Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Mullen Oscar buzz?

Tom Lowe

Tom Lowe

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
8,520
Reaction score
1
Points
0
vlcsnap430147wx9.png


I haven't seen too much this year that really blew me away, in terms of cinematography. Zodiac was pretty great, and Bridge to Terabithia showcased some nice work by Michael Chapman.

I think Mullen takes the cake, though, with Astronaut Farmer. This is just brilliant work, with more than several shots that were about as good as cinematography gets. Of course it's a real longshot, because the film was under-seen. Still, I wouldn't be that surprised if David got a nod from the Academy or the ASC. I hope the studio is planning a campaign on his behalf.
 
great image.
 
I haven't seen it yet but it is on my very short list of movies to see in the next few weeks. Had I realized David was the cinematographer I would have seen it at the theater. The premise of the story seems to be a positive encouraging one.
 
The cinematography in this piece illustrates the story beautifully: the concept of isolation in his quest is delivered in every shot. (Tom the shot you posted was one of many examples of isolation in this movie)
 
I have a special affinity for those opening shots on the sand dunes because they were made with a really tiny crew before the main shooting started -- basically me and the director, two camera assistants, one grip, a few others. It's very liberating to have just a camera and run around in a great location grabbing shots, sort of second unit stuff normally these days (and there was a lot of second unit work in Astronaut Farmer shot by Phil Pfeiffer) but I'm glad I got to shoot that opening sequence.
 
Yeah, from the second that shot came up I knew it was going to be awesome. Even though the film's subject was a little offbeat (like the other Polish brother pics I've seen), it seems like this picture gave you a chance to really show off your abilities. I guess you guys had a little more time and money on this one?
 
Go David, Go! if I could vote for AF, I would. :)
 
Well David, you know how I feel about it, have written several posts exclaiming it virtues.

I felt that the cinematography played a very central role in conveying the subtleties of the story in a very powerful, artful way.

And, it had so many types of shots it could be used as a primer for DP's.

It appears simple - but therin lies the subtleties.

You'd get my vote.

aloha,

Keith
 
I really like the Astronaut Farmer. Good stuff David!
 
I just finished TAF a few minutes ago. I think this is some of your best work David. In particular, the day interiors are really fantastic. You really went for it in the breakfast scenes with the family with the heavy backlight and just letting the light fall off. The lighting all around is fantastic, lyrical and subtle for how stylized it is. A really great balance bewteen realism and the poetry of what movies do best. Just as important as the lighting is, I think the compositions are just as great. Well done!
 
I wrote a quick email to Warner Independent suggesting that Astronaut Farmer might be a good fit for an Oscar Cinematography push. :biggrin:

press@warnerindependent.com
 
Wait, did some guys on a forum try to get their hero nominated in that movie? :)

Say what you will, but David flat out deserves it. Unless I'm forgetting something, Astronaut Farmer easily beats Zodiac and the other pictures I have seen theatrically this year. As another respected member of Reduser.net said recently..... Astronaut Farmer is a veritable Cinematography 101 course. It has a huge array of setups. But it's not just that David's work was technically sound or impressive..... David puts art into his work.
 
Just watched it off of Xbox Live. Normally they have very good transfers. I wasn't very thrilled with this one.

Good movie all the same. Excellent use of a muted pallete. It really captured the feel and atmosphere of a small agro town. Excellent work!

I liked the last line a lot.
 
Just saw TAF; nice piece of work David ! I liked the interiors very much. Too much smoke for my taste but very nice light.
Aloha
-A
 
I just watched it twice and really enjoyed the film. Unfortunately it was under less than ideal viewing conditions: one of the in-flight movies on Emirates Airlines!

I think they cut the opening shots in the sand dunes, as I don't recall seeing them at all.
 
I love David's work.. Not wild about the directing, but David clearly brought some "serious game" to the film. Bruce Dern seems to LOVE that phrase.

With a published budget of $13mil, and a domestic gross of $10mil (This does not look at marketing costs on one side, and DVD sales on the other) the movie most likely will not "hurt" the studio, but at the same time won't blow anyone's door's off either.. The trick here will be if the "right" people see the movie for David to have a chance. This sort of stuff is outside my paygrade.

I spoke with David about the movie recently and that conversation kind of died (Possibily due to his work on his new feature gig), that caused me to begin to research the movie on my own.

My problems with the story and how it's told seem to resonate with about 75% - 80% of the reviews it has.. So I'm comfortable with how I see it.

I did like the extra features of the DVD if just to give me tiny little tricks that I saw David using while they were trying to show me something else.

I felt this movie was a MASSIVE educational experience from seeing what the cinematographer did right, as opposed to what the director's did wrong.

Jay
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top