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Forum namePass The Popcorn
Topic subjectFavorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=213989
213989, Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Sponge, Mon Sep-11-06 08:50 AM
Favorite/Top 5 and I mean just "5." If you like, list the movies you regret leaving off (short or long list). You can rank'em or not...it's up to you.

If you thought a movie was boring or slightly uninteresting or lacking, but the images moved you like a killer melody or bassline; beautiful photograph or painting; list 'em! Of course, if a film w/ indelible images was powerful, important, and highly engaging...list 'em!

It is cinema...motion pictures, continuous photography, continuous painting with light and color, yes?

Cinematography is the only factor. So this is like listing favorite/top songs w/o regard for lyrics or content....or some other more appropriate music analogy, LOL.

Mine:

-"In the Mood For Love" (Dir: Wong; DPs: Mark Lee Ping-bin, Christopher Doyle)
-"Blue" (Dir: Kieslowski; DP: Idziak)
-"Happy Together" (Dir: Wong; DP: Doyle)
-"Conformist" (Dir: Bertolucci; DP: Storaro)
-"Angel At My Table" (Dir: Campion; DP: Stuart Dryburgh)

Regretfully left out (some among many:

"Godfather Part 2" and "Godfather" (Coppola)
"Stalker" (Tarkovsky)
"Short Film About Killing" and "Decalogue 5" (Kieslowski)
"Barry Lyndon" (Kubrick)
"Persona" (Bergman)
"Days Of Heaven" (Malick)
"Punch Drunk Love" (PTA) and more Elswit
Wenders films
more Mark Lee Ping-Bing
Zsigmond, Wexler, Hall, Almendros, Coutard - and other usual suspects






213991, mine
Posted by disco dj, Mon Sep-11-06 09:04 AM
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
"Hero"
"2001: a Space Odyssey"
"Mo' Betta Blues"
"Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels"
214915, RE: mine
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:50 AM
>"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Have you seen "Touch of Zen" (King Hu)? I recommend it.
214003, AKA - The Paul Thomas Anderson post
Posted by CaptNish, Mon Sep-11-06 09:35 AM
-- Nate
214090, So mine....
Posted by CaptNish, Mon Sep-11-06 03:37 PM
1. Punch Drunk Love
2. Magnolia
(I realized that was only two, and that the other two PTA films I rather enjoyed a lot)

3. Gerry
4. Elephant
5. Last Days
(Gus Van Zant ran with the "who needs a script? I'll just shoot a beautiful film" not once... not twice... but three times in his "based on a true story" trilogy. Def. deserves a mention)

-- Nate
214902, I like Van Sant's long takes....great shots in Gerry n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:51 AM
214011, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Deebot, Mon Sep-11-06 10:06 AM
*Paris, Texas
*Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
*Touch of Evil
*Ugetsu
*Apocalypse Now
214907, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:30 AM
>*Paris, Texas
Wenders! Very nice choice.

>*Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Forgot about this one.

>*Apocalypse Now
I'm surprised how little Storaro shot films have been mentioned.
214022, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by natural, Mon Sep-11-06 11:18 AM
Onibaba
The Pornographers
Soy Cuba
Belly
Citizen Kane


"Quienes argumentan que el arte no debe propagar doctrinas, se refieren a doctrinas contrarias a las suyas" - Jorge Luis Borges
214908, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:34 AM
>Soy Cuba
>Belly

I expected these 2 to be mentioned alot.
214027, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by ChanEpic, Mon Sep-11-06 11:31 AM
Citizen Kane

Barry Lyndon

2001: A Space Odessy

Do The Right Thing

The Empire Strikes Back
214909, I thought Barry Lyndon was gonna be the most mentioned n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:35 AM
214031, You guys already got the best ones
Posted by Arch Stanton, Mon Sep-11-06 11:40 AM
So I'll list some honorable mentions:

Road to Perdition
Se7en
Wild Strawberries (for the 1st dream sequence alone)
Out of Sight (before the whole saturated tone thing was done in every fuckin movie)
Sleepy Hollow
214914, Seven - nice choice n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:48 AM
214083, that Kazan one about the people on the island in the river
Posted by The Damaja, Mon Sep-11-06 03:04 PM
is really good. every shot is composed like a painting.

people always judge by the 'male' style of photography. ie. pay attention to the borders of the shot, look how it is 'framed.' but sometimes it's the relationship of the objects in the centre/middle/body of the picture that are key. (females are more prone to photographing like this apparantly)
214903, w/i the frame
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:12 AM
>but sometimes it's the relationship of the objects
>in the centre/middle/body of the picture that are key.
>(females are more prone to photographing like this
>apparantly)

Definitely!

