The 10 most well shot films of all time

300 looked great, but a huge part of that was post, plus they were basing all those shots off of the comic book. So it feels weird to me to say it had great cinematography, even though it did.
 
Some well shot films from the past 20 years (w/DP)

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN/Roger Deakins
BARTON FINK/Roger Deakins
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION/Roger Deakins
THE BIG LEBOWSKI/Roger Deakins
GOODFELLAS/Michael Ballhaus
PARIS, TEXAS/Robby Muller
DEAD MAN/Robby Muller
INLAND EMPIRE/David Lynch
SCHINDLERS LIST/Janusz Kaminski
FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS/Nicola Pecorini
 
Saving Private Ryan
Bad Boys 2 (persionaly i thought that was one of the best displays of creatiive cinematography ever)
300
Lord of the Rings ROTK
 
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I don't think you can compile a list to answer this question. I mean there are the standard "masterpieces" of cinema like "Lawrence of Arabia." But there are the great Hitchcock films like "Vertigo." The films of Buster Keaton were landmarks of camera and action. "Of all Time..." is simply too grand, too far reaching.
There are technically correct films in which the focus and the exposure are spot on, but no one gives a damn because the story sucked. Then there are films in which the camera work left much to be desired but the story was great.
I have enjoyed reading the thoughts of everyone who has responded to this post. But can we really, honestly compose a list of the "Best... of all Time?"
 
In my opinion, the LOTR trilogy is the most beautiful film to watch. It mixes film and post work perfectly.

In addition:

Blade Runner
Schindler's List
Rashomon
Pan's Labrynth
The Godfather
Citizen Kane
Fight Club
 
Brotherhood of the Wolf had some nice stuff. Watching The Darjelling Limited right now and it's very nice, can't think of the last time I saw a movie with so much color.
 
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For me, Saving Private Ryan is way up there... at least parts of it have revolutionized action film.

Aside from that I hate to say it but I think overall cinematography is improving with technology and some hard to define evolution... TWBB and NCFOM both make me feel that I'm living in the right age to see a transcendence of film to art... at least for my palette.

I'm also very impressed with any films that have exceptionally long takes that cover a really wide range of action. I admire good timing and flawless execution.

Since Lebowski was mentioned... I wonder how many takes that last shot took... complete with the strikes in the background?
 
Some personal favorites:

Zerkalo
Days of Heaven
L'eclisse
Aguirre: Wrath of God
Gone With the Wind
Suspiria
Barry Lyndon
The Third Man
Imitation of Life
Halloween
The Fifth Cord
Red Desert
 
I just watched SAVING PRIVATE RYAN again the other day. I was remiss in not mentioning it in my 'quick list'. What an AMAZING film! Easily one of the best & beautifully shot films EVER.

However, when I was watching it, I remembered that it didn't win Best Picture that year.....but I couldn't remember what film did win that year. Well, turns out it was "Shakespeare in Love", which was an OK movie, but better than SPR? Not in a million years.

Not to 're-route' this thread (and I'm sure this has been mentioned before...), but here are a few WELL SHOT films that were 'slighted' on Best Pic (or at least deserving....)

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
TAXI DRIVER
STAR WARS
APOCALYPSE NOW
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
GOODFELLAS
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
THE THIN RED LINE

And many others.....coffee's wearing off now....
 
Oldboy
Blade Runner
Fight Club or any film by david fincher
Amelie
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Rashomon or Ran
Citizen Kane
The Godfather Part II
2046
Dr. Strangelove
Any PTA film or Wes A film is shot very well and creative.
 
Not going to repeat all the movies again, but one I didn't see (unless I missed it) was Dances With Wolves . That would be in my top 10.
 
In The mood for Love

Moulin Rouge

La Dolce Vita

La Strada

Taxi Driver

The Aviator

Leon Le Professionel

Forrest Gump

City of God

( The ones that immediately came to mind)
 
I know I am loser for saying this, but I just saw 2001 for the first time on friday and I was totally blown away. I watched an HD print of it and just can't comprehend how something like this was shot way back in the day.

"if you're cool half the time, then you just aint cool" be real 24/7 365.
 
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