It has been fifteen years to the day since one of the greatest filmmakers to ever walk the planet unfortunately departed from it. His visual style is recognized the world over — inspiring generations of filmmakers to take risks in composition and staging, pushing the boundaries of the art form. Follow the link to the article to watch a video tribute to the late director that shines a light on his brilliant signature themes and cinematic techniques.
Luis Buñuel, Father of Surrealist Cinema
Happy 114th Birthday to the father of Surrealist Cinema, Luis Buñuel.
Luis Buñuel was a creature of the 20th century. Born in 1900, he died in 1983, and February 22nd would have been his 114th birthday. It is almost impossible to overestimate his influence on cinematic surrealism, though ironically, his biggest contribution to the movement was made without its official “blessing.” No matter, along with a group of artists which included famed visual artist Salvador Dalí, his contributions to motion picture surrealism are still shocking young filmmakers today, and his works, along with his later cohorts, friends, and enemies, are required viewing for anyone who wants to understand how cinema became more than a record of life, but a rendering of the dream. On the occasion of his birth, I look back at the Spanish-Mexican filmmaker’s life and work, including his best known film, the silent 1929 short Un Chien Andalou.
Of their famous first film, Buñuel later recalled: ”Our [Dali and Buñuel] one and only rule was very simple: no idea or image that might lend itself to a rational explanation of any kind would be accepted. We had to open all doors to the irrational and keep only those images that surprised us, without trying to explain why.”
Production Design: The Godfather
Analysis of one of the best scenes of The Godfather, the restaurant where Michael kills Sollozzo, showing how production design serves to strengthen the scene and the story telling.
In this scene, Michael makes the decision to avenge his father’s shooting and, in doing so, commits himself to joining the family business in a way he has never wanted to. In making this choice to turn himself from the path both he and his father had always wanted for him, he goes against everything that he has known about himself, and puts himself on the path to becoming the new Godfather.
The entire setting of the restaurant, from its location to its color palette, is designed to do two things: focus attention on Michael (and, to a lesser extent, the person he has promised to kill), and accent Michael’s change of attitude towards his position in his family.
Full scene analysis at http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1317546&seqNum=6
Oscars: Best VFX Winners
A retrospective video of all the Oscar winners for best visual effects. A great way to see the evolution of special effects in cinema.
