Magnolia (1999) is one of those movies that makes me jealous. I spend most of my waking hours in a dark room at Color Culture, tweaking curves, staring at scopes, and building DCTLs to help people get “the film look.” Then… Read More »Magnolia (1999) – Cinematography Analysis
Looking at the visual language of Marriage Story isn’t just about appreciating a sad movie; it’s about studying discipline. Noah Baumbach’s 2019 film, shot by Robbie Ryan, resists the urge to be flashy. Instead, it uses a specific, rigid visual grammar to… Read More »Marriage Story (2019) – Cinematography Analysis
When I look at Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, I don’t just see a coming-of-age movie I see a twelve-year logistical anxiety attack. The concept alone is terrifying. Filming a story over a dozen years with the same actors isn’t just a scheduling… Read More »Boyhood (2014) – Cinematography Analysis
It takes a lot for a film’s look to genuinely break my brain. But David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive is one of those rare films. It isn’t just a “movie”; it’s a masterclass in using the image to lie to the audience. Most… Read More »Mulholland Drive (2001) – Cinematography Analysis
Let’s talk E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. It’s not just about the script; it’s about how every visual decision amplifies the emotional core. E.T. fundamentally defined the “Amblin feel.” It’s a film that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, and the cinematography… Read More »E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – 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
There are certain films where the craft and the narrative hit a sweet spot so perfect that you can’t tell where the script ends and the image begins. In Bruges (2008) is unequivocally one of them. Martin McDonagh’s debut feature isn’t just… Read More »In Bruges (2008) – Cinematography Analysis