Greatest cinematography overall in one movie?

[begin_within]

If you prefer a different one, please reply with your choice.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I voted Apocalypse Now.

But there are real contenders in that poll.

[SixStrings]

7. I must be the only one who cannot stand that movie.

Maybe I didn't get it? Seemed like a very pretentious movie - as though Coppola felt like he could put anything he pleased on the screen with his Godfather credibility.
I just don't understand the love for that film.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. What pretense were you particularly upset with?

[jpgray]

2. Lawrence is in a class of its own

Although there are some great contenders there.

[Critters2]

19. Absolutely--visual poetry! nt

[brook]

28. I remember thinking

that just about any frame would be the equivalent of a beautiful painting.

I saw it at the Director's Guild theatre- which was so crowded, I sat on the floor!

[CBGLuthier]

3. Network

It's a very subtle thing but if you watch closely the look of the film changes as it progesses.

It starts flat and gets shinier. Director Sydney Lumet said it was intentional to indicate the artificial reality that television had devolved into. (paraphrasing the hell out of him here)

Other than that Traffic stands out for its use of "lighting" and color schemes that vary depending upon which part of the story you are watching. I thought it was a good device to keep the stories separate.

[mainegreen]

4. What? No Citizen Kane?

First time I saw that movie I remember thinking "ahhh, so that's what the fuss is all about".

[tigereye]

6. that's what I was going to say

it's brilliant.

[begin_within]

11. "I Am Cuba" surpassed "Citizen Kane" in terms of camera work. Certainly

"Citizen Kane" was innovative, but as far as overall 'greatest cinematography,' I feel that it was surpassed by many later films. Nothing wrong with it though, a perfectly acceptable choice and if the software allowed for 20 choices I would have included it.

[mainegreen]

14. Alright then, how about Russian Ark?

That was also damned impressive.

[begin_within]

32. I haven't seen that yet but I'll put it on my list - thanks

[zonkers]

5. The Conformist (1970) dir. Bertolucci, cinema. by Vittorio Storaro (pics)

[begin_within]

12. But you didn't cast a vote for it (Il Confomista)?

[zonkers]

27. Thanks! Just being dumb. Done!

Good poll Bob Weaver!!!

[Shakespeare]

8. Other - Days of Heaven

One of the most beautifully filmed movies ever.

[jobycom]

9. Amadeus, and (what may be an odd choice) Bladerunner, would be

other contenders.

[CBGLuthier]

18. Nothing odd about Bladerunner

It is a very beautiful movie and that kind of sums cinematography up in a nutshell. To me anyway. :-)

[xchrom]

10. casa blanca. n/t

[everythingsxen]

13. Death to Smoochy

The dissolves, fades and overall cinematography are fantastic.

[kwassa]

15. "Throne of Blood" Kurosawa's version of Macbeth

Not as good a movie as "Seven Samuarai", but great cinematography. When the forest came to the castle through the fog, and the final sequence of Mifune as an arrow-filled pin cushion.

Actually "Kill Bill Vol. 2" had great cinematography. Not a great movie, in my book, but the visuals were fantastic.

[astonamous]

16. Dr Zhivago n/t

[kwassa]

17. Do really mediocre films compromise the quality of the cinematography?

Terry Malick's films always are beautifully shot, but put me to sleep.

"Days of Heaven" was a snooze fest. I still remember the image of the giant house on the prarie, but so what?

Likewise, Kubricks "Barry Lyndon" left me in a state of near paralysis. Many of his films are beautifully shot. "2001" was visually incredible.

[begin_within]

33. Yes, definitely. For example:

Citizen Kane: masterful technique; boring story
The Thin Red Line: beautiful photography; pretentious voiceovers
Au Hasard Balthazar: perfect direction, photography and editing; contrived story
I Am Cuba: Amazing camera technique; dated propaganda piece
Titanic: Top-notch production values and special effects; dumb script

[bikebloke]

20. Lawrence of Arabia is my first choice.

I haven't seen Barry Lyndon since it was first released. Beautiful. Some years back I tried watching it again on a VHS rental tape. The graininess was so bad, I stopped as not to spoil the memory. I'd like to see again on a good DVD transfer.

For black & White cinematography, I like La Dolce Vita.

[Radical Activist]

21. Persona, Shame, The Silence

Ingmar Bergman did some amazing cinematography and several of his films could be on the list. Not many films make me pause in amazement repeatedly and say, "Damn look at that camera shot!"

[Radical Activist]

22. The Seven Samurai doesn't belong on this list.

It was a good effort for its time but is un-compelling compared to movies made even later in the decade. I think it is highly overrated.

[kwassa]

25. Seven Samurai is one of the greatest films EVER!!!!!!!!

Not overrated in the slightest, IMHO.

'Bout time for me to watch it again.

[SoyCat]

23. Indochine

[martymar64]

24. I am Cuba

Kalatozov was a genius! Watch his earlier film "Cranes are Flying". It won the Palm d'Orre at Cannes in 1958. Propagandistic but very beautiful to watch.

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. I am tempted to vote for The Abyss, just cuz it deserves more

than the 1 vote it has now, but, sadly, I must go Lawrence. Citizen Kane is a close second, as are quite a few others (including The Abyss, which is beautifully and amazingly shot, and doesn't get the street cred it deserves).

[haf216]

29. I don't know much about film making

but cinematography in One Hour Photo was great. Many of the scenes look like "photos".

[CTyankee]

30. No, no, no! It's Chariots of Fire!

An absolutely gorgeous film that also had great script, acting, costumes, musical score. Best all around movie I've ever seen. I watch it every time it's on TV and on video (not up to speed with DVDs unfortunately -- I'm about 5 years late on that).

[Lautremont]

31. Red Desert, Le Samourai, The Conformist (colour)

and Night of the Hunter, Breathless and I Walked With A Zombie (b&w)

[bridgit]

34. imo Barry Lyndon...

:thumbsup:

[Arkham House]

36. How about the Godfather films...?

The camera work in them is extraordinary...it--the camera--is almost a character in the films...