Tags
1960's, Blow-Up, David Hemmings, Drama, Jane Birkin, Michelangelo Antonioni, Mystery, Sarah Miles, Vanessa Redgrave
Film Title
Blow-Up
Director
Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring
- David Hemmings as Thomas
- Vanessa Redgrave as Jane
- Sarah Miles as Patricia
- Jane Birkin as The Blonde
An adroit movie that really gets the brain working with its examination of images and a different picture of Swinging London, Blow-Up is a confounding puzzle that registers on many levels and calls for attention. This is largely down to the sense of mystery and intelligent probing that is present, especially from the masterful camera of Michelangelo Antonioni.
Thomas is a dismayed, cool and bored fashion photographer whose view of Swinging London is coloured with nihilism and gloominess. He wishes to find something full of life to shoot, instead of the blank-faced and dead-eyed models he photographs on a daily basis. While his life is one of seeming glamour and everything you could ask for, the void of emptiness is becoming prominent and larger. Between fashion shoots, he photographs more realistic situations, such as men in the mines for a book he plans on publishing eventually. One day while in the park, searching for an image to complete his book, he happens across an intimate moment between an older man and a young, attractive girl. He snaps a few shots of them, before being harangued by the woman named Jane, who desperately wants the photos he has taken. When she comes to visit later on, he gives her the wrong film after she attempts to seduce him nervously as a way to acquire the photos. When he enlarges the photos he took in the park, upon closer inspection it appears that there is a man holding a gun and also a dead body in the background. Slowly, he becomes obsessed with what he may have captured on film and strangely comes to life again. The biggest question is has Thomas really discovered a murder? Or is it that he just wants something arresting to photograph and has fabricated this?
Michelangelo Antonioni is the master behind the camera who casts a deep spell on you with this ambiguous and provocative film. His depiction of life in the Swinging 60’s is anything but fun and games, instead heading in the direction of disillusionment and isolation. This is that sort of movie that will send your brain in multiple directions, thanks to the thematic value and layers of possibility that lie housed in it. The very essence of imagery and how accountable our eyes can be is fascinatingly brought to vivid life, leaving a good amount of room for uncertainty. The whole impact of Blow-Up takes in photography and vision well and also has something of an existential undercurrent that is evinced gradually. The ennui of Thomas’s life presents many interpretations regarding whether what he sees in the images is actually there or someone a thing he has projected himself. Yet like all the best film makers, Michelangelo Antonioni skilfully plays his cards close to his chest and leaves it up to the audience to question what is actually occurring. Anybody searching for clear answers and big reveals will not find them as Blow-Up is purposefully maddening and ambiguous, which is the biggest strength of the picture overall. The very fact that you can’t be quite sure if what Thomas captures is real or illusory is exciting yet deeply insightful at presenting an outsider’s perspective of the 60’s and how for some it wasn’t the bright time often depicted in media. Although it has colour aplenty scattered in various frames and the iconic fashions of the era( as well as liberated sexuality), Blow-Up is more concerned with showing the dissatisfaction with the world, especially in a time of change. Alienation seeps into Blow-Up, and it becomes understandable why Thomas would want something of life to photograph, which ironically comes when he thinks he’s uncovered a murder. There are so many parts to Blow-Up that really engage the mind and I am sure will be fascinating and provide more insight on other viewings. To some modern viewers, Blow-Up will seem meandering, but it’s deliberate pacing is in fact key to the film in capturing the boredom that the not always likable Thomas feels and how he springs to life when he believes he has discovered something. In the end, the whole mystery aspect of Blow-Up takes on a different tone with the feeling of not being able to trust what you see playing heavily on the uneasiness. The mod soundtrack strikes the counterbalance of action and liveliness with the feeling of being listless and something darker being under everything that is seen as fantastic at the time.
As the alienated and uncomfortable Thomas, David Hemmings is fantastic casting. He possesses a certain hollow-eyed melancholy and is sometimes hard to gauge, which figures in well as to whether or not the character is simply projecting his thoughts into reality. The character isn’t always the nicest or easiest person to relate to, but Hemmings grabs the attention with the listless angst becoming something bordering on possible madness as the movie progresses. A young Vanessa Redgrave makes a mark in only a couple of scenes; portraying the attractive woman in the photographs. There is an awkwardness and fretfulness to her, mixed with a strange sexuality that only heightens the picture’s idea of reality and perception. Sarah Miles appears as the neighbour of Thomas, who he obviously likes but never acts upon it. Jane Birkin features in a small but memorable part of a giggling girl who with a friend has an interesting photo shoot with Thomas.
A strange and abstract film that is one that will imprint many images on the mind and call for many watches, Blow-Up is a provocative and unusual film which deconstructs many ideas and gets you to question the validity of what you see.
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This is another one I’ve never heard of. I’m not sure if it’s my cup of tea, but fantabulous review review my friend!🤗
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beetleypete said:
It’s great, Kim. A 1960s icon, that has slipped thorough the net!
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vinnieh said:
It’s quite an analytical movie Kim. Gets the brain really into gear.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Okay! You and Pete have convinced me! I just looked online and my library doesn’t have it but there’s two libraries in our system so I just requested it through inter-library loan. It’s good to leave your comfort zone at times!😊
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vinnieh said:
Yes, stepping out of your comfort zone can do wonders Kim. I’ve found that with my movie viewing, it’s good to look for different things.
