So...what movie do you think has the best cinematography...try and narrow it down to one, but if you can't make up your mind, I'm all for hearing a few.
My Pick
Days of Heaven
It is hands down the most beautifully shot movie I have ever seen.
Overrated
Atanarjuat
I think snow like that is ugly, but considering it was shot on DV...
"Citizen Kane"
Aw man, this is an almost impossible topic. There's too much to choose from. Can I just pick the documentary Visions Of Light or is that cheating?
tough topic indeed, but lately i was struk by the beauty of o brother! where art thou? and the elephant man.
all spielberg films are brilliant too.
All films by The Coen Brothers have great cinematography...which leads us back to Barry Sonnenfeld......Spike :-D
B&W: "Citizen Kane"
Color: "Doctor Zhivago" and "Lawrence Of Arabia" - not cheating since Freddie Young shot both films.
Hated the over-done doc hand-held style on "Husbands And Wives" - way too distracting.
Barry Lyndon. nothing has ever looked better or ever can. bl.
Quote from: PBarry Lyndon. nothing has ever looked better or ever can. bl.
Beat me to it.
Colour: Imitation of Life. Texturally beautiful.
B&W: The Man Who Wasn't There.
But Kurosawa overall, and I can't choose really. Lawrence of Arabia gets me every time and it is only because of the cinematography. I start out not really wanting to watch it and end up doing so.
I reckon
Days Of Heaven
and
The Thin Red Line
i cant possibly choose only one. or just a few.
I Am Cuba
Quote from: cecil b. dementedi cant possibly choose only one. or just a few.
Then choose a bunch.
i really like ed lauchman, robert richardson, robby muller...
oh, and john waters
I love Dante Spinotti's work in L.A. Confidential.
oh, raoul coutard as well
Pretty much anything shot by Gregg Toland is beautiful.
i would have to agree that barry lyndon is the most georgously photographed film.
also anything by vittorio stararo -- especially LAST TANGO IN PARIS
2001: a space odyssey.
is natural born killers an immature choice? i love richardson.
Quote from: snaporazis natural born killers an immature choice?
absolutely not. richardson is a genius
Quote from: budgieColour: Imitation of Life. Texturally beautiful.
B&W: The Man Who Wasn't There.
But Kurosawa overall.
yes yes. also add All That Heaven Allows for Sirk, and O Brother for Coens/Roger Deakins.
Soderbergh seems to get better with every picture he does. Big fan of Richardson too, torn between Nixon, JFK and U-Turn.
Quote from: MacGuffin
Hated the over-done doc hand-held style on "Husbands And Wives" - way too distracting.
agreed. I think the only scene when the handheld really worked well was when Sydney Pollack and his wife are fighting outside in the car.
I was most recently impressed with Hollywood Ending's cinematography, especially that amazing shot of New York at the end.
Lawrence Of Arabia
Apocalypse Now
Amelie
Fargo
Citizen Kane
The Thin Red Line
GoodFellas
Raging Bull
Bringing Out The Dead
The Bridge On The River Kwai
Pulp Fiction
Being John Malkovich
Schindler's List
Minority Report
American Beauty
Magnolia
Boogie Nights
Dancer In The Dark
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
i think stararo's work in DICK TRACY is wonderful -- i love that movie.
Boogie Nights
Citizen Kane
The Grand Illusion
Do the Right Thing
Road to Perdition
I really enjoyed the Cinematography of Good Will Hunting, I doubt many would agree.
Matthew Libatique - Requiem, Pi, Josie and the Pussycats
how is Tigerland?
Quote from: SHAFTR
I really enjoyed the Cinematography of Good Will Hunting, I doubt many would agree.
The guy who shot that, Jean Yves Escoffier, is one of my favorite DPs. He also shot Gummo, Cradle Will Rock, The Crow 2, and most of Neil LaBute's stuff. He has a tendency to use sodium lights to get that smoky golden look, which I lovvve.
Barry Lyndon's cinematography revolutionized the industry. Kubrick used special lenses to photograph scenes in candlelight. The film really transported the viewer back to the 18th century, because the lighting didn't seem fake, like in other period pieces. The influence of Barry Lyndon's look was seen in The Duellists and Days of Heaven.
Days of Heaven is probably 2nd to Barry Lyndon, and made wonderful use of "golden hour" light. But since Barry Lyndon came first, it gets the prize.
Manhattan features some of the best black and white cinematography of the past 30 years.
Quote from: cowboykurtisi think stararo's work in DICK TRACY is wonderful -- i love that movie.
Too bad Storaro and Coppola insisted on having the 'scope films Apocalypse Now and Tucker cropped to around 2:1! :x
Quote from: soixante
Manhattan features some of the best black and white cinematography of the past 30 years.
Agreed.
I too think that Barry Lyndon is the best as far as I know. The lenses used by SK were the Zeiss, they're swedish or something, anyway, these lenses were used to take pictures from the satelites then, he sended them to Ed Di Giulio to put them in his Mitchel (used for rear projection) cameras that were sold to him from the WB's studios.