For great composition w/i the frame, you might like Tati, Mizoguchi, Tarkovsky, Renoir, Sokurov - "Russian Ark," and Hou among others. I know you like Welles, his contemporary, Wyler, was quite good, too.
214086, 5 off the top
Posted by Mynoriti, Mon Sep-11-06 03:08 PM
Sweet Smell of Success
Godfather 2
Millers Crossing
Raging Bull
Chungking Express
214910, Thank you for this
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:36 AM
>Millers Crossing

You rec'd it way back then. Amazing stuff. My life is better b/c I've seen it.

>Godfather 2

I shall revise my list. This was the film I struggled w/ the most. I thought I was ok w/ leaving out of my top 5. Now it feels like I renounced my family.
214114, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by hideyaface, Mon Sep-11-06 05:26 PM
Days of Heaven (Malick)
Breaking the Waves (von Trier)
The Spirit of the Beehive (Erice)
Citizen Kane (Welles)
Le Temps du Loup (Haneke)
214911, Great list n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:38 AM
214115, adds Lawrence of Arabia and The Thin Red Line into the mix
Posted by 40thStreetBlack, Mon Sep-11-06 05:30 PM
in addition to others mentioned above, so top 5 would be:

Lawrence of Arabia
Thin Red Line
Miller's Crossing
Godfather
2001
214917, Nice list n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:51 AM
214116, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Crash Bandacoot, Mon Sep-11-06 05:37 PM
terminator 2
25th hour
memento
pulp fiction
requiem for a dream
city of god
sin city
eyes wide shut
sexy beast
raging bull
kill bill vols. 1 & 2
214221, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by DUSTY FINGERS, Mon Sep-11-06 09:48 PM
City of God
Miami Vice
Once Upon Time in America
Belly
Traffic

With the exception of Belly, I enjoyed the other four.
214921, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:58 AM
>Miami Vice

I haven't seen this, but Mann films' cinematography kind of get slept on...especially, "Heat" (well from what I've read on it).

>With the exception of Belly, I enjoyed the other four.

Ah, someone read my entire post. Just kidding, everyone. I'm not the Soup Nazi.
214387, ^^^Great list
Posted by jigga, Tue Sep-12-06 02:45 PM
214918, Films pre-1980 have great cinematography, too....
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:54 AM
I'm just kidding. Nice choices. I need to see T2 again. The look never stood out to me.
214968, T2
Posted by jigga, Thu Sep-14-06 01:06 PM
>I'm just kidding. Nice choices. I need to see T2 again.
>The look never stood out to me.

It just came on 1 of the HD channels this past wknd. It's tremendous.
215038, DP for T2 also lensed SoaP
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 06:57 PM
214270, I'm purposely leaving out Kubrick and Malick.
Posted by rorschach, Tue Sep-12-06 01:18 AM
Between those two, they'd probably take most of my top ten.


Here are five other films that I love b/c of the cinematography.
Raging Bull
Road to Perdition
Once Upon a Time in the West
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Belly

Wes Anderson's films (except Bottle Rocket), Gus Van Sant's last three, Saving Private Ryan and A Tale of Two Sisters are honorable mentions.