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beetleypete said:
This was a super-cool and sexy London film that was perfect for the 60s. I saw it at the time it came out, and thought it was great. I then bought the DVD on release, and enjoyed it even more. They don’t make them like this anymore, that’s for sure.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
It offers an interesting snapshot of the time from an outsider’s perspective. And I thought it was fantastic how it really questioned us with the very nature of reality and what we see.
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beetleypete said:
It’s a lot of things, mate. London at a time of transition, great for Londoners like me to see again. Sexy girls, trendy actors, and a baffling plot thrown in for good measure. And it’s got cameras and photography, ideal for me in so many ways!
I could probably do without the mime artist though, but that’s not an issue.
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vinnieh said:
It sure left an indelible mark on me. Thought it was absolutely staggering the amount of avenues the film takes. You can interpret it in so many ways.
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Heartafire said:
I watched this on TCM, it is fabulous…thank you for the review. I highly recommend this drama/mystery.
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vinnieh said:
It’s one that has been in my head for days now. Still attempting to decipher some of it!
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Heartafire said:
I really liked this cliffhanger.
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vinnieh said:
It is a most ambiguous and puzzling ending. But that’s what makes it linger for so very long.
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Heartafire said:
Very much so!
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vinnieh said:
It’s really stuck in my head now.
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Paul. Writer, Blogger and Filmmaker said:
This is a great review which gets the film’s abstract nature can be a challenging watch. But like Antonioni’s film ‘The Passenger it really gets into your head and compels throughout. Brian DePalma directed a more commercial but equally excellent genre homage/rip-off called ‘Blow Out’ with a never-better John Travolta.
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vinnieh said:
It’s a movie that I feel I will visit again to see if I notice anything else or something different. That for me is the power of an effective movie that gets the mind working. I wish to see Blow Out now, as funnily enough I have to catch up on watching more De Palma. Anymore recommendations from him?
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Paul. Writer, Blogger and Filmmaker said:
He’s an excellent director who is often under-rated from a technical perspective because he works in genre mainly. My favourite films of his are:
Sisters (1973)
Obsession (1976)
Carrie (1976)
The Fury (1978)
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Blow Out (1980)
Scarface (1983)
Body Double (1984)
The Untouchables (1987)
Casualties of War (1989)
Raising Cain (1992)
Carlito’s Way (1993)
Mission: Impossible (1996)
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vinnieh said:
Wow, that’s quite a list. I have seen Carrie, The Untouchables and Mission Impossible but the others have eluded me. I have read about De Palma though, from what I’ve heard he likes to reference Hitchcock.
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beetleypete said:
I have to agree that ‘Blow Out’ is a great watch. Not only referencing ‘Blow Up’, but also alluding to the Teddy Kennedy ‘Chappaquiddick’ incident. And Nancy Allen is great in it!
Regards, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Well I see De Palma is now higher up my list, gotta check more of his stuff.
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Paul. Writer, Blogger and Filmmaker said:
Absolutely. The opening crash sequence is a masterful connection of sound and images and angles designed by DePalma. I love that later in the film Travolta’s character builds the sequence from his recordings and the stills too. Not as mysterious as Blow Up but ingenious nonetheless.
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beetleypete said:
Seems to be one that is overlooked by many. Worth shouting about, for anyone who has never seen it.
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vinnieh said:
Good news, it’s on Netflix. Will get to it as soon as I can.
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Paul. Writer, Blogger and Filmmaker said:
It’s a great thriller!
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vinnieh said:
Well I promise it will be getting watched soon.
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beetleypete said:
Not seen ‘Carlito’s Way’ or ‘Scarface’, V? I am surprised. Pacino does well in both, and Sean Penn is unrecognisable in ‘Carlito’s’.
‘Casualties of War’ is a good Vietnam film, with some standout performances.
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vinnieh said:
Oh God, I have seen Scarface ages ago. Carlito’s Way has someone slipped passed me it seems and so has Casualties of War.
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beetleypete said:
Carlito’s way is a gangster classic. John Leguizamo is very good in it too.
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vinnieh said:
Well when you put it like that, I must see it.
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Jay said:
Look at you and your throwback.
You know, I’d love to see this one on the big screen.
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vinnieh said:
I am all about reconnecting with older movies.
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ninvoid99 said:
Definitely one of my favorite films which I’m glad is coming out or it’s currently out on Blu-Ray via Criterion as my old DVD copy wasn’t very good because of the poor audio. It’s the film that really influenced a lot of surveillance films like The Conversation and Blow Out as I think it would make a great triple-feature.
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vinnieh said:
Ooh a triple feature, now that’s a good idea. A triple bill is just what I need.
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John Charet said:
Great post 🙂 Speaking of Brian De Palma, I have an entry on my blog spot that deals with My Favorite Brian De Palma films. Feel free to look it up on my site If ever you’s like 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Oh I’ll be over to your blog as soon as I can.
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keepsmealive said:
Whoa didn’t know about this. Neat!
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vinnieh said:
If you want to be challenged by a film, this is the one!
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keepsmealive said:
As long as it doesn’t challenge me to a race. I’m not that fast.
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vinnieh said:
No nothing like that. It challenges the mind.
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