Does anyone else have the Crooklyn DVD? I'm noticing something strange that must be intentional, but I'm wondering what it is: During the portions of the film that take place in Virginia, at the aunt's house, there's something going on with the lens that makes everyone look very compressed and elongated. I'm assuming this is a stylistic choice and not a disc oddity, and I'm sure any of the many A/V club tech-heads here will be able to tell me what he's done (I'm assuming it's an unusual lens he's using) to make it appear this way. And maybe any theories as to why... (I have my own, but I'm curious to hear them).
Anyway, I think this is my favorite Spike Lee film. Er, "joint."
Quote from: godardianDoes anyone else have the Crooklyn DVD? I'm noticing something strange that must be intentional, but I'm wondering what it is: During the portions of the film that take place in Virginia, at the aunt's house, there's something going on with the lens that makes everyone look very compressed and elongated. I'm assuming this is a stylistic choice and not a disc oddity, and I'm sure any of the many A/V club tech-heads here will be able to tell me what he's done (I'm assuming it's an unusual lens he's using) to make it appear this way.
It was intentional. Lee shot that portion with an anamorphic lens, meaning it was shot at a wider aspect ratio and 'squeezed' to fit in a smaller one.
Quote from: godardianAnd maybe any theories as to why... (I have my own, but I'm curious to hear them).
My thinking was that is was supposed to represent the girl's isolation and the strangeness of being with a different area and family.
Quote from: godardianAnyway, I think this is my favorite Spike Lee film. Er, "joint."
It's definitely his most personal, written by his brother and sister. That family, especially the father, is supposed to be his family.
Quote from: MacGuffinQuote from: godardianDoes anyone else have the Crooklyn DVD? I'm noticing something strange that must be intentional, but I'm wondering what it is: During the portions of the film that take place in Virginia, at the aunt's house, there's something going on with the lens that makes everyone look very compressed and elongated. I'm assuming this is a stylistic choice and not a disc oddity, and I'm sure any of the many A/V club tech-heads here will be able to tell me what he's done (I'm assuming it's an unusual lens he's using) to make it appear this way.
It was intentional. Lee shot that portion with an anamorphic lens, meaning it was shot at a wider aspect ratio and 'squeezed' to fit in a smaller one.
Quote from: godardianAnd maybe any theories as to why... (I have my own, but I'm curious to hear them).
My thinking was that is was supposed to represent the girl's isolation and the strangeness of being with a different area and family.
Quote from: godardianAnyway, I think this is my favorite Spike Lee film. Er, "joint."
It's definitely his most personal, written by his brother and sister. That family, especially the father, is supposed to be his family.
That explains everything... yeah, my thoughts on the reasoning are pretty much what you say, that Brooklyn is the "real," normal, everyday place, and there's something unreal about being in Virginia compared to that...
I like the relaxed flow of the movie- this would be where "episodic" could be meant as a compliment- and Alfre Woodard is an excellent actor. I'd love to see more of her in better movies.
He does the same thing in He Got Game once or twice.
Quote from: GhostboyHe does the same thing in He Got Game once or twice.
Wasn't that in the flashbacks?
The anamorphic lens scenes in Crooklyn didn't work for me. It would have been enough to show the strangeness of the house to the little girl with the actions, dialogue, body language, etc.
i love crooklyn. i love watching the little kids just sit around the house and sing and fight and stuff.
funny, i just watched summer of sam today, and lee used the same technique a couple of times. (i forgot how powerful that movie was, wow.)
When I mentioned Woodard above, I meant "better movies than the ones she seems to get stuck in most often," not "better movies than Crooklyn."