It's been a month since I have seen this film, so I will keep this review short and sweet...
Blast of Silence is a period piece which captures the ambiance of Christmas time in early sixties New York City. The film follows Professional Hit man Frankie Bono, played by the film's director Allen Baron, on a mission to kill a local crime figure. Although the film's plot is nearly bare to the bone, the film picks up the slack in it's visuals and it's candid cinematography of the streets of New York (which was rare at this time). In addition, Lionel Stander narrates Bono’s thoughts and actions in Second Person throughout the film. This was a unique addition that separates the film from other films within the Film-Noir genre.
I believe when a director places himself in front of the camera he has no choice but to make the best film he possibly can; his image is on the line. This can be seen with Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66' (Excluding Brown Bunny) and many of Spike Lee's Films.
I recommend this film to all lovers of Film Noir and vintage New York City.
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