Saturday Matinee: Blow-Up Starring David Hemmings, directed by Antonioni

Originally posted 3/21/15. 

Here's something for a Saturday afternoon: Blow-Up. Antonioni's first English language film earned the director (L'Avventura, La Notte) the Palme D'Or at Cannes and Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Script written directly for the Screen—even though it was actually based on a short story by Julio Cortazar "Las Babas del Diablo".

 A mod London photographer seems to find something very suspicious in the shots he has taken of a mysterious beauty in a desolate park.

A tough movie to get out of your head. Just as compelling as the cool graphics and the very sixties trailer. Plus the clothes. I mentioned Hemming's style in my recent Steve McQueen, the McCoolest of all post.

The park at the top of the hill, a swathe of green and the ominous oooosh sound of the blowing of the leaves sticks with you forever. Watching David Hemmings, fashion photographer, blow up his photos of what he sees in the park is so curiously compelling. Click. Click. Click.

  

Haven't seen it? It's available to stream it on Google-Play, Amazon and Vudu and you really should.