"Being the bigger man is overrated." -- Huey (The Boondocks)

myspace.com/dozingoff
214922, RE: I'm purposely leaving out Kubrick and Malick.
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:59 AM
What's your top 5 or top 10 taking ol' Stan and Terry into account? Damn, Malick...work more!
214271, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by mahcus, Tue Sep-12-06 01:28 AM
Saving Private Ryan
Schlinder's List
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Punch Drunk Love
Lord of the Rings - Return of the King
214923, I'm surprised Gondry films haven't been named more n/m
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 09:01 AM
214377, Very nice list Sponge...
Posted by blue23, Tue Sep-12-06 02:11 PM

I would have to say I think Kubrick, Malick, WKW, Antonioni and Bertolucci are excluded from my list b/c just about every movie they make/made qualifies for this category:

Not so good movies that look great:
Belly
Brown Bunny
Demonlover
Code 46

Good movies that also look great:
Morvern Callar
25th Hour
Heat
Brick
Blue
GoodFellas (obvious but...)
Dying Gaul
The Hustler
Hero
The Proposition
Requiem for a Dream
214925, Your list....redo it! LOL.
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 09:08 AM
>I would have to say I think Kubrick, Malick, WKW, Antonioni
>and Bertolucci are excluded from my list b/c just about every
>movie they make/made qualifies for this category:

Take them into account. I'd like to see it. Top 5.

>Good movies that also look great:
>Heat

Good call. Somewhere up there I just mentioned how I think this film's look seems to be slept on.
214939, RE: Your list....redo it! LOL.
Posted by blue23, Thu Sep-14-06 10:28 AM

Allright if pressed these are my Top 5 all time:
1) L'Aventurra - No one else mentioning Antonioni in this post is a crime. His knowledge of architecture and use of landscape to represent character's inner lives is something rarely seen or matched in cinema. Not to mention all of his breathtaking long shots. This is the most obvious choice but any of that trio or "The Passenger" would have fit here too.

2) In the Mood For Love - WKW and Christoper Doyle have made some of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. But this is the crown jewel. Perfect from start to finish visually.

3) Last Tango In Paris - Bertolucci is a master. "The Conformist" is his best film and "La Luna" may be more beautiful (although 5x as disturbing) but not only does the mood of the story find representation in the camerawork there is also a strong homage to Francis Bacon and his paintings that is consistent throughout if you look for it. I could watch this movie 20 times and never be sick of looking at it.

4) Days of Heaven - Malick is a genius and this is the film that really proves it. Not everyone can do so much with so little. His poetic pauses and atmospheric surround shots all add to the story. I think you could argue that "New World" is more magnificent but the natural lighting both in and outside in this film is spectacular.

5) Barry Lyndon - I had to pick a Kubrick and this is probably it. Unbelievably detailed set pieces and everything else done to perfection.

Honorable Mention: The Proposition - Saw this at Sundance this year and was blown away. Shot on location in the Australian outback. Breathtaking natural shots under extreme circumstances. The actors told us that several times they had to stop shooting b/c it was so hot the film was melting in the camera. People that love westerns with great photography should not miss this film.

BTW
214964, Honorable Mention
Posted by jigga, Thu Sep-14-06 12:55 PM
>Honorable Mention: The Proposition - Saw this at Sundance this
>year and was blown away. Shot on location in the Australian
>outback. Breathtaking natural shots under extreme
>circumstances. The actors told us that several times they had
>to stop shooting b/c it was so hot the film was melting in the
>camera. People that love westerns with great photography
>should not miss this film.

Same w/ The 3 Burials of Melquiades Estrada
215037, RE:
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 06:52 PM
>Allright if pressed these are my Top 5 all time:
>1) L'Aventurra - No one else mentioning Antonioni in this post
>is a crime.

He's near tops for me for the ending of "Eclipse" alone. Have you seen Angelopoulos movies? If not, he expands on Antonioni (landscapes, long shots, early Antonioni long takes) in his own distinct way. You might like some. I've only seen 2 and wishing for more.

>2) In the Mood For Love - WKW and Christoper Doyle have made
>some of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. But this is
>the crown jewel. Perfect from start to finish visually.

Don't sleep on Mark Lee Ping-bin who was the DP for the last 2/3 of the shoot. I hope more people get into his work (I think it's more the case people know his work but not his name and works attached - Flowers of Shanghai, Three Times, In the Mood For Love, Vertical Ray of the Sun, Millenium Mambo, etc.)

You seem like someone who'd know the info on the situation. I'd like to find out who did what in the film. It's very possible that for the sake of continuity, Lee tried to stay consistent w/ Doyle's vision. The 2 are at such a high level that I don't like to use the simplification that because ITMFL is closer to Flowers of Shanghai than the other Doyle-Wong works that it's all Lee. But, from material (interviews), it seems Doyle worked during the phase in which the film was erotic and funny and around the time he left is when the film went into the direction that we see.

