Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Brian De Palma is an underrated filmmaker who is often overlooked among his peers. He came to prominence as a member of “The Movie Brats,” a group of filmmakers including fellow members Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola. Every other member of the group is universally hailed as a film genius, but De Palma rarely seems to receive his due recognition.
Admittedly, De Palma’s career has been less consistent than that of his fellow Movie Brats, but he’s nonetheless been behind some of the most compelling and thought-provoking thrillers of our time. He has an uncanny ability to juxtapose trash alongside art. While many of his films might appear sleazy at first glance, he’s always got a point of view. If you look a little deeper, his pictures typically feature astute commentary beneath the surface.
Guillermo del Toro knows what I’m talking about. The Oscar-winning filmmaker is an outspoken supporter of De Palma. He previously named The Phantom of the Paradise as one of his “most beloved films.” Not to mention, he’s a massive fan of Blow Out. A few years ago, del Toro posted on X (formerly Twitter) about why he loves the film. You can see what he has to say for yourself directly below:
Film: Blow Out by Brian De Palma. Starts as a political thriller and ends up as a meditation on the cannibalistic nature of art.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) December 20, 2015
What is Blow Out about?
While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri (John Travolta) stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally (Nancy Allen) from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.
I think del Toro sums the film up perfectly with his punchy critique. I’d also add that John Lithgow delivers a menacing performance that’s likely to make your skin crawl. Not to mention, the flick is visually striking and technically brilliant, featuring the persistent use of split-screen and split diopter shots. Two techniques for which De Palma is well known.
Anyone keen to experience the film should take note that this del Toro-endorsed effort is currently available to stream on Tubi.
That’s all we’ve got for you at present. Make sure to let us know your thoughts on Blow Out in the comments section below!
Categorized: News
