Introduction
This essay will compare and contrast the use of surveillance images and the topic of political corruption in The Conversation and Blow Out. Although many cinematic features deserve to be discussed in depth, these two patterns determine the peculiar nature of both films. The Conversation is a 1974 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, while Blow Out is a later film released in 1981 and directed by Brian De Palma. What is distinctive in these films is the context of great issues in American politics and society.
Fear of Surveillance
The protagonist of The Conversation is wiretapping person, so he is often afraid of being followed. It turns out to be a kind of play of meanings: the surveillance expert is afraid of being surveilled. The film’s plot is based on a highly paid task for Harry Caul to follow the conversations of a couple in love (Coppola, 1974). Although before this assignment, Harry regarded his work as professional execution of duties, the fact that the lives of the couple are in danger changed his mind. In this perspective, the fear of surveillance manifested in Harry’s paranoia and loneliness are a form of defensive mechanism. Acknowledging the immorality of his surveillance and being a Catholic resulted in complete ignorance of the outside world.
In Blow Out, the topic of surveillance also occupies a great role. Sound engineer Jack Terry wants to investigate the horrifying behind-the-scenes dirty tricks of local politicians that caused the governor’s death in a car crash (De Palma, 1981). Although he accidentally acquires some evidence of a gunshot in the tire that caused the blow out, local political strategists do their best to hide the truth. In this movie, the fear of surveillance is moved from The Conservation‘s protagonist, who desires to help people, to local political elites who would commit any crime to stay in power. Such a plot move increases the sense of suspicion and dishonesty in politics that prevailed in the 1970s in the US.
Political/Corporate Corruption
Another integral theme in these films is the problem of corruption in American politics and business. The Conservation premiered nearly the same time after Richard Nixon resigned in 1794 after the Watergate scandal. Watergate was the major political scandal in almost all American political history, related to Republicans’ attempt to install listening devices at Democratic Party headquarters in Washington during the 1972 presidential election campaign. Although the movie was made before this scandal, the way the audience framed it was a significant part of The Conservation‘s legacy. The corporate interests represented in the film as inhumane and indifferent. People involved in corporate affairs use corruption and fear as methods of competition. For example, the crucial scene in the movie is when Harry Caul refuses to give tapes to his client’s assistant. It shows how people perceived each other with distrust in the 1970s.
In Blow Out, the focus changed from corporate to political corruption. The dirty political games depicted in the film express voters’ apathy during the 1970s. All the politicians in the film are not right or left, conservative or liberal; instead, they are similar to the characters described by George Orwell in his famous Animal Farm. The main story plot of the film is that the political rival has ordered a photographer to make photoshoots of the opponent with a prostitute. As a result, it ended with the death of the governor, who was in the car when the photographer decided to shoot into the tires.
Conclusion
To conclude, The Conversation and Blow Out are mystery thriller films that share grievances about American politics and the way of life in 1970. It is achieved firstly through the metaphor of surveillance and fear of surveillance. This state of omnipresent persecution shows the nature of a time steeped in mistrust and rejection of reality. Secondly, both films show the corruption and maliciousness of politicians and business people. While this may be an exaggerated portrayal of reality, it must be understood that this view of politics and business dominated public discourse in the 1970s.
References
Coppola, F. F. (1974). The Conversation [Film]. The Directors Company.
De Palma, B. (1981). Blow out [Film]. Viscount Associates.