13 of Criterion’s Most Villainous Villains
October 31, 2011
Film Info
- United States
- 1981
- 108 minutes
- Color
- 2.40:1
- English
- Spine #562
In the enthralling Blow Out, brilliantly crafted by Brian De Palma, John Travolta gives one of his greatest performances, as a movie sound-effects man who believes he has accidentally recorded a political assassination. He enlists the help of a possible eyewitness to the crime (Nancy Allen), who may be in danger herself, to uncover the truth. With its jolting stylistic flourishes, intricate plot, profoundly felt characterizations, and gritty evocation of early-1980s Philadelphia, Blow Out is an American paranoia thriller unlike any other, as well as a devilish reflection on moviemaking.
Cast
| Jack | John Travolta |
| Sally | Nancy Allen |
| Burke | John Lithgow |
| Manny Karp | Dennis Franz |
| Detective Mackey | John Aquino |
| Sam | Peter Boyden |
| Frank Donahue | Curt May |
Credits
| Director | Brian De Palma |
| Screenplay | Brian De Palma |
| Producer | George Litto |
| Executive producer | Fred Caruso |
| Director of photography | Vilmos Zsigmond |
| Production design | Paul Sylbert |
| Editing | Paul Hirsch |
| Music | Pino Donaggio |
| Conducted by | Natale Massara |
Disc Features
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION:
- New, restored digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Brian De Palma (with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition)
- New hour-long interview with De Palma, conducted by filmmaker Noah Baumbach
- New video interview with star Nancy Allen
- De Palma’s 1967 feature Murder à la Mod
- New video interview with cameraman Garrett Brown on the Steadicam shots featured in the film within the film
- On-set photos by photographer Louis Goldman
- Original theatrical trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Sragow and Pauline Kael’s original New Yorker review
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