This past week in class we watched the 1981 thriller "Blow Out", starring John Travolta and directed by Brian De Palma. It is about a sound operator who works in Hollywood on low budget horror films who inadvertently witnesses a murder. He investigates the murder and uncovers a conspiracy that goes much deeper than he could have ever imagined. While this movie was full of suspense, action-packed, and had a plethora of innovative camera techniques; it reminded me of why I absolutely hate 80's movies. I abhor 80's movies. I don't know whether it is the horrible jazz saxophone music that seems to be a staple of classic 80's movies, or the predictable, cheesy plots, or the dark, dreary colors in which these movies are set. Whatever it is, it makes for a downright depressing film.

I am much more drawn to the bright colors of Technicolor and upbeat musical numbers of the 1950'a. Even present day films that may be a little bit more serious and a tad dreary are more appealing to me then 80s movies. All of the Batman films are quite dark, both in color and in content, yet I enjoy those movies. Country for Old Men has no music whatsoever, yet I still like that movie as well. It is obviously not simply the dark feeling and horrid music of 80s movies that I dislike. I would say it is the phoniness of them, but early musicals caked on the cheesiness yet I still love them. I felt as though there was no real connection to the characters, no character development. I did not care out the characters, and there was never an reason for me to care about them.

One thing that both bothered and impressed me about Blow Out was the fact that I never forgot that it was indeed a movie. It always felt as though I was watching a movie, and at times it almost seemed as though the actors were aware that they had an audience. All of the showy camera techniques were impressive in themselves, however I feel as though they almost distracted from the story. Maybe, this is simply because I know that I am helping to plan our movie that we will be shooting very soon, that I was more aware of these elements. The cheesy and predictable slow motion running sequence was especially bothersome to me. De Palma has a nack for taking a story, turning it into a film, and the film into art. I can appreicate the art of this film, maybe just not the story.... or the horible saxaphone music.