>3) Last Tango In Paris - Bertolucci is a master. I could
>watch this movie 20 times and never be sick of looking at it.

I just rewatched this 2 nights ago. Still amazing. Well said, in regards to your comment on its style and content. A focused Brando in a beautiful movie. I can't ask for anything more.

Storaro and Nykvist haven't been mentioned much in this post (the latter, I think not at all).

>4) Days of Heaven
Required viewing for those who haven't seen it.

>Honorable Mention: The Proposition
DVD out next week. Haven't seen it yet. I like Delhomme's work on "What Time Is It There?" (Tsai). The colors and shadows stand out in Tsai's static takes.
215166, Best knowledge post on OKP in a looooooooong time...
Posted by blue23, Fri Sep-15-06 11:12 AM
Gets past all the usual gossipy hating that goes on here and talks about things people actually like and admire. So much healthier.

So one that I just saw that I have to mention is Claire Denis' "L'Intrus". Have you seen this? I'd say maybe 30 lines of dialogue in the whole thing. A visual feast with just a haunting loop as a soundtrack. This would actually crack my Top 5 I think b/c it's all cinematography.

Angelopoulos? I've seen nothing. School me.

So "Visions of Light" is worth seeing?

Mark Lee - I've seen a number of his films and liked them just didn't realize it was him throughout until now.

Sorry no help with details on ITMFL...

>Storaro and Nykvist haven't been mentioned much in this post
>(the latter, I think not at all).

Storaro is another that this post made me connect all his amazing work. Pretty unbelievable. Nykvist has a long resume but nothing I would go out of my way to talk about.

Propostion will not disappoint. I like Delhomme's work alot: What Time Is It There, Loss of Sexual Innoncence, Talented Mr. Ripley... B/c it's that kind of post I'll share a story that Tom Cox told us about "The Proposition". Apparently Benoit spent all day setting up for these sunset shots and painstakingly did multiple takes and moved the cameras around, etc. When they watched the dailies he left without saying a word and the director found him in his trailer crying. He told the director he was leaving the picture b/c he had failed to capture the essence of this beautiful natural light and was ruining the film. The director distressed went back and talked to one of his AD's. The AD started fooling with the projection equipment and apparently one of the AV plugs wasn't pushed in all the way or some nonsense and all the color came rushing back. They brought Benoit in to show him that all was not lost and he started crying all over again from the beauty of the colors. That's an artist...

BTW
215197, Oooooh, Denis!
Posted by Sponge, Fri Sep-15-06 01:56 PM
>So one that I just saw that I have to mention is Claire Denis'
>"L'Intrus". Have you seen this? I'd say maybe 30 lines of
>dialogue in the whole thing. A visual feast with just a
>haunting loop as a soundtrack. This would actually crack my
>Top 5 I think b/c it's all cinematography.

I'm waiting for the 26th when the Region 1 is supposed to come out. But Denis, is a favorite of mine. Probably the most slept on brilliant filmmaker working right now. Been dying to see L'Intrus.

>Angelopoulos? I've seen nothing. School me.

Been called Greek's most famous filmmaker; big on the festival circuit, FWIW. His 2 films are the only Greek films I've seen.

Think Antonioni (i.e. early Antonioni long takes, long shots, blocking, rhythm/pace) and multiply times 2...or 10. And some shots are really distant. Can be quite maddening to me like Tsai, but awe-inspiring still.

Think Brechtian.

Very serious movies and director like Tarkovsky and Bergman. You don't come out feeling happy in general.

2 rather distinct periods: earlier political/historical and later more individual yet political/historical/social (like Hou).

"Landscape in the Mist" is highly recommended. A film exploring identity and journey via 2 children looking for their father.

I have mixed feelings on "Ulysses Gaze," a movie about an archivist/filmmaker going to his homeland and looks and discovers many things. Some moments of brilliance.

If you like here's some screenshots:

http://www.filmfestival.gr/2000/aggelopoulos_uk.html

>So "Visions of Light" is worth seeing?

