Comingsoon.net is making sure everything looks right in honor of these movies with exceptional cinematography. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
A cinematographer’s job is undoubtedly important beyond words. How do you quantify or summarize the job of the person tasked with making sure each and every shot is what the director envisioned, that the movie’s aesthetics are cohesive, and that the lighting is just right? It’s impossible. What is possible, though, is paying respect to the movies with the best cinematography.
Many assume the director is the one behind the camera, but this isn’t always the case. Often, it’s the cinematographer (or director of photography, as they are sometimes called) who instructs the camera operators at the instruction of the director. For this reason, the cinematographer’s task is to listen to the director and make sure their crew captures the director’s wishes with the camera. It’s all very complex, which makes these examples of the best cinematography all the more impressive.
movie cinematography
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2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick has never faded from the minds of film fanatics since his death in the late 90s, with films like 2001: A Space Odyssey keeping his name relevant and beloved over 50 years since its release. Part of what keeps the film on the forefront of so many minds is its stunning camerawork, led expertly by Geoffrey Unsworth.
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Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam war film continues to be recut over forty years since its release, but one thing remains the same: Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography, which captures the grit and the gore of the war with just the right amount of coverage.
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Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Roger Deakins existed in infamy for many years as the man who couldn’t seem to win an Oscar for his incredible cinematography. Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 finally gave Deakins the push he needed, earning him the Academy Award for a truly breathtaking film.
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In the Mood for Love (2000)
Wong Kar-Wai is one of China’s most respected and revered directors. His 2000 romance In the Mood for Love cements his status as a master, with three cinematographers sharing responsibility for the film’s gorgeous look.
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Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia remains one of the best biopics ever made. Likewise, its grand shots of the desert—spearheaded by cinematographer Freddie Young—remain instantly recognizable for many movie lovers.
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Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller raised all the money he needed to make his debut feature Mad Max while working in an emergency room in Australia back in the 70s. Then, in 2015, he got the chance to make Mad Max: Fury Road—a truly singular action film that deserves endless praise (as John Seale, who captured it all on camera).
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Suspiria (1977)
Dario Argento is unmatched in his ability to direct movies with jarring color schemes to match his genuinely horrific stories. Cinematographer Luciano Tovoli helps Argento’s incredibly unique vision come to life on Suspiria, which remains a cult classic after all these years.
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There Will Be Blood (2007)
Robert Elswit is the guy Paul Thomas Anderson recruited for his turn-of-the-century prospector drama—a perfect choice, truly. There Will Be Blood’s look and feel owes a huge deal to Elswit.
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The Tree of Life (2011)
Terrence Malick has made very few films since emerging on the scene back with Badlands in the early 70s, but that hasn’t stopped his signature style from being copied by countless indie filmmakers. His 2011 film The Tree of Life is a great example of this style, shot perfectly by Emmanuel Lubezki.
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Vertigo (1958)
Back in 2012, Vertigo dethroned Citizen Kane as the movie Sight and Sound critics considered to be the very best ever made. Alfred Hitchcock’s vision comes to life on-screen thanks to cinematographer Rovert Burks’s hugely influential work.
