Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Blow Out

‘Blow Out’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Wesley Morris

November 15, 2022 · Blow Out (1981) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 2:01:21 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 56:45The car accident scene, the owl/guy under the bridge moment, and the opening Coed Frenzy title sequence; also highlights Travolta making the homemade photo/film strip video and the spinning shot when the tapes are erased
Chris Ryan▶ 56:58The opening sequence going from Coed Frenzy to the editing booth to the Blow Out title sequence, comparing it to Goodfellas' opening
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:01:43The spinning shot where the film reels and camera both go around and around while Travolta assembles the footage
Wesley Morris▶ 57:12The title sequence/opening (agrees with Chris on the Coed Frenzy to Blow Out title transition)

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:1630th Street Station (notes De Palma's love of train stations, also used in Untouchables and Witness)
Wesley Morris▶ 1:16:2830th Street Station - praises it as like Grand Central but smaller, less confusing, with a great statue

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:55Lithgow's character (Burke) is too crazy/sociopathic for the movie - feels like he must be a full-blown serial killer/Ted Bundy type rather than just a conspirator, which doesn't track with the simpler blackmail plan.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:50Agrees Burke's escalation to serial killer is jarring ('that was not in the proposal'), but later notes the serial killer angle actually works narratively since it provides cover at the end of the film.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:14Contextualizes Lithgow's manic villain as a De Palma/Hitchcock trope he reuses across films (Obsession, Raising Cain), implying it's a recurring weak/indulgent element rather than picking a single scene.
Wesley Morris▶ 1:20:57The scene where Travolta's character tells Nancy Allen's character 'I saved your life, the least you could do is have a drink with me' - calls out the entitled, pushy 'men' dynamic of the line/scene as the weakest element.

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:19Says no better title exists, but notes the movie was almost called 'Personal Effects' (a real alternate title, referencing the sign on his office door)

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:37Blow Out is actually John Travolta's best movie/performance, even better than Saturday Night Fever
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:25:08Pushes back slightly, suggesting Grease, arguing Travolta is irreplaceable to that movie's phenomenon (though agrees craft-wise this film is his peak)
Wesley Morris▶ 1:24:59Elaborates on Bill's take, agreeing this performance is 'energy with craftsmanship' compared to Saturday Night Fever's raw charisma, without offering his own separate hot take

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:28Proposes recasting Nancy Allen's role (Sally in Blow Out) with alternatives like Susan Sarandon, Debra Winger, a young Glenn Close, or Jessica Lange, arguing De Palma should have found 'new blood' instead of repeatedly casting Nancy Allen (his 'Sandra Locke Movie Theory').
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:44Agrees the character needs to be a bit of a ditz/manipulated figure, and notes Nancy Allen feels like she's from the Bronx/Philly rather than someone like Jessica Lange, implying Lange wouldn't fit the role's regional/character vibe.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:29:34Defends Nancy Allen overall (loved her in Dressed to Kill), but agrees only Jessica Lange among Bill's suggested names could convincingly play the 'ditz' quality needed for the role; also floats Margot Kidder and Carrie Fisher as options, which Wesley shoots down.
Wesley Morris▶ 1:31:53Strongly defends Nancy Allen as perfect for the role in Blow Out, citing her authentic, vulnerable performance (e.g., the bar scene); argues alternatives like Lange, Sarandon, Kidder, or Fisher bring too much intelligence/professionalism and wouldn't capture the needed ditziness, though he concedes Sarandon might have worked.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:09Shares trivia: Travolta had insomnia the whole shoot (explaining his tired/washed-out look); the Liberty Parade footage was stolen from an unattended van at a Dunkin' Donuts, forcing a $750,000 reshoot; a second cinematographer shot the ending; the actress who screams in the shower was Playmate Missy Cleveland (April 1979); the car-in-water scene required building a 60-foot dam with environmentalists involved; the Liberty Day Parade used 11 cameras, 1,000 extras, and 25 stunt drivers
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:49The ending was shot by a different cinematographer because Vilmos Zsigmond had moved on to another movie; also feels the Liberty Day Parade sequence doesn't quite match the rest of the film tonally, like it's trying too hard to top the train station sequence
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:37Notes producer George Litto became president of Filmways (the studio behind Blow Out), connecting it to Dressed to Kill; says industry people preferred Dressed to Kill over Blow Out, which lacked De Palma's signature sexy style, and mentions De Palma wanted to do Prince of the City instead
Wesley Morris▶ 1:35:59Says the movie doesn't look like it cost a lot but has a 'subtle expensiveness,' with the parade chase sequence being especially high-level given the budget

