Elite Squad (2007) is the one that constantly resurfaces when I’m talking shop with other DPs and editors. It just hits different. It’s raw, it’s ugly, and it’s visually uncompromising a total reminder that cinematography can do so much more than… Read More »Elite Squad (2007) – Cinematography Analysis
Some movies speak a visual language that survives long after the dialogue fades, and honestly, few do it with the raw, gut-punch power of Franklin J. Schaffner’s Papillon (1973). It’s a film that has lived in the back of my mind… Read More »Papillon (1973) – Cinematography Analysis
1968’s Planet of the Apes is a total masterclass in this. It’s a stark, heavy piece of science fiction that is every bit as compelling in its visuals as it is in its narrative. Most people remember the iconic twist, but for… Read More »Planet of the Apes (1968) – Cinematography Analysis
Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003) is an anomaly in Burton’s career. When it came out, the lack of gothic spirals and pale, brooding anti-heroes confused people. Where was the macabre? Instead, we got a film bathed in Southern sunlight. But looking back,… Read More »Big Fish (2003) – Cinematography Analysis
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) doesn’t rely on flashy look-at-me visuals; instead, it uses cinematography to mirror Chris Gardner’s exhaustion. It resonates with me not just for the narrative of resilience, but because the choices made in the camera department… Read More »The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – Cinematography Analysis
When I watch Die Hard now, I’m not just seeing Bruce Willis shoot bad guys; I’m seeing a film that is meticulously, almost obsessively, crafted. It’s a testament to practical filmmaking that holds up in a way modern CGI fests simply don’t.… Read More »Die Hard (1988) – Cinematography Analysis
Everyone remembers the ending of The Usual Suspects. But as a filmmaker and colorist, what keeps me coming back isn’t the script’s twist—it’s the lies told through the lens. Bryan Singer’s 1995 neo-noir didn’t just deceive us with dialogue; it manipulated… Read More »The Usual Suspects (1995) – Cinematography Analysis