Nov 12, 2019Weekend (2011) – Directing a Long TakeDirected by Andrew Haigh. Shot by Ula Pontikos. Starring Tom Cullen as Russell and Chris New as Glen. After a one-night-stand-turned-emot...
Oct 13, 2018Rediscovering The Thin Red Line (1998) – Editing Micro-moments + A New Type of Battle SceneJust rewatched this 1998 Terence Malick war film about a battle vs the Japanese in the Pacific in WWII. I want to break down...
Oct 5, 2018A Star is Born (2018) – A Visual Motif – SpoilersQuick post here – SPOILERS ABOUND for A STAR IS BORN (2018). I just wanted to discuss one visual element DP Matthew Libatique and...
Jan 25, 2018A Ghost Story (2017) – Dissecting a Bold, Beautiful, and Immersive IndieA GHOST STORY (2017) Directed by David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints; Pete’s Dragon; Old Man and the Gun). Starring Rooney Mara (The...
Nov 30, 2017Call Me By Your Name (2017) – Why it’s a Masterpiece [Spoilers]CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (2017) – Dir. Luca Guadagnino (I AM LOVE; A BIGGER SPLASH). Starring Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK), Timothée...
May 29, 2017Manchester By The Sea (2016) – Asymmetrical Character Coverage Reflects Different Emotional StMANCHESTER BY THE SEA (2016) Directed Kenneth Lonergan (Margaret; You Can Count On Me). Starring Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle...
Oct 8, 2014Gone Girl (2014) — Handheld Camera — Absence Highlights Presence*SPOILER ALERT!* Not the whole plot, but one key component. GONE GIRL (2014) Directed by David Fincher (The Social Network, Fight Club,...
Aug 7, 2014Black Swan (2010) — Homage It! Homage It!BLACK SWAN (2010) Directed by Darren Aronofsky (Noah, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream). Starring Natalie Portman (Star Wars prequel...
Aug 5, 2014Little Miss Sunshine (2006) — DirectionalityLITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006) Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Ruby Sparks). Written by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3). Starring...
Mar 18, 2014Rushmore (1998) – Surface Divisions and StorytellingRUSHMORE (1998) Directed by Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums; Moonrise Kingdom). Written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson (Midnight in...
Mar 19, 2013Hard Eight (1996) – Psychology and ProximityHARD EIGHT (1996) Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights; Magnolia; Punch-Drunk Love; There Will Be Blood; The...
Feb 13, 2013Sucker Punch (2011) Trailer: Graphic MatchesSUCKER PUNCH (2011) Starring Emily Browning (Lemony Snicket’s A Serious of Unfortunate Events; The Uninvited; Ghost Ship), Abbie Cornish...
Jan 5, 2013Any Given Sunday (1999) – Enhancing an Inspirational Speech through Cinematography and EditingANY GIVEN SUNDAY (1999) Directed by Oliver Stone (W.; JFK; Platoon; Natural Born Killers). With Al Pacino (The Godfather; The Godfather...
Jan 3, 2013Promised Land (2012) – Brilliant Communication Through CinematographyPROMISED LAND (2012) Directed by Gus Van Sant (Milk; Good Will Hunting; Elephant). Starring Matt Damon (The Bourne Ultimatum; Good Will...
Nov 29, 2012Boogie Nights (1997) – Paul Thomas Anderson: A New Kind of Establishing ShotBOOGIE NIGHTS (1997) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight; Magnolia; Punch-Drunk Love; There Will Be Blood; The Master)....
Oct 3, 2012Singin’ in the Rain: Learning to Dance when the Sun Don’t ShineSINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952) Directed by Stanley Donen (On the Town; Royal Wedding). Starring Gene Kelly (An American in Paris), Donald...
Aug 31, 2012THX 1138 (1971) – Film: a Visual MediumTHX 1138 (1971) Directed by George Lucas (Star Wars; American Graffiti). Sound designer and co-writer (with Lucas) Walter Murch (The...
Jul 21, 2012Loves of a Blonde (1965) and Biutiful (2010) – Homage? It looks that way.LOVES OF A BLONDE (1965) and BIUTIFUL (2010) Loves of a Blonde: Directed by Milos Forman (Amadeus; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). With...
Jul 20, 2012The Dark Knight (2008) – “Madness Is Like Gravity” – Cinematography“I don’t, I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, NO! No. You… you… complete...
Jul 19, 2012Shame (2011) – Expressing Shame through JuxtapositionSHAME (2011) Directed by Steve McQueen (Hunger). Starring Michael Fassbender (Jane Eyre; 300; Inglourious Basterds; X Men: First Class;...