Very much worth seeing for getting into cinematography. Highly informative basic stuff - like a very good 101 class. So, underwhelming for knowledgable cinematography students. And the DP's and other interviewees go technical sometimes so that was a plus for me.

>Mark Lee - I've seen a number of his films and liked them just
>didn't realize it was him throughout until now.

"Springtime In a Small Town" (Tian, 2002) is another brilliantly Lee-shot joint. Go see it, if you haven't yet. Its remarkable when you compare his recent works to his early Hou works as he uses more movement and beautiful colors and lighting.

>Storaro is another that this post made me connect all his
>amazing work. Pretty unbelievable. Nykvist has a long resume
>but nothing I would go out of my way to talk about.

The 2 of 'em have made probably the best color movies. Storaro is a god. As for Nykvist, "Cries and Whispers," "Autumn Sonata," and "Persona," IMHO, are some of the finest works one can find.

>Propostion will not disappoint. I like Delhomme's work alot:
>What Time Is It There, Loss of Sexual Innoncence, Talented Mr.
>Ripley... B/c it's that kind of post I'll share a story

Great story. Thanks.
215167, Duplicate
Posted by blue23, Fri Sep-15-06 11:13 AM
N/M
215168, Duplicate
Posted by blue23, Fri Sep-15-06 11:13 AM
N/M
214389, Hero, Memento, 25th Hour, 2046, Batman Begins
Posted by jigga, Tue Sep-12-06 02:51 PM
2nd 5

Sin City
L.A. Confidential
Minority Report
Miami Vice
The 3 Burials of Melquiades Estrada
214904, fuckin 2046
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:20 AM
Just gets better and better each time. Now that I've put narrative and character concerns aside, I just put it on for visual pleasure...like how people just put on music for pleasure, or drive to their favorite scenery spot, or look at photographs.

I urge people who hated or were disappointed by 2046 to do this. This movie is an unfolding live action painting.
215981, RE: fuckin 2046
Posted by ChanEpic, Tue Sep-19-06 09:24 AM
Co-signatory here..
2046's visuals were richer than rich.. More people need to see that film.
214420, Five of my faves...
Posted by kurlyswirl, Tue Sep-12-06 04:12 PM
Last Life in the Universe
In the Mood for Love
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring
Travellers and Magicians
The Story of the Weeping Camel

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

kurly's Super-Duper Awesome DVD Collection:
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=kurlyswirl
214927, .
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 09:18 AM
.
214928, RE: Five of my faves...
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 09:22 AM
You haven't seen "Vertical Ray of the Sun" (Tran) yet...have you? j/k.

>Last Life in the Universe

Dirty ass house looks beautiful. I so want to live in this film's world...w/o the bad stuff.

>In the Mood for Love

Required viewing for PTP.

214970, RE: Five of my faves...
Posted by kurlyswirl, Thu Sep-14-06 01:21 PM
>You haven't seen "Vertical Ray of the Sun" (Tran) yet...have
>you? j/k.

No, not yet. It's been in my queue for a long time. I'm dreadfully slow with my DVD-watching. Something else always comes up...tennis, The Wire. lol

>
>>Last Life in the Universe
>
>Dirty ass house looks beautiful. I so want to live in this
>film's world...w/o the bad stuff.

I hear ya.

>>In the Mood for Love
>
>Required viewing for PTP.

Indeed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

kurly's Super-Duper Awesome DVD Collection:
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=kurlyswirl
215039, Vertical Ray might just rank...honorable mention at least
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 06:59 PM
I'm pretty sure you'll like the look.
214466, Follow up question(s) to all who responded
Posted by Sponge, Tue Sep-12-06 07:15 PM
In an effor to "liven" PTP up...the camera work post a couple of days ago, and Ricky's film score/soundtrack...would've been jumping off majorly in years past. I figured the more movies we watch, the more discussions, but understandably we get older and busier.

Cinematographically, what is it about the films that made you choose them? You can be as general or specific as you want. Sort of like Damaja's response.

Secondly, "five!" LOL. It's hard, huh? By all means list your honorable mentions, as well, as some already have.
214468, 1. Barry Lyndon
Posted by okaycomputer, Tue Sep-12-06 07:22 PM
2. The New World
3. The Thin Red Line

...come to mind off the top.

