Pick ONE movie for cinematography excellence

Children of Men or Pan's Labyrinth...

Both of these movies have photography that is fitting and pertinent to the story content. There are a lot of DPs that can make a movie look pretty, but I think both of these movies are stand-outs for mastering the ability to make the images actually HELP and PROGRESS the story.
 
I can't believe this post could go on this long without mentioning one of the greats, John Ford. The man made over 130 films and all of them were absolutely gorgeous. Many of the aforementioned directors, like Welles and Spielberg, said that their number one influence was John Ford. And the cinematography in their films shows it. Welles said that before he made Citizen Kane he watched Stagecoach 300 times, meticulously studying how Ford composed his shots.

So if you've never seen a John Ford film watch Stagecoach, watch The Searchers, watch The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Watch them on the big screen if you ever get the chance. It will take your breath away.
 
Apocalypse Now, et. al. - Storaro
Persona, et. al. - Nykvist
Citizen Kane, The Grapes of Wrath - Toland
Schindler's List - Kaminski
Road to Perdition, et. al. - Hall
Blue Velvet - Elmes
The Elephant Man - Francis
Saving Private Ryan - Kaminski

This is one of those questions you could go on all day with. I wish I was at the theater watching a movie right now!
 
One that I thought was gorgeous....

TOP GUN

I also loved:

THE ISLAND
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
INDIANA JONES: RAIDERS
 
i'm surprised at the relative absence of kubrick films here as well. all the other films mentioned so far, at least the ones i've seen, are, indeed, amazing exhibitions of cinematography, but barry lyndon, 2001: a space odyssey, a clockwork orange, the shining, etc., to me, are the pinnacle of visual storytelling. hard to choose one film, but i would have to throw in a vote for 2001: a space odyssey.
 
A couple of visual standouts are:

Apocalypse Now - Vittorio Storaro
The Last of the Mohicans & L.A. Confidential - Dante Spinotti
Blade Runner - Jordan Cronenweth
Body Heat - Richard H. Kline
Schindler's List - Janusz Kaminski

There are many others but I like the look of these movie the best. If I had to narrow it down to one it would have to be The Last of the Mohicans.
 
The Shining for sure.....Lost In Translation.....and......City Of God.
Maybe Amores Perros and Man On Fire.
How about every film made south of San Antonio....lol.
 
2001, The passion of Joan od Arc, playtime, performance, the virgin spring, seven, blue velvet, The Godfather, army of shadows, (the original) insomnia, Apocalypse Now, Delicatessan
 
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Gotta go with Borat. Beautiful natural lighting. Must have taken a long time to light the naked chase scene.
 
Really like (particualary the opening of) Once Upon a Time in the West. Also have to say I thought Rocky Balboa looked great, reminded me of Lost in Translation for some reason.
 
Ok, having watched almost all of the films you have mentioned, and if I had to pick one film for cinematography?

Very easy....It always starts and ends with this film...

THE GODFATHER (Godfather II as well)

Why? There really are so many great examples of cinematography. But when you have great cinematography with a great story, for me that is what seperates this movie above all others.

Highlights for me...
Examples...Opening scenes with the wide lense on the family wedding. You really feel apart of the family. The bright natural sun and the good camera work. These shots were talking a very long time and the studio was getting upset.

Now contrast...the slow creep pan from inside the Godfather's office. Almost all black with his face in shadow. This is some serious filmaking. The use of the slow creep zoom. Outstanding.

Of course the end Baptism contrasting the excutions.

In Godfather 2 there are many examples as well, but one that I love is the table shot from the meeting in Cuba. I love how they pass the gold telephone around and you can tell what motivation the characters have by how they handle and pass the telephone.

I think there are several other amazing films as well, but for me the cinematography helps to support the story. So it is difficult but if I had to pick a number 2 choice...

The Shawshank Redemption...nothing beats the end of that movie. Cinematography included.
 
Has anyone seen "Elephant", the film about a school shooting?

Okay, it's not a movie that everyone will like, but the steadicam work in this film makes me cream my pants.

We follow the characters around for several minutes without a single cut, all around the hallways, inside, and outside. I just love it.

I happen to love the film, but most of my friends who have seen it say it's pointless (which is kind of the point of the movie), or they just hate it.
 
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