Featured Audience Ratings

• Pierluigi P

  
  A hired killer takes us for a stroll through Manhattan's wet pavement, along with his misanthropic thoughts, and especially directed feelings of utter disgust and hatred for his new target; like he was some kind of a grown up Holden Caulfield. The film, like everybody points… More
  A hired killer takes us for a stroll through Manhattan's wet pavement, along with his misanthropic thoughts, and especially directed feelings of utter disgust and hatred for his new target; like he was some kind of a grown up Holden Caulfield. The film, like everybody points out, lacks storytelling expertise. The voice over narration is unnecesary and takes away the emotional impact the images for themselves could have had. Perhaps this only inconvenience is what keeps it away from being a real contender when compared to others. But having stark realism and nihilism all over it, makes Allen Baron's obscure opera prima what film noir is all about, the complex character study of a man trapped on a hellish existence.

• Stella D

  
  tough film to rate. some of the acting is poor and the voiceover is mostly annoying and unnecessary. also the 'music' in the jazz club scene is like comic relief. still i'm not sorry i watched it. it's nicely shot and kind of existential. worth seeing for fans… More
  tough film to rate. some of the acting is poor and the voiceover is mostly annoying and unnecessary. also the 'music' in the jazz club scene is like comic relief. still i'm not sorry i watched it. it's nicely shot and kind of existential. worth seeing for fans of film noir and pulp

• Tim S

  
  Even Criterion is lowering thier standards. The movie looks great and some of the sequences are cool, but overall I was bored. I kept thinking of this as a 60's version of one of those Goodfellas knockoffs starring Frank Vincent and the kid from A Bronx Tale (see Federal Hill,… More
  Even Criterion is lowering thier standards. The movie looks great and some of the sequences are cool, but overall I was bored. I kept thinking of this as a 60's version of one of those Goodfellas knockoffs starring Frank Vincent and the kid from A Bronx Tale (see Federal Hill, Amongst Friends). The entire cast is alughable, but it didn't bother me as much as the narration which was, at times, annoying. I just kept wishing for this guy to either kill his mark or kill himself.

• Michael G

  
  Admittedly Blast of Silence has some embarrassing aspects to it. The jazz club scene alone should've send this movie into obscurity. Throw the poorly delivered and mostly nonsensical narration and theoretically you've got a recipe for some grade-A crap. But Allen… More
  Admittedly Blast of Silence has some embarrassing aspects to it. The jazz club scene alone should've send this movie into obscurity. Throw the poorly delivered and mostly nonsensical narration and theoretically you've got a recipe for some grade-A crap. But Allen Baron's direction and eye for the grittiness that steals the show is as brilliant as it is incredible. Yeah, the acting is weak (even though Baron himself is great when he doesn't speak) and the story kind of fizzles out at the end, that scene with Ralph toward the beginning was creepy and amazing. And Scorsese had to be thinking of this when he made Taxi Driver. Film noir dies here.

• Eric B

  
  Well-photographed/directed little hitman film, in chilly B&W. About as good as it possibly could be, considering the limited resources and star power. The rat-loving gun dealer "Big Ralph" is a great character, and I almost wished the film was about him instead. My one… More
  Well-photographed/directed little hitman film, in chilly B&W. About as good as it possibly could be, considering the limited resources and star power. The rat-loving gun dealer "Big Ralph" is a great character, and I almost wished the film was about him instead. My one strong complaint is about the overused narration, which dominates the action during some moments where an edgy quiet could be more powerful. And the text (by gravel-voiced character actor Lionel Stander) had so many references to the killer's body going hot, sweaty and/or cold that I was chuckling before the film was through.

• cody f

  
  A good film with great on location filming in New York City. It's a good story with great narration and highly inventive shots. The only problem with the film is the acting and tacked on love story. There is one exception with the acting and that's Larry Tucker,his character… More
  A good film with great on location filming in New York City. It's a good story with great narration and highly inventive shots. The only problem with the film is the acting and tacked on love story. There is one exception with the acting and that's Larry Tucker,his character Big Ralph is unconventional and really shines.

• Grifty G

  
  Great early 60's low budget hitman movie. The lead actor isn't the strongest, but the direction makes up for it and the on-location New York photography is great. Nice Jazz score and fantastic hard-boiled narration.

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