CallaghanFilms
Veteran
Mr. Burns, I thought the same thing.
Most Powerful Shot or Scene in a Film
- Thread starter ASchear
- Start date
drapeama
Well-known member
And the shots from Shinning and Gladiators were better?
Mitch Gross
Veteran
I would say that context is everything with these shots or scenes. Technical virtuosity only ever goes so far -- it's much more about appropriateness, craft and artistry (acting, lighting, art direction, etc.). For instance, Peter Weir is a master at always finding the clutch moment in his storytelling, the point where Act One ends and the main character suddenly has a dawning of knowledge that propels him forward in a hugely significant way into his new life (and the rest of the movie).
In The Truman Show, the moment that Truman realizes that everything around him is an illusion and that he is alone is staged in a revolving glass door of an office building with the camera mounted up high within the door so that it revolves with him. We can see Truman but it is through a glass barrier; he can see everyone around him but he cannot reach them, instead he pointlessly spins in circles. It is a perfect existential moment in a very meta-film.
In Witness, little Lucas Haas wanders around the police precinct after looking at mugshots, trying to identify a murderer. He looks into a trophy case an sees a photo of the murderer (Danny Glover), a decorated police officer. Detective Harrison Ford sees the child's recognition and approaches him. In a perfect shot, the little boy slowly raises his hand to point at the photo and Harrison Ford reaches over to cover it, knowing that they are in the Lion's Den and he must now protect this child.
It's significant to me that both of these scenes are without dialog and that both scenes culminate with a single shot the explains the entire dilemma of the movie and the character. Such clarity in filmmaking that both shots appear in the trailers, although because the context is gone the effect in a trailer is vastly minimized.
The Truman Show trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkZM2oWcleM
Witness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSljRCsuKw4&NR=1
Just two of my personal favorites. For real bravura filmmaking, I'm also into Yo Soy Cuba (I Am Cuba):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvwLZOpxAFQ
In The Truman Show, the moment that Truman realizes that everything around him is an illusion and that he is alone is staged in a revolving glass door of an office building with the camera mounted up high within the door so that it revolves with him. We can see Truman but it is through a glass barrier; he can see everyone around him but he cannot reach them, instead he pointlessly spins in circles. It is a perfect existential moment in a very meta-film.
In Witness, little Lucas Haas wanders around the police precinct after looking at mugshots, trying to identify a murderer. He looks into a trophy case an sees a photo of the murderer (Danny Glover), a decorated police officer. Detective Harrison Ford sees the child's recognition and approaches him. In a perfect shot, the little boy slowly raises his hand to point at the photo and Harrison Ford reaches over to cover it, knowing that they are in the Lion's Den and he must now protect this child.
It's significant to me that both of these scenes are without dialog and that both scenes culminate with a single shot the explains the entire dilemma of the movie and the character. Such clarity in filmmaking that both shots appear in the trailers, although because the context is gone the effect in a trailer is vastly minimized.
The Truman Show trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkZM2oWcleM
Witness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSljRCsuKw4&NR=1
Just two of my personal favorites. For real bravura filmmaking, I'm also into Yo Soy Cuba (I Am Cuba):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvwLZOpxAFQ
Jordan Scott Price
Veteran
And the shots from Shinning and Gladiators were better?
Yep, because those were just images with no explanatory text that, if viewed by someone who hasn't seen the movie, are just images out of context.
Just saying.
(I also happen to have seen The Shining and Gladiator but haven't seen Heat, so...)
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Ok, stop exploiting a function for a function's sake. The spoiler alert is for people that may have not seen the movie in a time period that is current day, while it is in theaters. Not talking about "Saving Private Ryan" 10 years after. If somebody has not seen it by now.........tough noogies. No need for a spoiler alert, for Christ's sake.
Shining, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator were released years ago. Time to put things in perspective relating to the Spoiler thing.
For God's sake, I know Jack Nicholson, Russell Crowe, and Tom Hanks starred in those films.....you think you are the only other person that watches films?????????? Unless you have something no-one else gets........no reason to use that function. If you do and it is common knowledge........be ready for the backlash. And I will be the impetus for the "backlash" because I am sick of people not being computer literate..... SEARCH the freaking forum, losers. If it has been started before, add to the current thread. Start another thread, and I will eat you for breakfast and consume you for my mid morning milkshake. And believe me, I will drink your milkshake and make you pay for my enjoyment of it.
Search the damn forum first.
Yeah, Yeah, I am feeling particularly annoyed right now, based on the comments.
So, what made you respond on this forum about the film in question? What made you make it a "spoiler", when we knew it was an older film?
