A high point in De Palma’s filmography. It’s common for Brian De Palma to be criticized for imitating filmmakers he admires, but it’s easy to overlook how skillfully he could create suspenseful movies himself. Blow Out stars John Travolta as a sound recordist working on inexpensive horror films. One night while recording sounds, he sees a car accident and jumps into the water to save the woman (Nancy Allen) who's trapped inside. When he reviews the recording of the crash, he notices two unusual noises that suggest a gunshot was fired at the vehicle. With the deceased man in the car being an important political figure, he quickly becomes entangled in a complicated situation involving danger, suspicion, and secret plots. Will he and the woman survive long enough to uncover the truth? Blow Out showcases De Palma operating at his best, combining intricate plotting with impressive technical skill. Several scenes are memorable, both for their visuals and how they’re handled, along with the actors' performances. Pino Donaggio composed a remarkable score that complements the various subplots weaving together, and Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography highlights vivid pinks and purples—a distinctly neo-noir look—to enhance the story’s atmosphere and reflect the characters’ emotions. The film takes place in a busy Philadelphia setting, presenting a conspiracy alongside an interesting glimpse into filmmaking itself. It can be dark and intricate (it's wonderful to encounter a genuine noir ending), but never feels overloaded. Blow Out is both exciting and intelligent, with Travolta delivering one of his finest performances and John Lithgow perfectly cast as the unpredictable character who disrupts the lives of our two main characters. 9/10

Source on TMDB