jacobw's Full Review: Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography
Cinematographer, director of photography, DP--call him what you will. Before I saw this movie, I could never have imagined I'd be the slightest bit interested in what he does.
Eventually, a series of exceptionally enthusiastic reviews persuaded me to go see "Visions of Light" in the theaters. I'm glad I did. This film changed the way I look at movies, and it will do the same for you. (As a positive side effect, it will also make it impossible for you to take the auteur theory seriously.)
Essentially, the cinematographer is responsible for lighting the set and choosing the lenses and the film. This sounds like the job of a technician--but as "Visions of Light" demonstrates, it's really the job of an artist.
In one segment, for example, Gordon Wills, director of photography for "The Godfather," talks about his decision to light Marlon Brando from above. The result is that Brando's eyes are almost always in shadow, making him seem inhuman, inscrutable, dangerous. Just by hanging a light in a specific place on the set, Wills can play with the emotions of the audience.
Other segments trace the history of the cinematographer, from the earliest days of film on. You will leave "Visions of Light" with a long list of movies you are dying to see.
If you get a chance to see this movie in the theater, leap at it. The clips featured in the movie can be truly appreciated only on a big screen. I remember being awestruck by the beauty of the scenes from "How Green Was My Valley" in the theater. On my TV screen, they look pretty, but nowhere near as powerful. It's better to see it on TV than not to see it at all, though.
Incidentally, I have two criticisms of the DVD version of this film.
First, there are no extras. I'd love, at the very least, a listing of the movies mentioned. Outtakes showing parts of the interviews that didn't make it into the movie would be great, too--I'd imagine there's a lot of interesting information that had to be cut for time purposes.
Second, some of the clips used as examples look fantastic; others look faded or damaged. "Visions of Light" was released in 1992, and the filmmakers obviously used the best prints available, but some of those films have since been restored. I'd like to see a revised edition of the film on DVD featuring restored footage wherever it's available.
Nonetheless, despite these quibbles, this is a movie that all lovers of film must see.
Experience the dazzling story of cinematography as seen through the lenses of the world s greatest filmmakers and captured in classic scenes from over...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.