Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => News and Theory => Topic started by: Spike on September 21, 2003, 12:19:21 PM

Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Spike on September 21, 2003, 12:19:21 PM
What do you think?
One of my faves is definately in "Se7en": At the beginning when Somerset tries to fall asleep and puts the metronom on. You see the metronom in a close-up-shot, it's clicking exactly 7 times, then it cutes rapidly to black, in the black you hear the sound of a thunder and then the beginning credits start. That's really fantastic!
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Ghostboy on September 21, 2003, 12:21:35 PM
Best cut is arguable. Most iconic cut would be in 2001.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Alethia on September 21, 2003, 09:32:13 PM
don't know about best, but a nice one is in pulp fiction, when bruce willis gets smacked in the face with the butt end of a shotgun.  it cuts to a close up for about a millisecond, then back.  nicely done.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on September 21, 2003, 09:37:39 PM
In House of 1,000 Corpses where he says the "most of all...fuck YOU" line, then it goes to black and you hear "Fucker got blood on my favorite clown shoes" and that eerie laugh as 'a Rob Zombie film' appears on the screen.

Not THE best, but awesome.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: cine on September 21, 2003, 10:10:33 PM
Quote from: GhostboyBest cut is arguable. Most iconic cut would be in 2001.

That's what I would've said. I won't even think of a runner up. It's all 2001.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: dufresne on September 22, 2003, 12:32:24 AM
EXT: RESTAURANT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT

WE SEE HENRY pushing KAREN into the car.

                    KAREN (V.O.):
Before it was even time to go home he was
pushing me into the car...

EXT: CURBSIDE - KAREN'S HOUSE - NIGHT

WE SEE HENRY hurrying Karen out of the car

                    KAREN (V.O.):
...and then pulling me out.  It was ridiculous.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: NEON MERCURY on September 22, 2003, 12:35:41 AM
the scissors in blue velvet when the yellow polic tape gets cut..

the scene encompasses two cuts for the price of one....
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Spike on September 22, 2003, 07:02:40 AM
"2001" has definately one of the (perhaps the) best cuts ever.
It's so simple, but so impressive and powerful.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: cine on September 22, 2003, 07:23:12 AM
When I first saw Touch of Evil, I felt that the opening sequence where they cut to the falling exploding car was too early for how it was going. After the film, I went to Ebert's at the time recent Great Movie review of Touch of Evil to read his thoughts and read that he felt the cut was premature. I thought ":shock: Yea..... Yeahh... THAT'S RIGHT!"  and I was happy.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: mutinyco on September 22, 2003, 10:02:11 AM
I'm in the 2001 camp. It's just obvious.

Kubrick had a way of taking common elements of film language and simply, effortlessly making iconic images.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: samsong on September 22, 2003, 04:21:58 PM
Lawrence of Arabia... blowing out match to sunrise in the desert... or was it sunset..
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Gamblour. on September 22, 2003, 05:05:23 PM
Another good cut in Se7en is right before I think Thursday, they're sitting on the couch and it jump cuts to Pitt sleeping with his head on Freeman, very fucking cute.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: phil marlowe on September 22, 2003, 05:56:10 PM
'looks like it was cut with scissors.'
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: The Silver Bullet on September 22, 2003, 10:56:18 PM
Quote from: samsongLawrence of Arabia... blowing out match to sunrise in the desert... or was it sunset..
It was sunrise.
And that's my favourite too. Far and away, without a doubt.

"It's going to be fun."
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: SHAFTR on September 23, 2003, 12:19:20 AM
Quote from: The Silver Bullet
Quote from: samsongLawrence of Arabia... blowing out match to sunrise in the desert... or was it sunset..
It was sunrise.
And that's my favourite too. Far and away, without a doubt.

"It's going to be fun."