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:36:22Dressed to Kill - argues this was De Palma's apex, as it made a ton of money and gave him freedom to do anything after, over Scarface
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:36:46Doesn't name a single apex pick for De Palma; instead discusses Blow Out's poor reception compared to Dressed to Kill and notes De Palma wanted to direct Prince of the City instead

Is This Movie Better With

Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:02Initially wanted to give Wayne Jenkins but struggled to find a place for him, then conceded he fits as the skeptical cop
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:45:12Wayne Jenkins (as the skeptical cop), J.T. Walsh as Manny, and Catherine Hahn
Wesley Morris▶ 1:44:58Philip Baker Hall — Philip Baker Hall and Steve Buscemi

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:23Brian De Palma (ASR rendered 'who gets it to Palma' — i.e. 'who gets it? De Palma'), given as a self-evident one-breath verdict

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:19Best triple feature with Dressed to Kill: Dressed to Kill, Body Double, and Blow Out, calling it the De Palma trilogy
Chris Ryan▶ 1:50:48Notes it's weird/funny that literally everyone in Blow Out's 'frenzy' scene seems to be having sex or dancing naked
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:50:11Joked that his favorite Philadelphia movie is 'Game six, Astros over Phillies in Houston' (a troll, not a real movie answer)

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:22Tweaks it to a triple feature: Dressed to Kill, Body Double, then Blow Out to finish the night off, calling it the De Palma trilogy

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:03If you record an assassination, make sure you make multiple copies and hide them somewhere safe (like a locker at the YMCA)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:56:16When casting your scream queen, make sure she can actually scream

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:26De Palma, though notes this is Travolta's best performance (still ranks Saturday Night Fever as his favorite overall)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:56:31De Palma, but calls this his favorite Travolta performance
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:56:46Doesn't give a single clear pick; discusses that Travolta is essential to the film but muses another actor (e.g., Harrison Ford) could have played the role
Wesley Morris▶ 1:57:04Doesn't name De Palma or Travolta explicitly as 'winner' but praises Travolta's performance as one of the great movie star performances, implying Travolta benefits greatly from the film

Movies Referenced (60)

American Gigolo (1980)

9 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 10:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carrie (1976)

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 7:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dressed to Kill (1980)

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 1:02:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Body Double (1984)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chappaquiddick (2017)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 21:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chariots of Fire (1981)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 50:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Grease (1978)

6 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 31:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Trading Places (1983)

6 mentions · Wesley Morris, Chris Ryan▶ 1:49:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Field of Dreams (1989)

4 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 42:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Halloween (1978)

4 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 48:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Prince of the City (1981)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Wesley Morris▶ 1:23:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 9:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (15)

Brian De Palma

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 29:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mark Rydell

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for The Long Goodbye▶ 52:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Stone

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 24:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Fincher

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 8:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Francis Ford Coppola

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II▶ 9:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hugh Hudson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Chariots of Fire▶ 52:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Woo

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled▶ 33:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 1:10:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Warren Beatty

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Reds, Heaven Can Wait▶ 51:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Amy Hulse

1 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Only the Brave, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot▶ 35:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dead or Alive

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The A-Team▶ 31:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (64)

John Travolta

65 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Chris Ryan · Known for Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Saturday Night Fever▶ 3:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nancy Allen

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Dressed to Kill, RoboCop▶ 2:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sally Field

15 mentions · Wesley Morris, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Lincoln, Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias▶ 22:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Henry Fonda

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for 12 Angry Men, The Grapes of Wrath▶ 52:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carrie Fisher

9 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi▶ 7:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dennis Franz

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for City of Angels, Die Hard 2▶ 59:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Lithgow

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The World According to Garp, Cliffhanger, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension▶ 1:01:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Gere

9 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Chicago, Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman▶ 31:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dave Roberts

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for Blow Out▶ 1:26:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Bernthal

7 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons · Known for The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard, Fury▶ 1:45:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Samantha Mathis

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Broken Arrow, American Psycho▶ 33:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jessica Lange

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Chris Ryan · Known for Tootsie, The Postman Always Rings Twice▶ 1:30:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Andy Greenwald

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Schrader

3 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for First Reformed, The Card Counter▶ 10:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Bridges

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The China Syndrome▶ 38:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Noah Baumbach

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story▶ 5:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 55:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Vilmos Zsigmond

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Black Dahlia, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Long Goodbye▶ 1:34:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