Really anything Kubrick or Mallick is as much about the pictures as anything else.
That's why I love 'em

_________________________________

you used to be alright
what the hell happened?
214901, About the pictures
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:40 AM
>Really anything Kubrick or Mallick is as much about the
>pictures as anything else.
>That's why I love 'em

I dig.

You might like these directors who put tremendous importance on the image: Tarkovsky, Wenders, Herzog, Bertolucci (and other films by his DP, Storaro), Wong Kar-wai (and other films by his long-time partner DP, Doyle), Mizoguchi, Ozu (not arresting, but subtle)...
214470, Just for fun - Belly, Citizen Kane, 2001 all lead w/ 3 mentions each
Posted by Sponge, Tue Sep-12-06 07:23 PM
Not counting honorable mentions or responsed that did not designate their "5."

Revisions are welcomed. Some of you held back your picks b/c they were already mentioned or a majority if not all your top/fav 5 were from the same director or DP. If it's all PTA or say, Storaro...then that's your 5. It's all about your picks and/or preferences, baby.
214473, If you like - additional post - "if you like this, check for this"
Posted by Sponge, Tue Sep-12-06 07:32 PM
I'll go.

"Hero" is f*in dope pictorially. But, I feel "Happy Together" (Wong) and "Dumplings" (Chan) may be Doyle's best work YET.

**Note**

Doyle did the second half of "Chungking Express" - "Midnight Express" w/ Faye Wong/Tony Leung.

He was also replaced/left 1/3 into the 2 year shoot of ITMFL. Anyone know which segments he shot and/or designed specifically (via interviews, etc.)? Mark Lee Ping-bin was the DP the rest of the way. Lee could've continued Doyle's direction or not.
214920, i still think Welles's 'The Trial' is the daddy of them all though
Posted by The Damaja, Thu Sep-14-06 08:57 AM
i need to get the dvd of that
215041, RE: i still think Welles's 'The Trial' is the daddy of them all though
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:03 PM
It's amazing. I love the light bulb scene. Perhaps b/c Welles vision is so damn ominous (and that's a compliment) that I don't like it like a favorite, but it's genius no less. Blown away yet I feel terrible after watching the movie.
214930, The Searchers, Kane, In the Mood for Love, Good, Bad, and Ugly
Posted by navajo joe, Thu Sep-14-06 09:32 AM
Do the Right Thing
Red Shoes
My Darling Clementine
215042, Not many is f*in w/ this
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:09 PM
http://www.en.utexas.edu/amlit/gifs/searcher.gif

Great list, btw. I thought GB & U was gonna be the few that owned this post.
214931, I came to name the two Kar-Wai you mentioned, also Soderbergh
Posted by celery77, Thu Sep-14-06 09:39 AM
How has no one mentioned Soderbergh yet?

I consider Traffic, Solaris, Ocean's 11/12, and even Full Frontal to be some of the best shot movies around.
215043, People are sleeping on Happy Together. Maybe it's the content
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:21 PM
I dunno. But damn, if this movie isn't a cinematographic exemplar, I don't know what is. Next, to ITMFL, it's probably Wong's most emotionally engaging and satisfying film.

>Solaris
Needs to see Tarkvosky's. J/K. But do so, if you haven't.

Nice call on Traffic. Haven't seen the Oceans and Full Frontal.

215047, Happy Together = my favorite movie of all time
Posted by celery77, Thu Sep-14-06 07:36 PM
the cinematography is bananas. I like it better than In The Mood For Love, really.

And yeah, it's about gay men -- who cares.

I've also seen the original Solaris. It's good, but I think I like Soderbergh's better. He condensed it and made it much more visually appealing.

Full Frontal is only noticeable because it's one of the few movies shot entirely on digital that has some memorable camera shots for me. If I ever shoot something on digital, I'm going to be watching that a lot to rip off the look. The supposedly cinematic film that goes on in-between also has intentionally bad cinematography, which STILL looks better than most bad cinematography.

The Ocean's are really nothing but big show-off pieces for his camera work, 12 in particular because it REALLY sucks minus the camera work. Still, I keep meaning to watch it again because JESUS what camera work.

