November 1, 2014 06:59:00
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January 1, 2015 07:59:00
January 31, 2015 06:53:16
Tomke Banse I come from literature and take an interest in film analysis as a form of literary criticistm. I had never paid attention to that aspect of frame composition and now that I think of it, I notice I see similar techniques in literature all the time. Have to pay more attention to that.
February 2, 2015 13:02:36 · Reply
Every Frame a Painting I studied English literature in college, so I guess it informs a healthy amount of what I think about/care about. This channel is (in a lot of ways) just close reading of film. I think when I was younger, I had a hard time grasping this because we're taught as a culture to focus on story and character (both of which are important). In literature, you start to break down the text. The weird part about film is that the "text" is not the dialogue or the script, but the images and the sound, and that's a mental leap that takes a while to make (I knew it took me forever).
February 3, 2015 17:40:39 · Reply
Tomke Banse yeah, exactly. In iterature, you attention is deriected in a linear way. you read one sentence, then the next. in film you have so many layers at once. if in a book, the color of a dress is described, you can bet it means something. otherwise the autor just would not have mentioned it. in film, the dress has to have a color. you have to find out more carefully what parts of all the stuff you just see really is important.
February 3, 2015 18:04:44 · Reply
Jason Salvatori It's funny, I actually hated this movie. The pacing was tedious and the characters frustrating. But after watching this I have a new appreciation for the visuals presented.
February 2, 2015 22:40:04 · Reply
February 1, 2015 07:59:00
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March 20, 2015 01:09:08
Joon Kim I'm REALLY enjoying your use of the Marvel movies as examples of lackadaisical cinema. First Guardians on the Jackie Chan essay... and now The Avengers for Kurosawa. And I really enjoy the Marvel movies ehehehe. The Avengers was a movie that got a lot of flack for feeling like a TV show... and a lot of the blame went to its 1.85:1 aspect ratio and its relatively bright and colorful grade. While that might've played a part (because it's not as if Nolan's films are criticized for feeling like TV despite his uneven visual storytelling abilities), it is most clearly because of what you illustrated here. Funny that Whedon was clearly aware of the criticisms (with Wally Pfister chiming in about it in an assholey fashion) and seems to have addressed it simply by shooting at 2.38:1 and pushing the grade to look like most movies today. The Marvel machine clearly won't let a director be truly cinematic even if Whedon had that ability. See: Edgar Wright being dropped. ... I recently got to see Seven Samurai in 35mm in a huge theater. You don't know how happy it made me that the film continues to be the fastest 3.5 hours I've ever experienced. Some kind of magic.
March 23, 2015 21:01:32 · Reply
Chris Hathaway It's interesting to compare this essay to your Bayhem video, obviously a not so effective use (or overuse) of movement. What do you think are the biggest differences between the two? Is it Kurosawa's prudence in his choices? his more artistic decisions? matching the movement more to the story?
April 2, 2015 20:26:10 · Reply
clay christmyer Tony, When you do the research for your videos you talk about how you watch every piece of work that the director/actor has made. Where do you watch these? I've found it particularly difficult to watch Kurosawa movies without spending gobs of money on the DVDs. Do you have an insane movie collection or something?
June 14, 2015 17:01:26 · Reply
Every Frame a Painting I bought that really big Kurosawa box set from a few years ago. Happened to have a few coupons so it was discounted like 60-70%. (http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/678-ak-100-25-films-by-akira-kurosawa) However, Kurosawa is popular enough that you can usually check your local library. Most of his Criterion films are also $15 to buy (or $4 to rent) on iTunes if you just want the film. Worst comes to worst, there's always torrenting.
June 14, 2015 18:58:42 · Reply
clay christmyer It's times like this that I miss Blockbuster. Thank you for responding, and I cannot wait for the next video! Keep up the great work.
June 15, 2015 20:06:34 · Reply
March 31, 2015 18:20:16
Marwan The End then in dude where's my car and this whole video reminded me of Daffy Duck's movie pitch in "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" where the moment the Exec starts asking "Then what happens" Daffy's And Then additions make the story (which was great and engaging so far) fall apart completely.
