The western as a genre was dead until 1989 but was revived by, of all things, a made for TV mini series directed by an Englishman. That series was Lonesome Dove, a four part drama, that rekindled an American love for the western. It was made for the small screen but it had epic ambitions [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Film Directing'
Westerns – Part 5 – Rebirth
February 3rd, 2010 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film History, Film Narrative, Genre
Tags: clint eastwood·dances with wolves·gettysburg·glory·gods and generals·into the west·kevin costner·lonesome dove·open range·robert duvall·tommy lee jones·unforgiven·westerns
Westerns – Part 3 – Easterns
February 3rd, 2010 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Authorship, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film History, Film Narrative, Film Sound, Genre
John Ford’s westerns have influenced so many directors throughout the world so it was not so much of a surprise when “westerns” started being made outside the Hollywood system.
The most famous mutation of the traditional western was the spaghetti western. These were films made largely in Europe (Spain being the most believable location to double [...]
Tags: fistful of dollars·kurosawa·once upon a time in the west·segio leone·sergio corbucci·spaghetti westerns·the great silence·the magnificent seven·westerns
Westerns – Part 2 – John Ford
February 2nd, 2010 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Authorship, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film History, Genre
Westerns have been around since the era of silent film. They have been the staple of early cinema and early TV. I can remember watching many western series on the box during the sixties such as Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Rawhide and many more.
But the western started to become more of an art form in cinema [...]
Tags: cheyenne autumn·fort apache·John Ford·my darling clementine·she wore a yellow ribbon·the man who shot liberty valance·the searchers·westerns
Brilliant Beginnings
December 18th, 2009 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Directing, Film Editing, Film Narrative, Screenwriting
A film lives or dies by its beginning. If you haven’t hooked the audience within the first twenty minutes it is an uphill battle from then on. The first twenty minutes of a film are crucial to its success artistically and, no doubt, financially. A brilliant beginning can make a good film great or a [...]
Tags: aliens·apocalypse now·babel·beginnings·dawn of the dead·set up
Old Boy – Asian Extremism
July 25th, 2009 · No Comments · Film Authorship, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film Narrative, Genre
To pigeonhole it, I suppose you might call it a revenge thriller. You have to admire its bravado and confidence in the cinematography and acting.
Southern Comfort
January 7th, 2009 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film Sound
Every so often I see a film on TV that I remember from long ago that surprises me. Southern Comfort is one such film that I feel is a hidden gem. Not only has it got much to offer cinematically speaking but it has balls and attitude.
Southern Comfort is a film that follows the (ultimately [...]
Tags: cajuns·keith carradine·louisianna·national guard·Powers Boothe·Southern Comfort·swamps·Walter Hill
Malick’s New World
September 29th, 2008 · No Comments · Cinematography, Film Authorship, Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film Editing
It is always interesting to watch the films of a director who marches to the beat of a different drum. Terrence Malick is one of those directors whose films captivate and sometimes infuriate the film critics. His latest film – The New World – seems to have divided critics and been less than enthusiastically received [...]
Tags: beauty·Colin Farrell·natural world·pilgrim fathers·Terrence Malick·The New World
Manhunter vs Red Dragon
June 19th, 2008 · No Comments · Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film Narrative, Genre, Screenwriting
Many people have read the books by Thomas Harris that introduced the serial killer, Dr Hannibal Lecter, to an unsuspecting world. Who can forget Anthony Hopkin’s performance in Silence of the Lambs when that story was transferred to the silver screen.
However, his first appearance was several years earlier in a small but pivotal cameo role [...]
Tags: Anthony Hopkins·Brian Cox·CSI·forensic criminal investigations·Hannibal Lecter·Manhunter·Miami Vice·Michael Mann·Red Dragon·serial killer·Silence of the Lambs·Thomas Harris
Atonement – Post Script
March 3rd, 2008 · No Comments · Film Criticism and Analysis, Film Directing, Film Narrative, Film Sound
Well, I did watch it again with my wife this time. It is a film that bears watching again and I appreciated much more the good points of the film. However, I still stand by my comments about the ending.
The beginning scenes give you all the clues to the film in a really cinematic way. [...]
Tags: Atonement·confession·Ian McKewan·Joe Wright·literary references