Every now and then, you watch a movie that you may or may not like, but can't completely fault because it just looks really good. It makes an otherwise bad movie tolerable. If it's a good movie then this nudges it toward greatness. Our host Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves understands this. That's why the topic for this week's Thursday Movie Picks is "favorite cinematography. Let's find some beautiful looking flicks.
Oldboy
(2003)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
Regulars have come across my unstoppable praise for this movie. The part I generally mention is the same one most people mention - the ridiculously disturbing ending. It's so well known for that aspect that that overshadows everything else about it except for its most famous scene, the hallway fight. It's a grueling one shot fight scene that has become legendary. However, the rest of the movie is nearly as gorgeous. So many shots simply and utterly pop thanks to stellar work by cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon.
Stoker
(2013)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
Stoker is Park Chan-wook's first American movie. For me, it's also a severely underseen film. Chan-wook again teams up with DP Chung Chung-hoon to create a film in which just about every frame could be hung on the wall as a great still photo.
The Handmaiden
(2016)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
If the shots in Stoker would make great still photos, the shots in The Handmaiden could be paintings in a museum. It's that gorgeous a movie. Of course, this would be met with controversy because so many of them depict graphic violence or sexuality. The duo fo Chan-wook and Chung-hon have given us some great looking movies. When it comes dazzling the eye, this is their crowning achievement.
I love the theme you went with here. All three of these films are gorgeous. I don't feel like Oldboy gets talked about enough for its cinematography. I love what you said about Stoker being photographs and Handmaiden being paintings. That's absolutely true.
ReplyDeleteOh, people ignore the cinematography of Oldboy, big time. Thanks!
DeleteI haven’t seen any of these but The Handmaiden is one of the films I want to see.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do. It is quite the experience.
DeleteA bit of a theme within the theme, nice. Unfortunately I haven't seen any of them though I've heard about Oldboy for years. That ridiculously disturbing ending you referenced has kept me away and still will. All the accompanying shots you chose do make a good case for the films.
ReplyDeleteSince this is such a specific theme I didn't mind reusing films I had chosen before. Their look is part of the reason for my fondness for them in the first place.
Legends of the Fall (1994)-Lavish star-studded (Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn etc.) familial drama set in Big Sky country with cinematographer John Toll’s breathtaking vistas as the various hardships of the star-crossed Ludlow clan unfurl.
Far From the Madding Crowd (1967)-Set in the rural West Country of Victorian England future director Nicolas Roeg (Don’t Look Now) in his original capacity as director of photography captures gorgeous shots that have a painterly feel of the area and almost equally beautiful performers (Julie Christie, Alan Bates and Terence Stamp).
A River Runs Through It (1992)-Based on the memoir of Norman MacLean and once again starring Brad Pitt this small story of a quiet preacher (Tom Skerritt) and his two son-studious, serious Norman (Craig Sheffer) and feckless Paul (Pitt) in the years between WWI and the Great Depression that posits fly fishing as a metaphor for life captures the beauty of Montana thanks to DP Philippe Rousselot fantastic eye for detail.
We're even. I haven't seen any of yours, either. Legends of the Fall is the one I most want to see. I've heard lots of good things about it over the years, just haven't gotten to it yet.
DeleteI love Oldboy but I don't remember the cinematography particularly well. It's time for a rewatch I guess.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay, most people don't. There's so much going on, it's easy to ignore.
DeleteOH...... I love these films. I love Chan-wook Park and Chung Chung-Hoon. These are inspired picks.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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