April 2, 2015 09:55:46 · Reply
John de' Medici Hey Tony! Just wanna say thank you for all your beautiful work... Watching a new video from you is one of my highlights... Keep em coming! :)
May 4, 2015 22:52:39 · Reply
April 1, 2015 06:59:00
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May 7, 2015 20:40:34
Alishbah Saeed cool
June 28, 2015 01:09:59 · Reply
John Lamont-Black This is a new experience to me - I absolutely love the Lynne Ramsey work, and the thoughtful comment/analysis. Fabulous. Many thanks
July 21, 2015 22:47:50 · Reply
May 29, 2015 17:55:16
Jonatan Lyssens Great video, Tony! I just saw an article passing on the Focus Knack website, probably unknown to you. But it's the leading entertainment (film, music, television) magazine in Flanders (Belgium). The article about your essay on chairs! Keep up the good work: http://focus.knack.be/entertainment/tv/waarom-de-stoel-meer-is-dan-een-decorstuk/article-normal-575069.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=knack
June 4, 2015 18:53:24 · Reply
Every Frame a Painting Well this is cool. Thank you for the heads-up.
June 11, 2015 00:47:58 · Reply
Charles Woodruff Coates Tony, Excellent deconstruction of the use of chairs in cinema. The chair in which Frank Miller sits, in the film, High Noon, is a powerful prop. We don’t see Frank in the chair, but as the camera zooms in on the empty seat, we imagine what Frank might have looked like as he swore his violent revenge upon the town. That empty seat is our only physical link to Frank until he arrives on the noon train. As the town clock is seconds away from announcing his arrival, there is a repeated shot of the chair, which where my stomach gives out every viewing. So, which context does Frank's chair fall in your essay?
June 9, 2015 00:47:13 · Reply
Every Frame a Painting I guess it would fall into the second of the three possibilities (i.e. that the chair is an extension of the particular character, similar to Ellie's chair in Up). But honestly, if you have an example that doesn't really fit into my framework, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. My honest opinion is that if somebody suggests a general framework for understanding things, and you find an example that doesn't really fit, then you should just ignore the framework. I am not one of those people (*cough* screenwriting teachers *cough*) who demands that every example fit into their narrow view of a topic. It's a good question though, and I haven't seen High Noon in years, so maybe I'll revisit it and check it out.
June 11, 2015 00:46:36 · Reply
Oliver I just happened to watch High Noon for the first time in years. That is the most amazingly ominous chair shot. Really clever device, worth a rewatch, not just for the chair even... Not sure its like Ellie's chair, but it certainly supports your general idea, to my mind.
June 18, 2015 18:32:10 · Reply
June 1, 2015 06:59:00
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July 16, 2015 20:26:53
David McNeely Excellent choice, using all that Raymond Scott music.
July 19, 2015 05:33:11 · Reply
Devin Clarke That was great Tony, thanks for putting that together. I think about these videos when I plan out my films. well done sir.
July 20, 2015 15:06:16 · Reply
Sam Baxter This is wonderful on many levels. I particularly appreciate the respect for the great Chuck Jones. He is missed. Thank you! A wonderful introduction to your work ... +1 Patron.
September 13, 2015 23:14:24 · Reply
August 1, 2015 06:59:00
September 1, 2015 06:59:00
September 13, 2015 17:03:07
Dylan Byth Thanks again for this Tony! As a Coquitlamite who spends a lot of time in the MetroVan area it's really nice to finally see someone lay everything out and give a case for creating our own identity. Keep it up!
September 15, 2015 19:30:19 · Reply
Every Frame a Painting Awesome. I grew up on Blue Mountain St in Coquitlam. So many memories.
September 15, 2015 20:10:16 · Reply
Cameron Donaldson I agree. I've been living in Toronto for a while now, but am originally from BC. I loved seeing you give Vancouver some attention. Also, I grew up on Como Lake Ave, about a 1 minute walk west of Blue Mountain St. Small world.
September 15, 2015 22:33:15 · Reply
Luke Ritson Really does show a great love of your home town. Fantastic work as always.
September 15, 2015 23:30:14 · Reply
Ira Abramov Excellent! I'm happy you saved time and didn't show all the TV shows in addition (most of the X-Files, I believe? :-)
September 26, 2015 20:37:14 · Reply
October 1, 2015 06:59:00