Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

#1

Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:18pm

Truly great cinematography ENHANCES the story and isn't just something pretty to look at.

1) 2001: A Space Odyssey

2) A Clockwork Orange

3) Eyes Wide Shut

4) Barton Fink

5) Casablanca

6) Kill Bill Vol. 1/Vol. 2

7) Amelie

The Royal Tenenbaums

9) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

10) Brazil

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Sin City, City of Lost Children, Se7en, Batman, The Who's Tommy, and The Seventh Seal.

Updated On: 7/5/05 at 07:18 PM

#2

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:23pm

I agree with a lot of your choices (esp. A Clockwork Orange, Casablanca and Amelie). From the recent films, I think M. Night Shymalan's cinematography is great as well (I think he doubles as his own cinematographer, doesn't he?). And the cinematographers on Tim Burton flicks tend to be great (i.e. Sleepy Hollow).

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#3

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:24pm

Citizen Kane
Touch of Evil
The Magnificent Ambersons

Edit: I should have listed the cinematographers names, Gregg Toland, Russell Metty, Stanley Cortex-respectively. Of course, Orson Welles had a great deal to do with the look of these films.

Sinful Omission: Wild Strawberries-Gunnar Fischer-director,Ingmar Bergman.

Funny how all my choices are B/W films.

Updated On: 7/5/05 at 07:24 PM

#4

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:29pm

Days of Heaven (197...Nestor Almendros, cinematographer. Magnificent.

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Updated On: 7/5/05 at 07:29 PM

#5

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:29pm

Shouldn't "The Graduate" at least be an honorable mention?

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#6

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:30pm

Ben Hur ( for the chariot race alone)
10 Commandments
Lawrence of Arabia
Dr Zhivago

Should have been nominated

El Cid

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#7

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:43pm

I want to thank Cruel for starting this thread. It could lead to a great discussion of shadow and light.

Example: The first bordello scene in Touch of Evil and the loving way Marlene is photographed. She shimmers.

#8

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:44pm

The Elephant Man

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#9

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:45pm

You're welcome, yo.

Don't forget mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene ****ing ROCKS!

#10

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:48pm

LA Confidential
Eyes Wide Shut
Schindler's List

#11

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 7:54pm

I should add Ed Wood. Stefan Czapsky (I had to look that one up.) Tim Burton,director. I've alway wondered how much a director has control over photography. I suppose it depends on the director.

The scenes in Lugosi's house are beautifully lit and shot.

#12

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 8:01pm

Ack! How could I forget Requiem for a Dream

#13

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 8:28pm

in no part. order

Gone with the Wind
Casablanca
The Sweet Hereafter
Amelie
From Hell
Sunset Blvd.
Kill Bill
Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Shining
A.I.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Rear Window
Far From Heaven
Snow Falling on Cedars
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Elephant

#14

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 8:39pm

Far From Heaven--Good choice. Lana Turner could have walked into a scene and it would have been appropriate.

#15

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/5/05 at 9:00pm

Moulin Rouge!!

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#16

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:25pm

Surely The Lord of the Rings trilogy should be in there. Every frame from those movies are worthy of being put up on a wall as a painting.

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#17

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:41pm

Maybe... but not the acting or script.

#18

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:51pm

The best Cinematography, right? So it does not have to be a great movie/film or I don't have to like it.

Then...

Lord of the Rings
Bagdad Cafe
The Lawrence of Arabia
Stranger than Paradice
Saving Private Ryan
The Third Man
Ascenseur pour l'échafaud

#19

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:54pm

Maybe... but not the acting or script.

You mean the award-winning ensemble acting from such luminaries as Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Ian Holm, Viggo Mortensen, Christopher Lee....the list goes on.

And the script for the LORD OF THE RINGS movies is a master class in book-to-movie adaptation.

But I forgot, you didn't have the attention span for a complex storyline.

Now back to Cinematography...

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BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#20

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 2:55pm

I loved Chicago. POTO was pretty impressive.

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#21

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 3:00pm

City of Lost Children
Stealing Beauty
Se7en

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#22

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 6:55pm

CABARET

and let's not forget the silent era, with such cinematic masterpieces as SUNRISE.

and i just saw THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC ... magnificent close-up photography of actors with no make-up in 1928 - unprecedented

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#23

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 10:59pm

In no particular order, except for number 1

The Greatest Story Ever Told

North By Northwest
The Sound of Music
Gone With The Wind
Femme Fatale
Notorious
The Wizard of Oz
The Village
The Crowd
Black Narcissus

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#24

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:03pm

Mary Poppins

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#25

re: Top 10 Films With The Best Cinematography

Posted: 7/6/05 at 11:05pm

I'd definetely include Cabaret. It won the Academy Award I believe.

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