The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Brian De Palma's Blow Out is an unusual mixture of espionage and exploitation that unfolds with surprising effectiveness, thanks to the director's spellbinding visuals and stylistic choices. Those who appreciated both the technical story elements of Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation and the offbeat depravity of Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy will likely find a lot to enjoy in this movie that utilizes the above attributes with dashes of cynicism and unexpected sadness thrown into the fold. Blow Out was released in 1981, but I tend to associate it with 1970s cinema as sort of a final dying gasp of jaded Watergate-era pessimism before renewed optimistic vigor splashed onto the scene by way of films like E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, The Right Stuff, and even Top Gun.

In this instance, cinematic bleakness went out not with a whimper, but a kaleidoscopic bang. Blow Out is a marvel of vivid colors that pop out of the screen on this Criterion Blu-ray. One scene, where John Travolta's Jack Terry cradles Nancy Allen's Sally as fireworks explode overhead, is one of the most awesome high definition moments in my collection, and it is a perfect "demo disc" opportunity if one is so inclined to show off the Blu-ray format to friends. De Palma's creative use of slow motion, split-screen sequences, and Steadicam technology goes over wonderfully in the medium, and the sound effects that are so integral to this story are given a new sheen in the audio presentation. The Criterion DVD of Blow Out that I used to own before I jumped to high definition was impressive in its own right, but this is one of the most dramatic improvements of a Blu-ray transfer from its standard definition counterpart that I have ever seen.

Criterion backs up the main feature with entertaining interviews with Brian De Palma, Nancy Allen, and cameraman Garret Brown, but the crown jewel of supplements on this disc is De Palma's 1967 full-length film, Murder a la Mod. Murder a la Mod, with its multi-viewpoint storyline that plows forward with an uncanny mix of trippy experimentation and fast-paced slapstick, may frustrate moviegoers with more conventional tastes, but I urge everyone to watch with patience for an excellent gothic payoff visual depicting a girl and an ice pick moving closer to the camera through eerie backlight.

De Palma's films have always been hit-or-miss with me, but Blow Out is my favorite work from the director by considerable margin, and this Blu-ray presentation goes the extra mile to earn a five-star rating in my book.

[Scottie]

Everybody says De Palma borrowed from The Conversation, as well as Blow-Up (obviously), so I'll definitely need to check out The Conversation to see exactly how so.

[Rhylliam]

My whole Criterion Collection so far... 135 releases, plus the CDN release of Che.
image.jpg

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Everybody says De Palma borrowed from The Conversation, as well as Blow-Up (obviously), so I'll definitely need to check out The Conversation to see exactly how so.

Those associations are more based on subject matter than anything else.

The Conversation is a great movie though. Check it out anyway.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

My whole Criterion Collection so far... 135 releases, plus the CDN release of Che.
Attachment 74681

Talk about humbling. My puny CC collection will never grow up to be that!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Just finished Le Samourai and while it was a good movie, there was 1 part that I just couldn't shake, in fact it annoyed me quite a bit.

[Show spoiler]It's entirely unbelievable that they'd have half the police department involved in some massive surveillance operation to chase down 1 person who was released from custody due to a solid alibi and not even a single shred of evidence. While I enjoyed the scene I thought it was really out of line with the believability of the rest of the movie.

Otherwise, it was well written. How else can you find yourself rooting for the hitman and hating the police?

Le Samouraï is more concerned with cool stylistic leanings than with realistic narrative. The police force is portrayed almost as though they were a rival gang. Everything in the film functions specifically to turn the wheels of fate in a way that makes the walls squeeze in tighter on Jef Costello, just as the walls of his apartment in the opening sequence expand and contract.

I would never describe Le Samouraï as fantastical, but it is a film where the character study of the hitman is the main focus at the occasional expense of logic. There are even a few outright inside jokes thrown in the viewer's direction, such as the sight of Costello's shelves filled with multiple bottles of mineral water and cigarettes, and we sense that the character somehow has an endless array of hats, trenchcoats, and other accessories to maintain the noir-esque image. Costello's trenchcoat and hat appearance is deliberately anachronistic for the time period, probably for the same reason. The final result adds up to one of the coolest characters in history.

This is my all-time favorite movie, but there's not a second in this movie when we are not aware that we are watching filmmaker contrivances in plain sight.

[Rhylliam]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Talk about humbling. My puny CC collection will never grow up to be that!

I have 3 Criterion laserdiscs too that I should have included in the pic (King Kong 2-disc reissue (1st commentary ever recorded!), Bram Stoker's Dracula 3-disc, Close Encounters of the Third Kind 3-disc & Tootsie 1-disc). More of those to come.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

Those associations are more based on subject matter than anything else.

The Conversation is a great movie though. Check it out anyway.

Oh okay, thanks! I definitely will.

[jlk5844]

I have an interest in The Vanishing, White Dog, and Man Bites Dog. Do you think these will ever be upgraded to blu?

[hustlermane]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

I have an interest in The Vanishing, White Dog, and Man Bites Dog. Do you think these will ever be upgraded to blu?

Gut says Vanishing yes, White Dog no - it seemed like a miracle that came to DVD, I'm not sure lightning will strike twice with that one. A cool movie though! Haven't seen Man Bites Dog, but its profile is probably high enough?