I agree...also a great cut (if it is considered one) in a bad movie is in The Rules of Attraction when the split screens join.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Cecil on September 23, 2003, 12:52:30 AM
everytime someone says RoA is a bad movie, a little piece of me dies
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: MacGuffin on September 23, 2003, 12:58:53 AM
Quote from: Cecileverytime someone says RoA is a bad movie, a little piece of me dies

Cheer up, Cecil. I liked it. Think you and I are the only two though.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: ono on September 23, 2003, 01:31:38 AM
I liked it, too, actually.  Sometimes I think people are too hard on Avary ... and Van Der Beek (great in Varsity Blues as well), and Jessica Biel and Shannon Sossamon and er, that chick who was on Young Americans, that short lived miniseries er, I mean "drama" ... ah, yes, Kate Bosworth.  But yes, RoA was very good, and what some people thought were "stupid camera tricks," I thought were used effectively to further the story ... or something ... yes.  And gah, that final scene in the snow was just great for me.  The ending was a trip, too.  And the credits that followed.

On topic, I just saw a little bit of Eisenstein's ¡Que Viva Mexico! this morning, and was blown away.  And it seems some critics say this is his lesser work, his only "non-masterpiece," so I hope that says a lot about the quality of his other works.  Soviet Montage Theory, or whatever it's called, is responsible, and is chock full of great examples of cuts.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: cine on September 23, 2003, 02:16:37 AM
Yeah, Potemkin is one helluva great film.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on September 23, 2003, 10:28:55 AM
Quote from: MacGuffin
Quote from: Cecileverytime someone says RoA is a bad movie, a little piece of me dies

Cheer up, Cecil. I liked it. Think you and I are the only two though.

No! No! Me too!  :multi:
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Pwaybloe on September 23, 2003, 11:00:23 AM
Really?  I always liked it too.  I was a huge fan of the book.

I remember when it came out and everyone here just destroyed it... so I kept my mouth shut.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: SHAFTR on September 23, 2003, 12:19:16 PM
Quote from: PawbloeReally?  I always liked it too.  I was a huge fan of the book.

I remember when it came out and everyone here just destroyed it... so I kept my mouth shut.

I was very excited for it but was ultimately disappointed...it isn't bad but I wouldn't call it good either.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: rustinglass on September 23, 2003, 01:32:22 PM
I liked rules too,

I think festen has one hell of a good cut: When Christian taps with aspoon on three different glasses to get attention for the speech, and with a prgressivly higher pitch and the camera like jumps nearer to him as the pitch rises: tap-tap-CUT-tap-tap-CUT-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Cecil on September 23, 2003, 10:16:17 PM
yes. those little pieces of me that died have now resurrected
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Leatherface on September 26, 2003, 01:51:33 AM
I'm also a fan of ROA:)
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Ghostboy on September 26, 2003, 02:03:04 AM
I'm a fan of ROA who didn't actually like the movie. Sort of like I'm a fan of Unbreakable.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Weak2ndAct on September 26, 2003, 02:04:50 AM
- Yeah, the 2001 cut is the money shot, can't argue that one.
- For sheer volume, I vote for The Limey.  Too many great cuts to count in that one.
- I LOVE RoA!  Hopefully time will be kinder to it (as with Killing Zoe).
- Another Se7en one: The subliminal flash of Gwyneth's face during the climax.
- Taxi Driver: "Listen you fuckers, you screwheads--" jump cut back to DeNiro turning again.  That one gets me every time.
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: SHAFTR on September 27, 2003, 01:26:41 PM
Phillip Baker Hall's introduction in Boogie Nights.

The Jump Cuts in Breathless when he is telling her what parts of her body he loves (when they are in the car).
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: Spike on September 27, 2003, 04:35:00 PM
Quote from: SHAFTRPhillip Baker Hall's introduction in Boogie Nights.

Yeah, that was as great as Robert Ridgeley's introduction in "Boogie Nights".
By the way: What was the music during the Hall-introduction-scene? It was so amazing!
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: MacGuffin on September 27, 2003, 06:30:54 PM
Quote from: SpikeBy the way: What was the music during the Hall-introduction-scene? It was so amazing!

"Driver's Seat" - Sniff N The Tears
Title: Best cut in film history?
Post by: godardian on September 29, 2003, 04:38:30 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin
Quote from: SpikeBy the way: What was the music during the Hall-introduction-scene? It was so amazing!

"Driver's Seat" - Sniff N The Tears

I so love that... the melancholy propulsion of the deep-strummed guitar matching the editing there, the forward music with the forward narrative... When I make a movie, I plan to pay tribute to this, using The Auteurs' "Bailed Out."