When this movie first hit US screens in a truncated, re-ordered version, it was rightfully panned. But once Leone’s original vision was restored with its non-linear, dreamlike structure intact it ascended to its place as a cinema classic. The film’s… Read More »Once Upon a Time in America (1984) – Cinematography Analysis
Let’s talk Princess Mononoke. As a filmmaker and full-time colorist running Color Culture, there are certain films that act as north stars projects that don’t just tell a story, but define the visual language of their medium. Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke is one… Read More »Princess Mononoke (1997) – Cinematography Analysis
When I think of films that balance artistry with thematic depth, Howl’s Moving Castle is a benchmark. It’s a constant source of inspiration, not just for its narrative, but for its audacity in visual storytelling. From the lumbering, ramshackle castle to the… Read More »Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) – Cinematography Analysis
If there’s one film that gets under my skin not just as a filmmaker but specifically when looking at the image pipeline it’s John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). This isn’t just a horror movie; it is a textbook example of visual efficiency,… Read More »The Thing (1982) – Cinematography Analysis
Alright, let’s talk about Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As a filmmaker and a full-time colorist, this film has always held a special place for me. It’s not just a comedic masterpiece; it’s a brilliant case study in how severe… Read More »Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – Cinematography Analysis
Casino is an epic in the truest sense. It’s a sprawling saga set against the backdrop of 1970s and 80s Las Vegas—dazzling at first, then rapidly decaying. While often compared to Goodfellas, Casino pushes the visual language much further. Scorsese famously noted that this… Read More »Casino (1995) – Cinematography Analysis
I spend a lot of time deconstructing the visual language of cinema. It’s rarely about just making “pretty pictures”; it’s about how specific technical choices from stock selection to printer lights serve the narrative. Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential (1997) is a film… Read More »L.A. Confidential (1997) – Cinematography Analysis