Blast of Silence - Criterion Collection
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Image Entertainment
EAN: 0715515028721
Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 100
Label: Criterion Collection
Languages: EnglishOriginal Language
Manufacturer: Criterion Collection
MPN: CC1745DDVD
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Criterion Collection
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Running Time: 77 minutes
Studio: Criterion Collection
Theatrical Release Date: 1961-04
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Editorial Review:Product Description:Swift brutal and black-hearted Allen Baron's New York City noir Blast of Silence is a sensational surprise. This low-budget carefully crafted portrait of a hit man on assignment in Manhattan during Christmastime follows its stripped-down narrative with mechanical precision yet also with an eye and ear for the oddball idiosyncrasies of urban living and the imposing beauty of the city's locations. At once visually ragged and artfully composed and featuring rough poetic narration by Lionel Stander Blast of Silence is a stylish triumph.DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:New restored digital transferRequiem for a Killer: The Making of Blast of Silence (2007)Rare on-set PolaroidsLocations revisited in 2008TrailerPLUS: An essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and a four-page graphic-novel adaptation of the film by award-winning artist Sean Phillips (Criminal Sleeper Batman: Jekyll & Hyde)System Requirements:LENGTH: 77 minutes Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/FILM NOIR UPC: 715515028721 Manufacturer No: CC1745DDVD
Amazon.com: Somewhere between
film noir and
The Sopranos lies
Blast of Silence, a concise, compelling psychological portrait of a low-level hit-man, shot in 1961 on a shoestring budget with New York City grit. This is the sort of movie, unique but out of sync with its time, that Criterion practically exists to rescue. Accompanied by an avant-jazz soundtrack and hard-boiled Beat narration from the gloriously gravel-voiced Lionel Stander, the blue-collar assassin wanders through the city at Christmastime, revolted by human contact but sucker enough to think a girl he once knew might redeem him. Writer/director Allen Baron stepped into the lead role when he lost Peter Falk; while he's certainly not as expressive an actor, his face has an uncomfortable mixture of yearning and defensiveness that suits the character to a T. Stylishly framed images and sharp, staccato editing, combined with the almost documentary feel of the performances and settings, wrap the entire movie in an alienated tension. This being a Criterion release, it's got fantastic extras: A relaxed interview with the chatty, garrulous Baron, which is combined with a short documentary from 1990 in which Baron went back to all the locations used in
Blast of Silence and reminisced; Polaroid photos from the set that look like lost Weegee photographs; a loving essay by critic Terrence Rafferty; and more. But the movie doesn't need any of this to make its mark--it's an American classic, as crucial to the launch of independent film as Cassavetes. Highly recommended.
--Bret Fetzer
Average Rating:
Rating:
-
I saw this movie when it was first released. I loved it! I had never seen anything like it and tried to get my buddies to see it. They felt the same way I had at first."This movie can't be any good, there's nobody famous in it". It taught me that there was a whole world of films out there that I hadn't been aware of. It was a great discovery that echoes down to this day. The film is probably about a 3 1/2 but I'll give it four for the life lesson it taught!
Rating:
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This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film
Blast of Silence is about a hitman on the brink of retirement named Frank Bono (Allen Baron) who is hired to kill a mobster. I don't want to say much else that would spoil the story.
This film was made on a very low budget but is well made and has good cinematography. The film's release onto DVD has gotten it many positive reviews in the media.
The DVD has good special features also including ...
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Rating:
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Allen Baron's BLAST OF SILENCE is a one-of-a-kind noir masterpiece. For decades, it's been difficult to find. Luckily for us, Criterion has recently released it on DVD, and true to form, they've restored it to perfect condition. For lovers of independent New York films, cult movies, crime flicks, and anyone who loves good cinema, this is essential viewing. The special features are indeed special, and add to a deeper appreciation of an overlooked classic. Highly recommended.
Rating:
-
This movie has lots of style -- scenes of New York, jazz music, the narration -- but little substance. While potentially interesting, this movie is devoid of any real drama or suspense. Even the actual murders are rather unexciting. The film thus relies on being a character study. Unfortunately, the lead actor is too bland to pull this off successfully. Baron simply doesn't posssess enough emotional range or grit for the role. The most interesting character is Ralph, the gun dealer, but he's ...
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Rating:
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**** 1961. Written and directed by Allen Baron. Frank Bono, a hitman, arrives in NYC in order to kill the mobster Troiano. While he's carefully preparing the hit, he meets Lorrie, a girl he knew when he was at the orphanage. I sincerely admit that I hadn't heard of this motion picture before last night and wouldn't have had the curiosity to take a look at it if a different collection than Criterion had released it. I simply had confidence in the team who already made me discover such great movies as ...
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