Although "Blow Out" is more highly regarded critically than Brian De Palma's subsequent "Body Double", a recent re-viewing of both films leads me to the opinion that the latter is the more entertaining film of the two. Or, to be more specific, "Body Double" has the better first two acts, and "Blow Out" the better third act. The problem with "Blow Out"'s first two acts is that the script keeps pounding you over the head with the fact that "the tire was shot, it was not a blow out" long after even the last audience member has understood that. And as if that's not enough, there is even a scene in the middle that spells out everything about the assassination, including who the killer was! The final third and the climax are suspenseful and excitingly staged by De Palma, but you cannot overlook that Travolta makes an unforgivable error of judgment when he lets Nancy Allen go and meet the "reporter" alone. On the positive side, there is genuine emotion in the relationship between Travolta and Allen, John Lithgow is terrifying as the psychopathic killer, and the ending is undeniably powerful. **1/2 out of 4.
Review of Blow Out
