Every time I watch Blow-Up, I have the same response I had when I saw it in college: Yeah, it looks cool and sexy, but what the hell was that? Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 murder-mystery is less of a whodunit and more of a who-the-hell-cares? David Hemmings is full of hip, young arrogance as a self-centered London photographer named Thomas who gets wrapped up in a dangerous game after taking pictures of a possible murder. While that sounds like all the ingredients for a proper thriller, Antonioni is more concerned with giving us something moody, ambiguous and existential — basically an Antonioni movie. It’s also the most swinging ’60s movie ever made, with its cameos by ”it” girls Jane Birkin and Veruschka and influential rock band The Yardbirds (featuring guitar heroes Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page) jamming out in front of a lifeless crowd. Plus, jazz legend Herbie Hancock, in his film-composing debut, provides the score. I will say this about Blow-Up: Never has wasted youth looked so chic and fashionable.
3:20 & 8 p.m. at the Belcourt
2102 Belcourt Ave.
