Time: 108 Minutes
Age Rating: R16
Cast:
John Travolta as Jack Terry
Nancy Allen as Sally Bedina
John Lithgow as Burke
Dennis Franz as Manny Karp
Director: Brian de Palma

I didn’t know much about this movie going in, just that it was a movie from Brian de Palma starring John Travolta, and that it was meant to be good. It ended up being even better than I thought it would be.

Blow Out is engaging with its dark mystery. It’s suspenseful, thrilling, and there’s a sense of paranoia throughout, as well as an obsession for wanting to know the truth as we follow our main character. It’s engaging from the beginning all the way to its memorable and hard-hitting ending.

John Travolta makes for a compelling protagonist, as a sound technician who is drawn into a conspiracy, he delivers possibly his best performance yet. Nancy Allen is also great, and John Lithgow is intimidating, cold and unpredictable as the main villain.

Brian de Palma’s direction is excellent. The cinematography is amazing, it’s beautifully shot and the sequences towards the end are especially fantastic. The sound design and sound editing are top notch, and Pino Donaggio’s score is effectively tense and beautiful.

Blow Out is a great political neo noir mystery thriller, captivating, tremendously directed, and with great performances. One of Brian de Palma’s best movies.