this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2023
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Cinema Joy

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Bladerunner (and 2049) has a special place in my heart. There are so many classics that stretched film photography. Lawrence of Arabia. Alien. The Cell. Night of the Hunter. Dunkirk. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Just to name a few. What movies are your favorites that aren't as known?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm not a sophisticated cinephile, so maybe this isn't what you're talking about, but Ben Stiller's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (2013) just blows me away visually. The writing and plot aren't anything to shout about, but the movie is just so beautiful and even the opening credits are creative, unusual, and visually engaging. The scoring is phenomenal too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I really enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would originally.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You just made me realise that the only movies where Ben Stiller is acting which I really enjoyed were ones which he also directed. He's a solid director, Walter Mitty, Cable Guy, Tropic Thunder, and to a lesser extend Zoolander have quite good cinematography. He seems to also lessen the excessiveness in his acting which I don't like.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sicario and, to a (Much) lesser extent, Sicario: Day of the Soldado.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also Directed Arrival, Bladerunner 2049 & Dune.

If you haven't watcher either of the Sicario's or those listed above, I would absolutely suggest you give them a watch.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Those have been on my list forever but just haven't done it. I'll take this as motivation.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Sicario is just great filmmaking all around. The plot and visuals are fantastic. Honestly though the sequel is pretty mid. I wasn't impressed; it just felt like a cash grab more than a fully fleshed out sequel.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Night of the Hunter and Barry Lyndon come to mind. I’m willing to say most any Kubrick film has at least a few indelible shots. Oh and Kwaidan left quite an impression when I first saw it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not sure why, but that makes me think of Holy Mountain. They don't make many like that one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I haven’t seen that but I’ve been meaning to make an effort to watch Jodorowsky’s work.

I just remembered the film The Fall. I believe that was also Tarsem (like the Cell). I remember it being visually striking but not much else.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah Tarsem will delight the eye, but that's about it. It is enough though when you want to see the sights.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

When you say Night Of The Hunter, my mind immediately jumps to The Sweet Smell Of Success, which came out a year or two later, with ~~Charlton Heston~~ Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. One film is in the country, the other in Manhattan, but the visual style is similar and just as striking.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That was a fantastic movie! That’s a James Wong Howe film. But do you mean Burt Lancaster? I don’t recall Heston in that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes! My mistake, meant to say Lancaster.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Have you seen Seconds? That one stars Rock Hudson and was also shot by Howe, so you might at least find the look of it appealing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sure did, in fact I owned it on DVD.
First and foremost, that film's a Frankenheimer. I loved Manchurian Candidate, enjoyed French Connection 2 (that breathtaking final shot of the film elevated it for me), and read that Seconds was his unsung masterpiece at the time it came out.

I really liked Seconds, but it's such a dark story, I never watched it again. Like with Requiem For A Dream, some films are masterpieces but also not really rewatchable.
Then I believe Seconds was the first big Hollywood release that showed full frontal nudity, in black and white, in 1966! The tone of that scene is fascinating, Frankenheimer was truly in uncharted post-Hayes Code waters there.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Fall is an absolute treat for the eyes. So many beautiful locations, and the fade between the creepy priest's face and a landscape shot that has the same features is incredible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I agree, it was also shot in 24(!) different countries, was self-financed by director Tarsem Singh and doesn't use any CGI.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The Revenant has gotta be my favorite of all time. Shot with natural light in one of my favorite locations in the world. The meteor scene is probably the best scene cinematography wise. But you can pause the movie at any point and it's going to be a beautiful frame.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
  • The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

My favorite movie of all time, simple, yet severly underrated.

  • Adult World (2013)

One of the best movies to watch when inviting (girl) friends to a sleepover, also severly underrated.

I would recommend other movies, but they target specific demographics/topics, so i don't feel they would be worth mentioning here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Oppenheimer was a please to watch, Dune is another really great one imo.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The Fall and The Fountain are two of my favorites. Sunshine (Danny Boyle) has some excellent moments.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Some of these will be "as known" but here's some random examples of beautiful cinematography that I really love:

Journal d' un cure de compagne

The Red Shoes

Bringing Out The Dead

The Seventh Seal

Mirrors (Tarkovsky)

Beau Travail

Red Sorghum

In The Mood For Love

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't think I have ever seen anyone mention Bringing Out The Dead. I love that film. Awesome choice! You've got a really solid list here.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Thanks! Yeah I love everything about Bringing Out The Dead but the cinematography really stands out. If I remember right, Scorsese had seen Robert Richardson's work on Snow Falling On Cedars and asked him to bring that same luminous quality. Which is an achievement because very different subject/setting, but it works.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Malick! The Tree of Life was something special.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yes! They're all great but it's Days of Heaven for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Conan the Barbarian - it was a perfect fusion of imagery and music (not much dialogue in that movie for obvious reasons). Any of you people who want to laugh at this, I dare you to watch the first few minutes of the movie as we watch Conan's childhood into his enslavement.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Aren't there a few versions. Are you referring to the Schwarzenegger ones?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The barbarian one is the first Arnold one

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I love Mulholland Drive.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Brat (Brother), i just love how the scenes where filmed!

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