Blow Job

Like all of Warhol's works, one does not need to see this film to understand all of it. It works better as an idea rather than a product, while lacking the boldness of, say, Duchamp's Fountain.

I saw this in an art house theatre and when the feature was over comments could be heard like "such artistic talent" etc.

Well I love Warhol's paintings, him being my favourite artist, but found that this film was frankly boring. I could see no logic as to why this should be a film and not a painting where it would work much better. It does not hold your attention for more than 2 minutes.

To be honest.. boring tripe. Avoid at all costs. Go to a gallery and see his real art... superb. The only great Warhol film I've actually seen is Harlot, not listed in the imdb.

This is not an attack as Empire, nor a nice impression as Sleep, but just a short joke. There is quite a lot of action in the face and it takes only 36 minutes. You will probably forget it as soon as it finishes.

Nicely referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5, from Episode 96, "Intervention," it is one of the more wicked of Joss Whedon's famous pop culture references. Spike has Warren make a Buffybot for him to play with, since the real Buffy is still more interested in staking him than falling for him. Writer Jane Espenson uses "Blow Job" in a transitional scene that lasts only seconds in Act II. Many of Warhol's films were mandatory when I was in film school, and Blow Job was my favorite for sheer audacity. I think Bill Viola's The Passions video installations at the Getty Museum last year come closest to doing seriously what Warhol did to shock. Both artists take facial expressions and show them apart from the motivating circumstances, changing the viewer's reference point. Wonderful, and Whedon's use of it is delicious.

Warhol's films had a lot in common with porn in that, no matter the subject, they tended to be exercises in repetition. If you are the type to find a certain fetishistic beauty in such a visual process, then you might enjoy this. Warhol was also quite the visual stylist. Despite the popular perception, he was a fairly hands on director. I've seen his editing and lighting notes and know from speaking with people that knew him that he took a keen interest in how all of his work looked. By the way, for those who care to know, the guy doing the blowing is Willard Maas.

One last word: If you really do want to see a spectacular depiction of oral sex, I'd recommend Blowjob Fantasies Volume XI.