Blow Out [4K UHD + Blu-Ray] (Criterion Collection) - UK Only

One of John Travolta's lesser known films, but one of his best. Interesting story that unfolds slowly and builds to an exciting climax. Great supporting roles from de Palma regular Nancy Allen as well as John Lithgow. De Palma uses colour to great effect to enhance the imagery on screen and the soundtrack by Pino Donnagio captures the mood of the film and its characters perfectly. There are allusions to Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film 'Blowup' and Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Conversation', along with political references to the Kennedy assassination, the Zapruder film, and the Chappaquiddick incident. Definitely a film that will get you involved. Don't miss this one.

This is a film that shouldn't work. But it does.It's corny, hammed out acting, preposterous and untenable plotDe Palma uses a lifetimes artistic licence.So why is this film so good?Brian De Palma weaves his colossal talent like a magic wand.The end result is a captivating film.The 4k bluray looks superb.Another other director wouid have made a terrible film.Brian De Palma somehow makes a modern classic.Unmissable. Just don't analyse the plot.Turn a blind eye and you'll love the film

de Palma was at the top of his game during the 70s and 80s, churning out superb thrillers, oft-tinged with horror elements such as Sisters, Carrie, Dressed to Kill, The Fury, and this one, Blow Out. I won't go into detail regarding the plot as you can find that on the imdb, but if you're looking at this 4k release from Criterion and looking to see if it's worth the money, then the answer is a resounding 'YES.'It looks truly filmic, true to the source material. Not glossy and DNR'd to death, but like an early 1980s film treated with due respect. de Palma's use of split diopter shots is in full effect in this one, and the film as a whole looks tremendous. I really can't imagine it looking much better.Travolta is on fine form, Nancy Allen (what a babe she was) plays the ditzy patsy to perfection, Dennis Franz the sleazy photographer is great, and of course, the man of the show, John Lithgow, makes it worth watching based on his character alone.SO many great moments in this. The initial accident, the various actresses they audition for the scream, the overhead 360 as Travolta is in his recording studio and realises just how deep the conspiracy goes, the multiple 'sex killings' to draw attention away from the real target.An amazing film, and an excellent disc. 10/10

Top marks to Criterion for restoration and packaging - however, I can’t quite understand their decision to include this one to their list. I think it really is very bad indeed - however, John Travolta is, as usual, a real ‘Pro’.

One of De Palma's best films ever, with a fantastic rhythm and sense of cinema from the very start to the end. There are maybe some excessive scenes where pathos, anxiety or drama are too stressed and become a little over the top, but he managed to resume from Antonioni former film and concept of technology changing the way we see the world, and develop a master-thriller, with fantastic scenes, all built around the idea of time, perception, distortion of the senses, and a truth and reality that is not what we know. A political thriller where the concept, the story and the way it is directed are all connected and converge into this great example of Cinema with the capitol C, without losing however any adherence with reality. It si not just art for art, but art that change the way we see the world.Great blu ray, with some flaws, but still top class.

Excellent film that eschews many of the tropes that were (and still are) typical of the genre. There are some downsides however regarding the acting but nevertheless, it's a classic. Criterion also did competent work with the restoration.

Great film but item arrived damaged

Blind buy for me. Decent thriller. Nice 4k picture quality.

Perfect transfer from 35mm to 4k of a Brian de Palma masterpiece. Perhaps the most sensationally diferent 4k/HD from all of de Palma's movies. The previous blu-ray is a pale comparison to this must watch restoration. Laser transfer from the original camera negative is an awesome 'Wow' with the combo HDR and Dolby vision. De Palma deserves It: this de Palma's movie above all the others.

ITS A FANTASTIC MOVIE. THE CLARITY AND SOUND IF THE DVD IS AWESOME....

A brilliant film showing some of the characteristic DePalma directorial touches that persist in his later films.This one is a real time capsule - a style and theme evocative of the era. Travolta and Nancy Allen are (again) excellent together and the supporting cast features the usual quirky, seedy characters that always seem to show up.Really interesting that this movie is “about” movies in some way - how they were made at the time and that too makes for very interesting elements.The Criterion collection is as always beautifully presented with lots of interesting features.Highly recommend!

I love, love, LOVE this movie. It's an example of perfect filmmaking on every level from creative to technical. This is the first Brian DePalma film where the director put more of his personality inside his technique, and it's the best he's ever done it as well.This blu ray is insane with greatness. Firstly, the transfer is pristine. This probably looks and sounds better than it ever did when this film came out back in the 80's. More importanly, the special features are just what the doctor ordered. First, and best of all, we get an hour long interview with director Brian DePalma by current filmmaker Noah Baumbach(The Squid and the Whal-if you haven't seen this or his other films, see them IMMEDIATELY). DePalma not only goes into the making of this film but his views on filmmaking in general. "I don't know what the hell a two shot or coverage is", DePalma says as he is referring to his shots and angles. Further establishing what so many modern director's don't do, they just cover a scene from every angle and cobble it all together. Like all of DePalma's films, especially this one, he chooses shots to tell the story, and they have to work because there's no other way to tell the story. There's also a great anecdote regarding how reels of film were stolen and never found. They were the scenes from the big parade chase scene, that had to be reshot. It's great and very informative and if any of you out there are aspiring filmmakers this interview is a must. We also get a cool interview with Nancy Allen and the cinematographer. There's also a booklet reflecting on the film that also includes an old Pauline Kael review of the film.Anyone who loves or likes films should at least have seen this film, but should definitely own it, and only this restored blu ray edition. Travolta made is evolution to adulthood with this film. This was the first 'grown up' character he played in his early career. Unfortunately this was the last good film he made until the brilliant Pulp Fiction(on a side note Tarantino is a huge DePalma fan). He is really good complex, and very believable as a man obsessed with solving a mystery. Nancy Allen(Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Robocop trilogy), one of the screen's truly talented and underappreciated screen beauties shines as well. I think this is her best performance as well. She manages the impossible by playing a ditzy hooker who never comes off obnoxious or too stupid to sympathize with. Hers and Travolta's virgining romance is truly sweet and very effective. John Lithgow shows up too playing one of his early psychopath roles, long before Raising Caine, Cliffhanger and now the immortal season 4 villain of Dexter. The characters drive the plot foward, and the plot is dense. It's a mix of Blow Up and The Conversation with some new twists thrown in for good measure. It's political, mysterious, scary, horrific and blackly funny all in one master storke. The culmination of all of DePalma's earlier efforts shoved into one film and totally effective.This is my favorite DePalma film. I am so happy Criterion picked this one up, and if you own the crappy MGM bare bones edition, then you know what I mean. I would've settled for a great transfer of the film, but getting these new and truly great special features is just icing. Everyone should see this, and help make up for its ignored and slightly forgotten status that it received on its initial release.

Esta es una de las mejores películas de Brian de Palma que he visto. Hay muchos elogios para Vestida para matar, pero esta me parece menos predecible. De 1981 cuando Travolta hacía una que otra buena película y Nancy Allen , pareja del director, pero muy buena actriz. Aquí destaca lo importante que es el sonido en una película o para probar un complot de asesinato. Suspenso de la mejor calidad.