video essay
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In Remembrance of Harris Savides: 1957-2012
Cinematographer Harris Savides, who died yesterday at 54, was a poet of light. He shot some of the stylistically striking movies of the last two decades.
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VIDEO ESSAY: The Portuguese Process - Pedro Costa and Miguel Gomes
Portugal’s Miguel Gomes is a young director on the rise. This video links his film OUR BELOVED MONTH OF AUGUST with countryman Pedro Costa’s NE CHANGE RIEN, two films that explore the musical mysteries behind the creative process.
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VIDEO ESSAY: BEAVER'S LODGE: CAIN'S CUTTHROATS (1971)
A great deal of effort was apparently put into making this the worst movie ever made. They didn't pull it off, but the effort certainly shows.
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The Mystery of Werner Herzog: Two Video Essays and One Text Essay
One of the most revealing statements in the book "Herzog on Herzog" appears early on, when Werner Herzog tells interviewer Paul Cronin that from the time he was a young child he has suffered a particular "communication defect": he has no sense of irony.
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EYE OPENERS: VIDEO ESSAY: Mickey Rourke: Highs & Lows
The video essay above, by Jason Bellamy, is a tribute to Mickey Rourke, in honor of his 60th birthday, which is today.
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VIDEO ESSAY: Gliding Over All: The Cinematography of BREAKING BAD, Season 5.1
"Breaking Bad," with its carefully thought-out look, dependably relies on its cinematography to deliver crucial narrative/thematic information, just as it relies on its characters to deliver significant exposition in a straightforward manner.
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VIDEO ESSAY: Ninja Turtles: Generation Y in a Half Shell
“Ugh. Where do they come up with this stuff?” groans a frustrated Raphael, the brooding, red-bandana-wearing member of the Ninja Turtles, whilst walking out of a New York movie theater that’s playing the 1980s creature feature "Critters."
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BEAVER'S LODGE: THE PROFESSIONALS (1966)
There was a time when a certain kind of adventure film was popular. The 1960s were its heyday. Sometimes they were realistic, or even drawn from real life. Sometimes they were fanciful. But almost always they were intelligent and enormously entertaining. I haven't seen a new example of that kind of ...
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Watch: Press Play Deconstructs Batman With a Trio of Video Essays
With the highly anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises" rushing toward theaters July 20, fans are devouring as much context, criticism and commentary as they can in advance of Christopher Nolan's trilogy-ending new film. To help understand the Caped Crusader's appeal and subtext, Pr...
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VIDEO ESSAY: BEAVER'S LODGE: OUR HOSPITALITY (1923)
A guest at a screening of this masterpiece at my home recently literally leaped out of her seat upon seeing the final, transcendentally beautiful stunt executed by Buster Keaton. I've never seen anyone do that except at a horror movie.
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