8 | / 10 |
Users | 2.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Former police technician Jack Terry makes his living doing sound for slasher flicks. While recording new outdoor effects one night, Jack witnesses a couple's car careen off a bridge into a river, but he can save only the female occupant, Sally. Jack begins to suspect something when he learns that her dead companion was a presidential hopeful. Re-playing his tape over and over, Jack thinks that he hears a gun shot before the crash-causing tire blowout. When sleazy photographer Manny Karp comes forward with photos of the accident, Jack discovers the real reason that the naïve Sally was in the car—and also a way to prove his auditory suspicions through motion pictures. Even with all his surveillance talent, however, Jack cannot see (or hear) how dangerous the big picture really is until it's too late.
Starring: John Travolta, Nancy Allen, John Lithgow, Dennis Franz, Peter BoydenDrama | 100% |
Film-Noir | 27% |
Mystery | 22% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Brian De Palma's "Blow Out" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Carlotta Films. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailer for the film; short introduction to the film by writer Samuel Blumenfeld; critical analysis of the film by critic and film historian Jean Douchet; video interview with producer George Litto; video interview with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond; video interview with actress Nancy Allen; and video interview with Italian composer Pino Donaggio. In English, with optional French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
I am not paranoid
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Blow Out arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of French distributors Carlotta Films.
Unlike the Criterion release of Blow Out of Blow Out, which uses a brand new high-definition transfer created on a Scanity Datacine in 2K resolution from the original 35mm camera negative, which was supervised by director Brian De Palma, this release uses a high-definition transfer which appears to have been struck from a dated source. Needless to say, the film does not look as fresh and healthy as it does on the Criterion release.
Clarity and detail range from decent to good. However, during sequences where light is restricted, depth is somewhat problematic (compare screencapture #7 with screencapture #1 from the Criterion release). Contrast levels are also toned down. Color reproduction is satisfactory, with most close-ups looking rather good (see screencapture #5), but the Criterion release clearly boasts healthier, better saturated, and ultimately far more pleasing organic colors. This is very easy to see when one compares daylight panoramic shots (compare screencapture #17 with screencapture #4 from the Criterion release). The best news here is that there are no traces of excessive sharpening corrections. There are no traces of excessive post production degraining corrections, but the age of the master used to produce the high-definition transfer for this release clearly shows. Lastly, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. There are no large cuts, debris, warps, or stains. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. For the record, Carlotta Films have provided optional French subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
There are no serious technical issues to report with the lossless track. Clarity and dynamic movement are very good, though it appears that depth is ever so slightly on the lossless track from the Criterion (the one specific sequences I compared was the car crash in the beginning of the film). Some extremely light background hiss occasionally sneaks in as well. Still, the lossless track is solid.
This French release of Brian De Palma's Blow Out is the best alternative for folks residing in Region-B land who cannot play Region-A releases. However, the French release does not use the new and approved by the acclaimed director high-definition transfer that is on the Criterion release. The supplemental features on it are also very different. To sum it all up, currently the best presentation of Blow Out is in the United States. RECOMMENDED.
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