But I want to ask you guys what did you think of Eyes Wide Shut, for me, it was the best shot (lighted) film of 99, it wasn't even nominated for an oscar or recognized by the American Society of Cinematographers, I know Conrad Hall did a wonderful job in American Beauty but Kubrick and Larry Smith did it better (IMHO), also that year Sweet and Lowdown was amazing.
As for the DP's of today Deakins is my favourite.
man, i love anything by Roger Deakins, Janusz Kaminski, John Toll, Robert Richardson, Conrad Hall, Robert Elswit, Don Burgess, and Dante Spinotti.
David Lean's Oliver Twist is amazing
I like some of John Tolls work:
The Thin Red Line
Braveheart
Almost Famous
Vanilla Sky
Gianni di Venanzo for his b&w work, particularily on 8 1/2 & Big Deal On Madonna Street.
Since this category should have something to do with camerawork (framing, movements, etc), I nominate Michael Chapman for Taxi Driver. Gritty look, and my favorite Scorsese movie for shots (Marty in full Godard rip-off mode).
I gotta go with Janusz Kaminski, awesome work in A.I and Minority Report. Also John Toll, i mean Braveheart, Thin Red Line, and of course, Almost Famous and Vanilla Sky... pretty impressive resume IMO.
I love Barton Fink as well as everything else Roger Deakins has done with the Coens. Also love Raging Bull, Magnolia and the camera work in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was also great. Has anyone seen Visions of Light? I was considering buying it but wasn't sure if it was in the 'drop everything else and order it immediatly' category?
Quote from: shaun107I love Barton Fink as well as everything else Roger Deakins has done with the Coens. Also love Raging Bull, Magnolia and the camera work in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was also great. Has anyone seen Visions of Light? I was considering buying it but wasn't sure if it was in the 'drop everything else and order it immediatly' category?
I have Visions of Light. It's interesting to hear the cinematographers themselves talking about their craft. I hope someday they do a remastered version with film clips of better quality, and OAR clips from The Godfather. Buy it.
Kill Bill looks awesome! What about Darius Khondji? Se7en????
Casino!!!
Heat!!1
Even The Rock!!
Good Will Hunting!!!!!!
But Barry Lyndon takes the cake.
And...ehh...all of PTA's movies too....Elswitt....
singin in the rain is fuckin great -- so is manhattan
Three Kings :(
I enjoy Conrad L. Hall's work. American Beauty and Road to Perdition looked great.
With what finlayr said about Kill Bill...the snow scene looks great !
I really need to see Barry Lyndon.
Apocolypse Now is an excellent choice. It was splendid.
The Million Dollar Hotel is perhaps the most under-rated film I've ever seen. Gorgeous !
Feh, I should name more but I'm tired.
Mr. Death...since nobody's mentioned it.
vilmos zsigmond's work on THE DEER HUNTER is absolutely amazing -- by far one of my favorite films, as well as the most gorgeously shot.
Cinematographer Hall Gets Hollywood Star
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Cinematographer Conrad Hall, who won Oscars for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'' and "American Beauty,'' was honored posthumously with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Hall died in January at 76. He won his third Oscar two months later for last year's "Road to Perdition.''
He started his career as an assistant cameraman for television shows and went on to work on more than three dozen movies and earn 10 Oscar nominations.
His many honors include a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Cinematographers.
Born and raised in Tahiti, he was the son of James Norman Hall, co-author of "Mutiny on the Bounty.''
Writer-directors Robert Towne, who worked with Hall on the 1988 film "Tequila Sunrise,'' and Steve Zaillian, who worked with Hall on 1993's "Searching for Bobby Fisher'' and 1998's "A Civil Action,'' attended Thursday's dedication.
Hall's star, the 2,224th on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is near the star of his friend and fellow cinematographer Haskell Wexler.
last year at marienbad is breathtaking. wasn't a huge fan of the film -- but appreciate it's attempt.
Quote from: cowboykurtislast year at marienbad is breathtaking. wasn't a huge fan of the film -- but appreciate it's attempt.
Excellent choice....I think the film's great really, but not something I watch every weekend.
Rogers Deakins and Fargo is amazing to me
Cinematographers pick their Top 11
Surveyed to name the 10 most influential cinematographers in film history, members of the International Cinematographers Guild came up with 11 (thanks to a tie).
Their choices: Billy Bitzer ("Birth of a Nation"), James Wong Howe ("The Rose Tattoo"), Gregg Toland ("Wuthering Heights"), Freddie Young ("Lawrence of Arabia"), Jordan Cronenweth ("Blade Runner"), Conrad L. Hall ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"), Sven Nykvist ("Cries and Whispers"), Vittorio Storaro ("Apocalypse Now"), Haskell Wexler ("Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"), Gordon Willis ("The Godfather") and Vilmos Zsigmond ("The Deer Hunter").
fuck that, I go on record right now: best cinematography ever is Storaro's work in The Conformist.
Not debatable. Not even by him or any other of the great dp's. I won't allow it. :wink:
Hehehe. But seriously.... it is...