Other favorites not listed are Malick and his unabashed admirer David Gordon Green and his cinematographer Tim Orr. All three of DGG's movies are brilliantly shot, I'm just hoping he does something outside of his comfort zone with the next one (his southern gothic motif has been pretty well mined for me after three films).

I don't know enough about classic cinematography. I need to watch more of those.
215059, I'm changing back 2 my Happy Together avy. Visions of Light - have u seen it?
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:23 PM
>the cinematography is bananas. I like it better than In The
>Mood For Love, really.

I dig. Your thoughts on "2046"?

>I don't know enough about classic cinematography. I need to
>watch more of those.

"Visions Of Light" DVD" (has a few chapters on studio look, and other early styles, basic but highly informative stuff):

http://web.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60000131&trkid=189530&strkid=2116255267_0_0

There are amazing classical stuff, but I just prefer things like in my list.
215103, Damn -- your avy is THAT SCENE, too!
Posted by celery77, Fri Sep-15-06 12:16 AM
I LOVE the cinematography in that scene. Sometimes when I'm bored I just throw in the DVD and skip straight there. The cinematography in the whole movie is brilliant, but that one scene STILL manages to stand out.

Other favorite shots from that film are the boat-riding scenes toward the end, the slow roll out of the club with the Frank Zappa musical cue, the understated opening black and white highway shots, and of course the waterfall shots.

>I dig. Your thoughts on "2046"?

I've only seen it once, and it was at a shitty theater where it actually clicked off mid-screening and flickered the whole way through. I've been meaning to watch it again ever since but I've been to broke to cop.

First impressions is that it's the most self-indulgent of his films, heavily self-referential. It had been a few months since I'd seen ITMFL, so I was always worried there was stuff going over my head. I need to watch those two back to back and then see how I feel.

>"Visions Of Light" DVD" (has a few chapters on studio look,
>and other early styles, basic but highly informative stuff):
>
>http://web.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60000131&trkid=189530&strkid=2116255267_0_0
>
>There are amazing classical stuff, but I just prefer things
>like in my list.

I think I have a friend who owns this. I'll have to check it out. Thanks.
215205, **Spoilers** - Happy Together
Posted by Sponge, Fri Sep-15-06 02:27 PM
>I LOVE the cinematography in that scene. Sometimes when I'm
>bored I just throw in the DVD and skip straight there. The
>cinematography in the whole movie is brilliant, but that one
>scene STILL manages to stand out.

Oh, man. Where do I begin? Haha, I do the same. Ya know, I wanna make an avy w/ the specific moment when the sun is shining center frame top edge w/ some smoke cloud.

My fav moments (off the top):

-when Ho grabs Lai's hand to light his cig and the image lights up!
-all soccer scenes (the green, sun backlight, unfocused background)
-dance in the kitchen
-Lai at the waterfalls w/ mist on the lens!

>>I dig. Your thoughts on "2046"?
>First impressions is that it's the most self-indulgent of his
>films, heavily self-referential. It had been a few months
>since I'd seen ITMFL, so I was always worried there was stuff
>going over my head. I need to watch those two back to back
>and then see how I feel.

The intertexuality and self-reference was overblown by critics, IMO. It was done not in a "look at my motifs" and "how sharp I am" fashion, but to loosely connect his 60's HK trilogy (Days of Being Wild, ITMFL, 2046). People seem to forget that 2046 takes place in the 60's. But, anyway, get on it! Those images, man...I swear.

215164, RE: People are sleeping on Happy Together. Maybe it's the content
Posted by blue23, Fri Sep-15-06 10:57 AM

Yeah, I paused b/c of the gay romance theme but that film is absolutely amazing. Bertolucci himself said that watching that movie made him want to make films again. The thematic switches from b/w to color are so well-done and the return to the waterfall metaphor is also amazing... "Days of Being Wild" is also worth mentioning...

BTW
215207, **Spoilers** - Happy Together re: style
Posted by Sponge, Fri Sep-15-06 02:37 PM
>Yeah, I paused b/c of the gay romance theme but that film is
>absolutely amazing.

It's one of the best dramatizations of exile and loneliness I've seen. Lai's whole thing w/ his pops. Not to mention being stuck in a place so far from home. Makes me appreciate being so near to family and friends.

>Bertolucci himself said that watching
>that movie made him want to make films again.

