it is one of DePalma's many Hitchcockian efforts. However, under his direction the film feels fresh and moves very well. It is 13 years before John Travolta made 'Pulp Fiction' but he was already a good lead actor. Dennis Franz also gives a good turn as a photographer who knows more than he is telling.

However, the scene stealer, would have to be John Lithgow who stoically walks his way through the film as a ruthless killer who wants to remove Jack Terri for the evidence he has. Rarely is such a emotionless and callous role played out so well to such great effect.

Then there is DePalma's direction which is the great thing that put all the good stuff together. He has a particular skill of blending shots/scenes without dissolves and that carries the movie is an interesting way. Using shadows, silhouettes, rotating camera shots he is truly a master in good form here. 9/10

Rated R: some grisly violence, and profanity

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