Look, You are new to this forum, and I get that. But use your own common sense when addressing the body here on DVXUser. Do you really think we haven't seen the major motion pictures in rotation? Please give us some credit, I daresay a few of the members here actually were on set recording dialogue for those particular films, so....something to think about. That's the cool thing about DVXUser, you never know who is contributing to a thread......accept or reject the advice, you're call. But the end result rests on your shoulders, ultimately. If you can accept this, great. If not....well.......
Shining, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator were released years ago. Time to put things in perspective relating to the Spoiler thing.
For God's sake, I know Jack Nicholson, Russell Crowe, and Tom Hanks starred in those films.....you think you are the only other person that watches films?????????? Unless you have something no-one else gets........no reason to use that function. If you do and it is common knowledge........be ready for the backlash. And I will be the impetus for the "backlash" because I am sick of people not being computer literate..... SEARCH the freaking forum, losers. If it has been started before, add to the current thread. Start another thread, and I will eat you for breakfast and consume you for my mid morning milkshake. And believe me, I will drink your milkshake and make you pay for my enjoyment of it.
Search the damn forum first.
Yeah, Yeah, I am feeling particularly annoyed right now, based on the comments.
So, what made you respond on this forum about the film in question? What made you make it a "spoiler", when we knew it was an older film?
Look, You are new to this forum, and I get that. But use your own common sense when addressing the body here on DVXUser. Do you really think we haven't seen the major motion pictures in rotation? Please give us some credit, I daresay a few of the members here actually were on set recording dialogue for those particular films, so....something to think about. That's the cool thing about DVXUser, you never know who is contributing to a thread......accept or reject the advice, you're call. But the end result rests on your shoulders, ultimately. If you can accept this, great. If not....well.......
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ugafan
Looking for a woman
Jordan Scott Price
Veteran
What's up, Doc? I'm getting a feeling there's something more here than my comment about the spoiler function (or you just misunderstand my post completely). If so, I'd be happy to take a private message and keep it off the thread.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Nope, my weapon of choice would be an MP5-SD. Not a G3 variant. Come on, Uga, you should know me better by now. Geez, I have given enough hints to this subject......the least you could do is be in the same book, the same page would be asking a lot.
So disappointed with you, you cannot tell my weapon of choice after years of knowing me. Sheesh. For a full auto-capable shoulder fired weapon I prefer an MP5-SD, and for a sidearm....92F with silencer. I never want to leave an impression of my being there, other than a couple shell casings with smiley faces engraved on them.
Now I feel so segregated. I thought people knew my stance and weapons of choice. Rats, and here I thought I was at home with the thoughts and feelings of DVXUser......
Alas, I have been fooled. Bunch of Colt M4 users here, huh? 5.56mm whiners. 9mm is so much better for room clearing.:grin: No ancillary casualties in 4 rooms over.
So disappointed with you, you cannot tell my weapon of choice after years of knowing me. Sheesh. For a full auto-capable shoulder fired weapon I prefer an MP5-SD, and for a sidearm....92F with silencer. I never want to leave an impression of my being there, other than a couple shell casings with smiley faces engraved on them.
Now I feel so segregated. I thought people knew my stance and weapons of choice. Rats, and here I thought I was at home with the thoughts and feelings of DVXUser......
Alas, I have been fooled. Bunch of Colt M4 users here, huh? 5.56mm whiners. 9mm is so much better for room clearing.:grin: No ancillary casualties in 4 rooms over.
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Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
@ Jason Scot Price: Nah just venting. The spoiler thing has been misused, you just got caught up in it.
Of course. But it's generally good practice to remind someone of that when differing with them. Heads off shrieking vindictive personal arguments.
Seconded. That's an awesome piece of work.
...and Doc...really? Really? The 92F? C'mon, get with the 21st century (well, okay, the mid-late 1990s). H&K USP, .40 S&W. Accept no substitutes.
Beretta 92F. You're a funny guy!
drapeama
Well-known member
All right, 50/50: I should have only posted the picture, but on the other hand, if you're 16 years late, that's another story.
Gord.T
Still "Senior Member"
Hey Doc. I have a question for you. I've never used a silencer but I've read that they are not all they are cracked up to be. In other words, I've heard they still make a bang, albeit a bit quieter but still loud enough to hear.
What's your take on silencers? They any good?
Rippie
Veteran
groveChuck
U-matic Member
Are you calling Doc a suppressor?
Hey, where'd that (post) come from? :grin:
groveChuck
U-matic Member
2001 the airlock scene
Also from 2001, the scene of Bowman shutting HAL's brain off, and Bowman's face during the Stargate scene... all extremely powerful.
Also from 2001, the scene of Bowman shutting HAL's brain off, and Bowman's face during the Stargate scene... all extremely powerful.
Jordan Scott Price
Veteran
Mystic River
