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
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
I’ve been grading a lot of digital footage lately, and revisiting The Perks of Being a Wallflower was a refreshing reminder of why I still love the texture of 35mm film. It isn’t just a “coming-of-age” story; it’s a specific visual translation… Read More »The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – Cinematography Analysis
Watching Network today feels less like watching a “classic” and more like reading a news feed from next week. It’s a darkly comedic satire, sure, but its commentary on news-as-entertainment and the monetization of outrage is chilling. Every time I cue it… Read More »Network (1976) – 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
This film is different. It hits the ground running. There’s no exposition, no “previously on.” From frame one, you’re on a speeding train. It’s a relentless, urgent ride, and the visual choices are doing the heavy lifting to translate that… Read More »Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) – Cinematography Analysis
To really understand visual language, I often have to step back and look at the masters. And when it comes to Billy Wilder’s 1960 masterpiece, we are looking at a goldmine. It’s one of those films that resonates deeply, feeling… Read More »The Apartment (1960) – Cinematography Analysis