Um...are these the most influential DPs or the most influential films shot by DPs? I wouldn't argue much with the list, however, I'd add 2001 by Goeffrey Unsworth (also shot Cabaret) to that list. It's more influential than Cronenweth's Blade Runner, in my opinion. When American Cinematographer complied it's best-shot films list a few years ago it was #3 for the second 50 years of cinema, just behind Lawrence of Arabia and The Godfather.
I don't think they were saying the best film they shot, just one of the films they shot. Otherwise, Gregg Toland would have "Citizen Kane". :(
Cinematograpy in Gattaca made that movie great for me, that and the score (Is there a topic for that?)
Quote from: ShanghaiOrangeI don't think they were saying the best film they shot, just one of the films they shot. Otherwise, Gregg Toland would have "Citizen Kane". :(
And Gordon Willis would have "Manhattan"
Labyrinth was awesome with cinematography. Beautiful shots with hidden pictures and those Escher scenes, the mazes, beautiful!
I totally agree about Labyrinth.
I think Amelie has some of the most beautiful cinematography.
(Kill Bill was great too.)
I really appreciate the work of
Vittorio Storaro
I haven't seen much of his work really but what he did in Apocalypse Now puts him high up on my fav. cinematographers list.
Rodrigo Prieto
From the look of his camerawork he's without vanity. He's driven by emotion, something I can relate to. That's where the heart of my interst in films is. Emotions. Here's a good interview with him:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/forum/onFilm/prieto.shtml
Ellen Kuras
Not all of her films are great but I love her work in Eternal Sunshine. If you haven't read her American Cinematographer interview, do it here:
http://www.theasc.com/magazine/april04/cover/index.html
What Gondry had her do sounds pretty rough, with a focus puller pulling focus on two cameras at the same time :).
And she did second unit for Prieto on 25th Hour.
Quote from: kotteEllen Kuras
Not all of her films are great but I love her work in Eternal Sunshine. If you haven't read her American Cinematographer interview, do it here:
http://www.theasc.com/magazine/april04/cover/index.html
What Gondry had her do sounds pretty rough, with a focus puller pulling focus on two cameras at the same time :).
And she did second unit for Prieto on 25th Hour.
the fourth picture on the right hand column is wrongly captioned. whoever wrote the thing doesn't know who michel gondry is.
and the last one doesn't make sense at all.
Quote from: Pubrickthe fourth picture on the right hand column is wrongly captioned. whoever wrote the thing doesn't know who michel gondry is.
Yeah, you're right. That's fucking embarrassing.
anthony "dod" mantle and Chris Doyle.
Quote from: peteChris Doyle.
How could I forget him? He's absolutely one of the best.
Anyone's know a site with info about him? A bit more substantial than imdb.
Dod's minidv work on 28 days later was fantastic. Proof it can be done...though with some heavy post-work.
Quote from: kotteAnyone's know a site with info about him? A bit more substantial than imdb.
Go to IMDB. Type in Christopher Doyle. Click on Miscellaneous.
I saw Chris Doyle do a (faux) striptease last week.
oh yeah?
u ever had an ostrich burger?
Quote from: MacGuffinQuote from: kotteAnyone's know a site with info about him? A bit more substantial than imdb.
Go to IMDB. Type in Christopher Doyle. Click on Miscellaneous.
that's great...thanks.
Quote from: kotteQuote from: peteChris Doyle.
How could I forget him? He's absolutely one of the best.
Anyone's know a site with info about him? A bit more substantial than imdb.
Dod's minidv work on 28 days later was fantastic. Proof it can be done...though with some heavy post-work.
check out Festen, he did the dv work in that, and julien donkey boy too. he's coming out with danny boyle's millions next month, I saw it earlier this week, it was amazing. the movie and the cinematography.
ghostboy: HOW did you see chris doyle faux strip tease?! I saw him doing a drunken one in the making of Hero, but wow. where were you?
I was at the Berlin Talent Campus and he was one of the lecturers. At one point during one of the panels, there was a delay in projecting a video clip, and to fill the gap he jumped to his feet and started an oh-so-sexy soft shoe number.
aw man you're so lucky. I heard he and Gus Van Sant did a lecture at the USC, some girl in the audience was trying to ask him a question, he was drunk and just got too impatient with her polite words so he shouted "YO BITCH!" into the crowd.
That's pretty much exactly what he was like - except that he was also incredibly warm and gracious. So, in the case you mentioned, after saying YO BITCH, he would have probably smiled like a teddy bear and everyone would be like, "oh, he's so cute!" He's also, of course, incredibly smart, even when he's tanked, and he's a joy to speak to.
Here's one of the pics I took of him, showcasing the aforementioned winning smile:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.road-dog-productions.com%2Fberlin%2Fberlin14.jpg&hash=178abd44da996ca0701d73a10afe85102513c9f7)
yeah he's had a crazy life and he's eloquent in English, Chinese AND French, not just fluent, but eloquent. man, he's just the perfect man!
he used to work under my mom in the Taiwanese cultural office in Taipei way back in the early 80s.
until just now i thought that Emmanuel Lubezki and Matthew Libatique were the same person.
Quote from: modage on November 13, 2006, 08:48:12 PM
until just now i thought that Emmanuel Lubezki and Matthew Libatique were the same person.
Lub > Lib