Magic Mike

[Arnold F.]

Apart from Forty Shades of Blue, Magic Mike has come closest recently to a style that is among my favorite and is similar to that seen in many Altman movies. Also, there were many interesting choices, particularly with lighting some scenes or, I should say, not lighting. I thought the sound was great as well.

My question for those who saw it, however, is about the two minute shot of Mike and the girl walking on the sand bar. At one point, they pass a very hot reflection of the sun on the water and this, in turn, is again briefly, beautifully reflected but I don't know how. My suspicion is that it's a reflection between filters in the mattebox. Anyone else notice this? It reminded me of that scene in The Long Goodbye of Elliot Gould on the beach (outside of what was really his house in Malibu).

 

[ericyoung]

Just rewatched that scene, and you're right - it's an internal reflection off at least one ND filter (judging by the relatively shallow depth of field in that shot), probably two as it's not a reflection of the lens front element itself.

On his relatively lower budget personal project films, Soderberg often likes to use available light as much as possible, and will even let the picture get "ugly" in some ways or push the colour palette to extremes. In Haywire, there were way overblown white clipping windows outside the diner windows in the opening scene, and even what looked like infrared pollution.

It's a clear stylistic choice as he's shown he can light very conventionally beautiful shots too like the Oceans movies.

 

[Andre W.]

Again I will confirm that this was reflection from filters.

I had spoke with the AC that prepped the package here and if I remember right I believe it was 3 filters. A straw filter and some ND filters, it was mentioned on set that there was the double, and it was deemed acceptable and wanted.