WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971, Stuart)
So glad to finally get Gene Wilder onto the blog. There are so many great quotes from this film, and this clip has one of my favorites, as much for the performance as for the line. And it's a double treat, as the quote is in one of my favorite shots. I have a pet theory behind this
SEVEN SAMURAI (1954, Kurosawa)
This film has yielded so much influence, from Lucas' space operas to Leone's macaroni westerns (as, fittingly, the Japanese referred to them). And today's shot is just one breathtaking moment from the old master, Akira Kurosawa, in a film packed with them. If you can't remember this moment, or haven't seen it yet, it's best you watch the
THE CAT’S MEOW (2001, Bogdanovich)
I really like this underrated film from Peter Bogdanovich, which seems to have slipped through the cracks since its release. While I believe its a wonderfully crafted and engaging film, I have to admit I'm biased because I love this whole era, and particularly the work of Chaplin, who's a main character in it. This movie has
THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980, Lynch)
Today's shot is from the most famous scene of David Lynch's horrifying and heartbreaking Oscar-nominated film The Elephant Man and it demonstrates what I love about a really calculated and restrained use of the Close Up. It's often said that holding off on the use of a Close-Up until just the right moment can really magnify the