Wow. Where did he say this?

>The thematic
>switches from b/w to color are so well-done and the return to
>the waterfall metaphor is also amazing...

And the switches from color to color. My first viewing I was a little confused about the spaces. Was it Lai's same apartment? A new one? Was it Ho's own apartment which we never established prior? But, it was the same apartment w/ different colors!

And how the colors expressed the characters emotions and mindstate and seasons....amazing.

>"Days of Being Wild" is also worth mentioning...

I want to see the proper version...Doyle speaks of the green haze that is missing from the R1's.
214966, Adds Usual Suspects & Way of the Gun 2 the list
Posted by jigga, Thu Sep-14-06 01:03 PM
215004, RE: Adds Usual Suspects & Way of the Gun 2 the list
Posted by blue23, Thu Sep-14-06 03:21 PM

Really? "Usual Suspects" is definitely a victim of looking dated and some of those ultra-fake sets and film quality make it borderline unwatchable. I think you could bring that movie up in other discussions but not for cinematography...

BTW
215192, RE: Adds Usual Suspects & Way of the Gun 2 the list
Posted by jigga, Fri Sep-15-06 01:30 PM
>
>Really?

Yep

"Usual Suspects" is definitely a victim of looking
>dated and some of those ultra-fake sets and film quality make
>it borderline unwatchable. I think you could bring that movie
>up in other discussions but not for cinematography...

I disagree. I plan on watching it again soon so I'll get back 2 you on some of the scenes that stood out for me.
215046, Way of the Gun - I like some of the DP's works, will check this out
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:31 PM
Benicio is in it? Even better.
215013, Far from Heaven (Todd Haynes)
Posted by afropuff, Thu Sep-14-06 04:46 PM
Cinematographer Edward Lachman.

influenced by Douglas Sirk.
215016, Yes! That's a great choice.
Posted by kurlyswirl, Thu Sep-14-06 05:03 PM


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

kurly's Super-Duper Awesome DVD Collection:
http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.html?cat=1&id=kurlyswirl
215045, Damn good choice
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 07:29 PM
215018, has anyone said Vertigo yet?
Posted by ricky_BUTLER, Thu Sep-14-06 05:10 PM
were y'all waiting for me?

Because that's number one, two, three, four and five (c) KRS
215052, Wow, that is a glaring omission
Posted by Sponge, Thu Sep-14-06 08:03 PM
Unforgettable images:

http://perso.orange.fr/chabrieres/actresses/thumbnails/kim_novak.jpg

(^^ w/ the "glow" - fav technique of mine in any movie)

http://faculty.cua.edu/johnsong/hitchcock/images/stills/vertigo/greenjudy1.jpg

Then, the living room fireplace shots. The forest. The shore after the forest.

Then, just the sheer number of dominant colors in different scenes.

"You know. That Kim Novak had some big breasts."
-Sal Bass to Sidra (Seinfeld)

215193, Stay
Posted by jigga, Fri Sep-15-06 01:32 PM
215228, Hero. Thats the only thing that saved that garbage movie.
Posted by jambone, Fri Sep-15-06 04:20 PM
215314, LOL. Yup. To me hat's the only redeeming aspect of the movie
Posted by Sponge, Fri Sep-15-06 10:32 PM
now. Plot was interesting the first time around. I don't think it's total garbage, but on repeated viewings the different versions of crying and dying became unintentionally funny.
215256, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by DrNO, Fri Sep-15-06 06:10 PM
Spirit of the Beehive
In the Mood For Love
Paris, Texas
Once Upon a Time in America
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
215316, RE: Favorite/Top 5 films based on cinematography
Posted by Sponge, Fri Sep-15-06 10:40 PM
>Spirit of the Beehive

This and his "Dream of Light" are 2 exemplars. "El Sur" stills look amazing as well.

>McCabe & Mrs. Miller

I think the first Zsigmond mentioned by anyone. Man, great list!
215979, So I just realized that nobody mentioned Rodrigo Prieto
Posted by blue23, Tue Sep-19-06 09:19 AM

Amorres Perros
Frida
8 Mile
25th Hour
21 Grams
Brokeback Mountain
Babel

One of the most impressive people working in this field today.

BTW