Unlike film academics, these two really engage in the medium in a way that I think is exceptionally helpful for the writer and the director.

They write much less about cultural context and much more about the actual craft of how these things are put together, what scenes/shots/sequences are trying to convey and how these succeed or fail, etc.

Bordwell's book on Ozu could serve as the basis for not just a course, but an entire film school curriculum (or at least one taught by me).

--------

hell-below.com