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

I watched Modern Times for the first time today, and thoroughly enjoyed the film. The only other Chaplin I've seen thus far is The Great Dictator, and I much preferred Modern Times. I do plan on picking up City Lights next week, and I also own The Gold Rush, which I plan on screening soon. What intrigued me about Modern Times is the fact that it has so many set pieces. After reading the synopsis, I expected most of the film to take place inside of a factory, and for the jokes to be primarily aimed at industrialization. However, you've got: factories, union marches, prisons, cafeterias, department stores (perhaps my favorite scene, on roller skates), suburban houses, a crowded restaurant, an ending on a desolate highway, and much more. The scope of this film is incredible.

What I loved most about the film is how it plays out like a series of shorts, which helps the pacing incredibly and makes it an ideal introduction to silent cinema. I can't wait to get my hands on City Lights and finally watch it. Unfortunately, that won't be until late December.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by Cvalda

I blind bought La Notte on Friday, along with Kuroneko, Life is Sweet and The Ice Storm.

La Notte is astonishing. I was worried it was gonna be a lesser companion piece to his other films of that era since it never really got a proper release here before now, but it's just as good as L'Avventura, L'Eclisse and Red Desert. Ending is very powerful, and the visuals are incredible.

Thanks, can't wait to see that one.
I wonder if L'Avventura and L'Eclisse will finally be released next year.

[hustlermane]

Am I the only one who was slightly underwhelmed by City Lights? Loved Modern Times, Gold Rush and Great Dictator and then was sort of...meh...on the film thats so often called his masterpiece.

Also, L'eclisse is probably the only hypothetical Day 1 Criterion Blu for me with my current financials. It never got a release here and as a result its the only 60s Antonioni I haven't seen. As for La Notte, at first it didn't seem on par with L'avventura/RD/Blowup but on reflection its sitting pretty well with me, and the new transfer looks stunning so I might have to buy it.

[joie]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Am I the only one who was slightly underwhelmed by City Lights? Loved Modern Times, Gold Rush and Great Dictator and then was sort of...meh...on the film thats so often called his masterpiece. [...]

I've thought Modern Times is much better than City Lights.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Everybody says De Palma borrowed from The Conversation, as well as Blow-Up (obviously), so I'll definitely need to check out The Conversation to see exactly how so.

The Conversation is probably in my top 5 of all time. Many think it is a complete bore... esp some user ratings on this sight and amazon lol. I just love the pace of the film and the characters. really great atmosphere and mood. I could honestly watch this on repeat. (again many don't think much of it.) Don't mean to build it up. great 70's cinema IMO.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

The Conversation is probably in my top 5 of all time. Many think it is a complete bore... esp some user ratings on this sight and amazon lol. I just love the pace of the film and the characters. really great atmosphere and mood. I could honestly watch this on repeat. (again many don't think much of it.) Don't mean to build it up. great 70's cinema IMO.

I dunno. Besides Amazon reviews (which really shouldn't be looked into), it's seems to be regarded highly. It has a high score on IMDb, so that crowd likes it. Critically, it's regarded as one of the best 70s films.

Personally, I'd rank it as Coppola's best, and I'd say Hackman's performance is one of the all time great performances - probably the second best of the 70s.

[lordmorpheus72]

So had a chance to sit down and watch a couple of my recent Criterion purchases, Complete Monterey and La Cage aux Folles .

Monterey was quite amazing. It was the first time I had seen all of that Jimi performance. As someone who is just a little too young to have had the chance to see Jimi perform, it was a joy to watch such an important performance. Seeing the chemistry between Jimi, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, let alone the performace of all three, is something to behold, and makes me jealous of those who are older than me and saw some of these musical greats live.

Both the sound and video were quite amazing, and much better than I thought it could be. It's so great to see someone who has had such a direct influence on the great bands that came along at the same time and after. After watching I really wanted to pop in some Jimi cds and then move right into some King's X (dUg Pinnick's vocals and all around style reminds me so much of Jimi... and of course The Beatles.)

As for La Cage aux Folles , just flat out kept me laughing for 96 minutes. I have seen The Bird Cage many times, and Nathan Lane's performance always seemed amazing and spot on. Watching the original, I see where he took all of his cues. It was nice to see the original and enjoy it as much as the remake. It was also nice to not be disappointed in the remake by seeing the original. But getting back to La Cage itself, it was a real joy to watch. The acting was amazing and the pacing was spot on. It'll be tough chosing which version to watch in the future.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by joie

I've thought Modern Times is much better than City Lights.

Easily. City Lights is just way too schmaltzy sometimes. Plus, nothing in any Chaplin film is as side splittingly hilarious as the feeder in Modern Times.

[Scottie]

I can't wait for my copies of City Lights and Frances Ha to arrive! I really can't wait to rewatch Frances Ha and it's always nice to see a new Chaplin film! (especially one so highly regarded)

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

The Conversation is probably in my top 5 of all time. Many think it is a complete bore... esp some user ratings on this sight and amazon lol. I just love the pace of the film and the characters. really great atmosphere and mood. I could honestly watch this on repeat. (again many don't think much of it.) Don't mean to build it up. great 70's cinema IMO.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Easily. City Lights is just way too schmaltzy sometimes. Plus, nothing in any Chaplin film is as side splittingly hilarious as the feeder in Modern Times.

Modern Times is great, but I still think my favorite Chaplin (at the moment) is Monsieur Verdoux, followed by The Great Dictator, The Gold Rush, and then Modern Times. I really need to rewatch Modern Times as I remember taking medication the first time I saw it and I was somewhat out of it when watching lol.

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Easily. City Lights is just way too schmaltzy sometimes. Plus, nothing in any Chaplin film is as side splittingly hilarious as the feeder in Modern Times.

I prefer the boxing sequence from City Lights.