Don't mind me crowd, I'm just being Murdered

Last week our class traversed through time via film, the 1981 cinema success Blow-Out took us back to the decade of Reaganomics. Director Brian de Palma epitomized eighties cinema scene through copious nudity, vulgar language, and graphic violence. Blow-Out illustrated a shift in the film industry from reserved to not so modest. The depictions of a modest society, as seen in our previously watched films, (i.e. Singing in the Rain and Sunset Boulevard) were lost to the sixties as film was no longer held back by standards limiting what could or could not be shown. And then two decades later a society corrupt from the demoralizing pursuit of personal gain emerged.

Despite having a flashy front I felt that Blow-Out was about as predictable as they come. The representation of eighties society and film is really what I found appealing. The corrupt justice system was rampant with mafia infiltrated officers and politicians. The society’s view of the state of affairs was jaded through blinding media and the compulsion to band together during times of crisis. Most corruption was simply overshadowed by the domineering nature of patriotism. Director Brian de Palma certainly was not shy in his intentions of calling out the social order. As can be seen by this film, Brian de Palma is known for borrowing much of his directing inspiration from previous fixtures of the film industry such as Alfred Hitchcock. And although I can see where a source of inspiration can be need at times, I initially found his borrowing of techniques to be quite frankly lame, unoriginal.

Whenever I have the urge to be creative (i.e. write, draw, sculpt), I generally want my masterpiece to be unique. For a director to make a movie and openly borrow most of the techniques utilized is like making prints of an original work of art. You would think directors would want their work to be original, push the envelope. Not just compile the styles of other directors. But despite my initial shock with lack of originality, I came to realization, through the aid of class discussion, that most feasible forms of filming (i.e. techniques, cinematography, themes) have be explored. Thus the sharing of directing techniques is like the reoccurring forms that can be seen in literature and Brian de Palma isn’t a director lacking originality but a well referenced artist, giving respect to his predecessors. Therefore de Palma must be a well studied man of his art and I find that respectful. Thus despite not being overly impressed with Blow-Out, Brian de Palma gained my attention.