Oscar nominations Cinematography

niki

niki

Active member
Best cinematography
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
 
The Irishman sticks out to me as well. Certainly an achievement for the VFX team but pretty basic stuff for the camera crew. Unless you count using that rig they had.
 
The Irishman's look was similar to that of Goodfellas. Nothing too stylistic with a realistic look. The one scene that did stand out for me was the Howard Johnson's breakfast scene with Pesce and Deniro. I love the way they lit that with the morning light look...
 
niki said:
Best cinematography
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
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All of these are good, but I am surprised these are the top noms.

‘1917’ felt more like an achievement in Cinematography, rather than best.

‘Lighthouse’ was heavily stylized. I only watched the trailer so far.

‘Joker’ is nice looking, but feels pretty commercial. I feel odd even picking at it, but is it really a best nom? Feels like Hangover. And that didn’t get the nom, did it?

‘Once Upon a Time’ pretty standard Bob+QT. Lovely film look.

‘Irishman’ well shot, but nothing that distinguishes it.

All really good work, i am just surprised there weren’t more deserving films? Wasn’t there?

All of these show immense control and craft. So, i should just shut up.
 
vertigoanton said:
Not to be the "well actually" guy, but in fairness, the Oscars site does list the award as "Achievement in Cinematography"
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I wish there were two.

Then Lion King and 1917 would be in one. Films like Gravity etc, that change the game, and then more traditional merit would work for subjectively best looking.


But i am ok with 1917 winning, it is amazing.


EDIT: and as for the “Acheivement in Cinematography”, i think the emphasis is cinematography, not acheivement. —————- i know a DP that was asked if he could do a little directing for a shoot, and he said “ugh yeah, hello, DIRECTOR of photography. It’s in the name.”
 
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niki said:
Best cinematography
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
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I’ve seen all of those apart from The Lighthouse. I understand why the The Irishman is nominated but for me the 3d technique got in the way of storytelling. I loved the cinematography in Joker but 1917 wins for me. Staggeringly good.
 
1917 works for me because while it doesn't have the same type of traditionally composed shots as say, what Deakins did with Blade Runner or Skyfall (both stunning), it fits the bill for me in terms of how it pushes the envelope on camera work and capturing live motion for cinema. I suppose that sort of thinking causes one to define the word "cinematography", based on my subjective and internal definition of such I think it works, but I see why one may feel differently.

That said I agree they may need a new category or a rethinking of visual categories going forward. Lion King and Alita were both visually stunning this year but they don't fit the confines of standard cinematography, and IMO they begin to feel slightly out of place in regards to an achievement in VFX as well. IE Alita is impressive not for its handling of FX so much... the whole movie is an effect. Lion King I suppose would fall under animation, but recognizing what made the movie so impressive doesn't feel encapsulated by an award for best animation.
 
I'll call it for Joker....thought the cinematography amazing!...-as is the design IMO....we'll all know February 10th!
 
i’ve not seen the Joker, so maybe my opinion is off base, but i feel like Joker was more about Pheonix. Swap him out for Jared Letto and i don’t think the cinematography would hold up. Whereas, ‘the Master’ you could put anyone in that movie and it would still be a cinematographer’s movie.
 
James0b57 said:
i’ve not seen the Joker, so maybe my opinion is off base, but i feel like Joker was more about Pheonix. Swap him out for Jared Letto and i don’t think the cinematography would hold up. Whereas, ‘the Master’ you could put anyone in that movie and it would still be a cinematographer’s movie.
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Man, you need to watch Joker on a nice screen and see if you still think it looks too commercial or that it wouldn't be be beautiful without Pheonix. I just got the 4k Blu-ray and watched on an OLED in DV and it's beautiful! I also saw it in theaters in 70mm and equally stunning but in a different way.

I think you'll appreciate it.
 
The sad thing is that while the nominations were made by cinematographers, the voting goes to the entire academy, the majority of which will likely compare trailers on their phone to make their decision.
 
Paul F said:
The sad thing is that while the nominations were made by cinematographers, the voting goes to the entire academy, the majority of which will likely compare trailers on their phone to make their decision.
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Haha, that’s pretty much me lately.

‘The Irishman’ has some seriously well crafted lighting.
 
Paul F said:
The sad thing is that while the nominations were made by cinematographers, the voting goes to the entire academy, the majority of which will likely compare trailers on their phone to make their decision.
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I actually didn’t know that. I think any specialized art form like makeup and cinematography should at least have a weighted voting system so that people who know what their looking at on a technical level matter more than people who just know what they like. Going back to makeup, a MUA/FX person would probably be better equipped to judge how much of an achievement someone’s makeup work is than I am.
 
Read an interview today in Vanity Fair with Antonio Banderas, and he had this to say (hopefully they won't mind me quoting from the article).

Cinematographers—they’ve got very specific personalities. All around the world. Doesn’t matter if a guy comes from Japan. They’re cocky. They have the toys. Women respect them very much because they want to be beautiful in the shot. So they’ve got power....
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Yeah, those toys...:2vrolijk_08:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/hollywood-portfolio-2020-antonio-banderas
 
stoneinapond said:
Read an interview today in Vanity Fair with Antonio Banderas, and he had this to say (hopefully they won't mind me quoting from the article).



Yeah, those toys...:2vrolijk_08:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/hollywood-portfolio-2020-antonio-banderas
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I think we’re talking about the ones in showbiz. There are plenty of humble and modest people that are wonderful image makers.

I’ve met several in “hollywood” that were nice and reasonable. But also met those that a pretty much fk bois with a self made position.

The dp role has gotten too sexy for me.
 
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