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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

American Cinematographer Poll, Best Shot Films of 1998 - 2008

Assassination of Jesse James - If I had to pick one. It would be this. Rich tones. Beautiful texture. Inspired compositions.
The Fellowship of the Ring - The cinematography that has probably modified a nation's GDP more than any other.
The Road to Perdition - I loved the rich and baroque tonality in almost every frame. There was a depth and range to the lighting that is very rarely seen.
There will be blood - Loved the rough and tumble texture. It had an aged and worn look without going sepia and grainy.
Snow Falling on Cedars - Beautiful use of atmosphere and composition.
Ahh hell... The 300 - Sorry! I thought it was visually stunning and interesting.
Pan's Labyrinth - Was somber without being bleak. Warm without being soft and just all around pitch perfect to the story.
Amelie - The cinematography struck me as being almost retro. It was like a pin-up photo brought to life. A great lesson in fearlessly using color.
Collateral - Captured the quintessential urban landscape.
Ratatouille - Colorful and bright. It was like an early 20th century still life in motion.

Honorable Mentions:
Eye's Wide Shut
Black Hawk Down
The Fountain
Sweeney Todd
Children of Men

Yes Tom I know... I need to watch The New World... I promise I promise...
 
David Mullen ASC said:
Now if I really was a good student of cinema, I'd get off my butt and go to the Andrei Tarkovsky series starting up over at LACMA...
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I need to get SIFF on board with this. Does that mean there are restored 35mm prints on tour now like the Kubrick collection that was making the rounds last year?

I don't know if I could take that many of my favorite films in one month though. It would be exhausting.

EDIT: Oh me oh my. The Sacrifice is playing on February 5. If you see one Tarkovsky film, everyone should see The Sacrifice.
 
Yeah it's quite the commitment. And it's not an easy 200 minutes either. You really have to fight your more basal impulses to sit down and watch it. It seemingly goes nowhere for 180 minutes and doesn't really come together except on reflection. Which I suppose is true of many of his films.
 
David Mullen ASC said:
In fact, I'm probably seeing a digital screening of a restored "Superman: The Movie" showing at the Egyptian on Sunday. I just saw an old b&w print of "Fort Apache" at the Aero last night.
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David,

Do you know if this is the same restoration that went on the Bluray release? If so, it IS amazing.
 
David Mullen ASC said:
I've seen "The Sacrifice", "Solaris", and "Nostalghia"... I need to see "The Mirror", "Andrei Rublev", and "Ivan's Childhood". But "Andrei Rublev" is 200 minutes long!
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Thank god I'm not the only one who hasn't seen "Rublev". I feel better now. :001_cool:
 
Roberto Lequeux said:
If you are ashamed then what should I be? Rofl. I need to watch so many more films acclaimed for their cinematography.

I don't even know where to start. Something tells me that 2010 in 70mm might be a good place. Does anyone know of a good website to easily find 70mm showings?
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Roberto, I'm in the same boat as you. There are so many I haven't seen its embarrassing considering how much interest I have in the subject. I guess it's more of refusing to see them unless it's a pristine digital copy (Bluray) or an actual film print...at least that was my reasoning for waiting so long to finally watching 2001.

You guys in LA have many more opportunities for screenings though. As far as I'm aware, the best places in the Bay Area to go are the vintage Stanford Theater, and the Castro that does 70mm.
 
Andrei Rublev may be 200 minutes long, but trust me, it's well worth it to see it in theaters, if you can spare the extra time. It just doesn't hold up that well for me on DVD (of course, it could just be that I'm easily distracted, but the Criterion transfer also leaves quite a bit to be desired). On 35mm, however, it's a pretty overwhelming experience, especially the magnificent final reel.

Mirror is also really amazing. It's one of the rare films that gets better and more rewarding for me with each viewing. And on the plus side, it's only half the length of Rublev. And also probably twice as dense.
 
My list:

1. Hero - Christopher Doyle
2. The Last King of Scotland - Anthony Dod Mantle
3. Memoirs of a Geisha - Dion Beebe
4. Sleepy Hollow - Emmanuel Lubezki
5. Gladiator - John Mathieson
6. Three Kings - Newton Thomas Sigel
7. Chicago - Dion Beebe
8. Sin City - Robert Rodriguez
9. Blade - Theo van de Sande
10. Collateral - Dion Beebe

Yes, as you can see, Dion Beebe is my favorite DP. Passion of the Christ and New World just missed my list.

Blade (yes the one with Wesley Snipes) is the movie that made me want to learn about cinematography. I think I was 18 or 19 when I saw it. I fell in love with the way it looked, and that lead me to cinematography. Three Kings was the on the cover of the first American Cinematographer I ever bought.
 
David Mullen ASC said:
I've seen "The Sacrifice", "Solaris", and "Nostalghia"... I need to see "The Mirror", "Andrei Rublev", and "Ivan's Childhood". But "Andrei Rublev" is 200 minutes long!
Click to expand...

Just came back from LACMAs screening of Stalker. It looked amazing. Put my dvd to utter shame. Amazing! Very excited for the Mirror and The Sacrifice.

I'll be back in here in a bit with a thoughtful 10 best list!
 
For cinematography, I would put 2046 ahead of In the Mood For Love.

A few others not mentioned...

Flowers of Shanghai (incredible!)
The Pianist
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,
Talented Mr. Ripley
Lost in Translation

------

some personal favorites:

Vertical Ray of the Sun
Darwin's Nightmare
Youth by Youth
 
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