4 Shots from 4 Films: Special Ryan Coogler Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to director Ryan Coogler!  With just three feature films and a handful of shorts, Ryan Coogler has made a star out of Michael B. Jordan, redeemed the acting career of Sylvester Stallone, introduced the rest of the world to Wakanda, and changed the way that film viewers talk about race in cinema.  With all that in mind, it’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Ryan Coogler Films

Locks (2009, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Francisco Kosterlitz)

Fruitvale Station (2013, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)

Creed (2015, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Maryse Alberti)

Black Panther (2018, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)

6 Shots From 6 Films: Special Frank Capra Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

125 years ago, on this date, Frank Capra was born in Sicily.  Capra was six years old when his family immigrated to the United States and, for the rest of his long life, he would often talk about seeing the Statue of Liberty from the deck of a boat sailing to Ellis Island.  Capra went on to become a director whose work celebrated the ideals and the promise of America.  He not only gave us the holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, but he also directed one of the few political films that matteed, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.  And let us not forget that the first two comedies to win the Oscar for Best Picture were directed by Capra, It Happened One Night and You Can’t Take It With You.

In honor of a great career and legacy, here are….

6 Shots From 6 Films

Ladies of Leisure (1930, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker)

The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker)

It Happened One Night (1934, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker)

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker)

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker and Joseph Biroc)

State of the Union (1948, dir by Frank Capra, DP: George J. Folsey))

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Orson Welles Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today we celebrate what would have been the 106th birthday of the great Orson Welles!  It’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Orson Welles Films

Citizen Kane (1941, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Gregg Toland)

Touch of Evil (1958, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Russell Metty)

F For Fake (1974, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Gary Graver)

The Other Side of the Wind (2018, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Gary Graver)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Wes Anderson Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to Texas’s own Wes Anderson!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Wes Anderson Films

Moonrise Kingdom (2012, dir by Wes Anderson, DP: Robert Yeoman)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, dir by Wes Anderson, DP: Robert Yeoman)

Isle of Dogs (2018, dir by Wes Anderson, DP: Tristan Oliver)

The French Dispatch (2021, dir by Wes Anderson, DP: Robert Yeoman)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Uli Edel Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 75th birthday to German director, Uli Edel!  It’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Uli Edel Films

Christiane F. (1981, dir b Uli Edel, DP: Justus Pankau and Jürgen Jürges)

Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989, dir by Uli Edel, DP: Stefan Czapsky)

Body of Evidence (1993, dir by Uli Edel, DP: Douglas Milsome)

The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, dir by Uli Edel, DP: Rainer Klausmann)

4 Shots From 4 Film: Special Quentin Tarantino Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is not just Oscar Sunday!  It’s also Quentin Tarantino’s 59th birthday!  Since Tarantino is one of the favorite filmmakers of this site, it only makes sense to celebrate with….

4 Shots From 4 Quentin Tarantino Films

Reservoir Dogs (1992, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Andrzej Sekuła)

Pulp Fiction (1994, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Andrzej Sekuła)

Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Robert Richardson)

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019, dir by Quentin Tarantino, DP: Robert Richardson)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special David Lean Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, we celebrate the birth and the legacy of the great British director, David Lean!  He was born 114 years ago today and went on to become one of the most important and influential directors of all time.  Lawrence of Arabia is still held up as one of the best adventure films ever made.  My personal favorite Lean film remains Brief Encounter.  Here are….

4 Shots from 4 David Lean Films

Brief Encounter (1945, dir by David Lean, DP: Robert Krasker)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, dir by David Lean, DP: Jack Hildyard)

Lawrence of Arabia (1962, dir by David Lean, DP: Freddie A. Young)

Doctor Zhivago (1965, dir by David Lean, DP: Freddie A. Young)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Akira Kurosawa Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens honors both the birth and the legacy of the great filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Akira Kurosawa Films

Throne of Blood (1957, dir by Akira Kurosawa, DP: Asakuza Nakai)

Yojimbo (1961, dir by Akira Kurosawa, DP: Kazuo Miyagawa)

Kagemusha (1980, dir by Akira Kurosawa, DP: Takao Saito and
Masaharu Ueda )

Ran (1985, dir by Akira Kurosawa, DPs: Takao Saito, Masharu Ueda, and Asakazu Nakai)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Stardom Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

With the Oscars approaching, it seems appropriate to pay tribute to stardom with 4 shots from 4 films!

4 Shots From 4 Films About Being A Star

Mulholland Drive (2001, dir by David Lynch, DP: Peter Deming)

Chicago (2002, dir by Rob Marshall, DP: Dion Beebe)

Maps to the Stars (2014, dir by David Cronenberg, DP: Peter Suschitzky)

The Neon Demon (2016, dir by Nicolas Winding Refn, DP: Natasha Braier)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Russ Meyer Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

100 years ago, on the very day, Russ Meyer was born in San Leandro, California.  Meyer would get his start filming newsreels during World War II (many of his newsreel footage were used in the 1970 Oscar winner, Patton).  When he returned to the United States, he continued to make films.  Meyer was one of the pioneers of the adult film industry, though his films seem rather quaint and innocent when compared to the industry’s later films.  Meyer’s strong visual sense and his intentionally over-the-top plots made him a favorite amongst underground critics.  In the 70s, he was briefly embraced by mainstream Hollywood but, unhappy with having to deal with studio bosses, Meyer returned to making the type of independent, grindhouse films that made him famous.

Russ Meyer was 82 years old when he died in 2004.  He was acclaimed as one of America’s first and greatest independent filmmakers.

Here are 4 Safe-For-Work Shots From 4 Russ Meyer Films.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Walter Schenk)

Motorpsycho (1965, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Russ Meyer)

Cherry, Harry, & Raquel! (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Russ Meyer)

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970, dir by Russ Meyer, DP: Fred J. Koenekamp)