4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Zack Snyder Edition


4 Shots From 4 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 58th birthday to Zack Snyder!  Zack Snyder has been a favorite (and occasionally a not-so-favorite) of many of the people who have written for this site.  Speaking for myself, I loved Sucker Punch and disliked Man of Steel.  (Arleigh, for the record, liked both.) But Snyder is a filmmaker about whom no one seems to be neutral.  That’s definitely something of which to take some pride.  I was not a fan of the whole idea behind the Oscar Fan Favorite nonsense that took place a few years ago but there was something satisfying about both of those awards being won by films directed by a man who Hollywood has often tried to dismiss.

In honor of Zack Snyder’s birthday, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

Watchmen (2009, dir by Zack Snyder, DP: Larry Fong)

Sucker Punch (2011, dir by Zack Snyder: DP: Larry Fong)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016, dir by Zack Snyder, DP: Larry Fong)

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021, dir by Zack Snyder, DP: Fabian Wagner)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Neil Jordan Edition


4 Shots From 4 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 Irish director Neil Jordan!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Neil Jordan Films

The Company of Wolves (1984, dir by Neil Jordan, DP: Bryan Loftus)

Interview With A Vampire (1994, dir by Neil Jordan, DP: Philippe Rousselot)

The Butcher Boy (1998, dir by Neil Jordan, DP: Adrian Biddle)

In Dreams (1999, dir by Neil Jordan, DP: Darius Khondji)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Terence Fisher Edition


4 Shots From 4 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 120th anniversary of the birth of the great British film director, Terence Fisher.  Though Fisher worked in all genres, he is best remembered for the horror films that he directed for Hammer Studios.  Along with proving that there was still an audience for horror, he also helped to make stars out of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Terence Fisher Films

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957, dir by Terence Fisher, DP: Jack Asher)

Horror of Dracula (1958, dir by Terence Fisher, DP: Jack Asher)

The Mummy (1959, dir by Terence Fisher, DP: Jack Asher)

The Devil Rides Out (1968, dir by Terence Fisher, DP: Arthur Grant)

4 Shots From 4 Luis Buñuel Films: Special Luis Bunuel Edition


4 Shots From 4 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 the 124th birthday of the great Spanish surrealist filmmaker, Luis Bunuel!  That means that it is now time for….

4 Shots From 4 Luis Buñuel Films

Los Olivados (1950, dir by Luis Bunuel, DP: Gabriel Figueroa)

Viridiana (1961, dir by Luis Bunuel, DP: José F. Aguayo)

The Exterminating Angel (1962, dir by Luis Buñuel, DP: Gabriel Figueroa)

Simon of the Desert (1965, dir by Luis Bunuel, DP: Gabriel Figueroa)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Robert Altman Edition


4 Shots From 4 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 99th birthday of the great director, Robert Altman!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Robert Altman Films

The Long Goodbye (1973, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Nashville (1975, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Paul Lohmann)

3 Women (1977, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Charles Rosher, Jr.)

Short Cuts (1993, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Walt Lloyd)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special John Frankenheimer Edition


4 Shots From 4 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!

John Frankenheimer was born 94 years ago today, in New York City.  He got his start working in live television and went on to become one of the best directors of thrillers around.  After getting off to a strong start in the 60s, directing several classic films (many of which had a political subtext), Frankenheimer struggled in the 70s (though even that decade saw him directing the classic Black Sunday) before making a comeback in the 90s.  (1998’s Ronin is regularly cited as having one of the best car chases ever captured on film.)  He was also one of the first film directors to make the transition to regularly working for cable channels like TNT and HBO.  Indeed, the films that he made for HBO played no small part in establishing HBO’s reputation as being a “prestige” network.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 John Frankenheimer Films

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Lionel Lindon)

Seconds (1966, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: James Wong Howe)

Black Sunday (1977, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: John A. Alonzo)

52 Pick-Up (dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Jost Vacano)

6 Shots From 6 Films: Special John Ford Edition


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

John Ford was born 130 years ago today, in Maine.  Seeing as how John Ford is one of the most influential and important directors of all time, it was pretty much guaranteed that we were going to share a few shots from his filmography on the Shattered Lens.

In honor of John Ford, here are….

6 Shots From 6 Films: Special John Ford Edition

The Informer (1935, dir by John Ford, DP: Joseph August)

Stagecoach (1939, dir by John Ford, DP: Bert Glennon)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940, dir by John Ford, DP: Gregg Toland)

My Darling Clementine (1946, dir by John Ford, DP: Joseph MacDonald)

The Searchers (1956, dir by John Ford, DP: Winston C. Hoch)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962, dir by John Ford. DP: William H. Clothier)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Tobe Hooper Edition


4 Shots From 4 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, on what would have been his 81st birthday, the Shattered Lens pays tribute to Texas’s own, Tobe Hooper!

The Austin hippie who redefined horror and left thousands of yankees terrified of driving through South Texas, Tobe Hooper often struggled to duplicate both the critical and the box office success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  It’s only been in the years since his death that many critics and viewers have come to truly appreciate his unique and subversive vision.

Down here, in Texas, we always believed in him.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Tobe Hooper Films

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, dir by Tobe Hooper, DP: Daniel Pearl)

The Funhouse (1981, dir by Tobe Hooper. DP: Andrew Laszlo)

Poltergeist (1982, dir by Tobe Hooper, DP: Matthew F. Leonetti)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986, dir by Tobe Hooper. DP: Richard Kooris)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Norman Jewison Edition


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

Rest in Peace, Norman Jewison, a director who believed in the power of cinema to change the world.

4 Shots From 4 Norman Jewison Films

In The Heat of the Night (1967, dir by Norman Jewison, DP: Haskell Wexler)

Fiddler on the Roof (1971, dir by Norman Jewison, DP: Oswald Morris)

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973, dir by Norman Jewison, DP; Douglas Slocombe)

The Hurricane (1999. dir by Norman Jewison, DP: Roger Deakins)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Radley Metzger Edition


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

95 years ago today, Radley Metzger was born in New York, New York.  After serving as a photographer in the U.S. Air Force, Metzger went into film distribution.  He brought European “art” films to the United States and booked them in various grindhouse theaters.  Like so many film distributors and producers, Metzger eventually realized that he could make a lot more many by making his own films.  In the late 60s and the early 70s, Metzger was one of the pioneers of what would eventually become known as “porno chic.” He directed adult films that were distinguished by their strong sense of composition, intelligent storylines, and their sense of characterization.

Unfortunately, Metzger’s films were a bit too arty for the adult crowd and too explicit for the mainstream critics. Still, over the years, Metzger’s work has been rediscovered and appreciated by open-minded film lovers and by people like me who just happen to like artistically-minded decadence.

Today, we honor Radley Metzger with….

4 Shots From 4 Radley Metzger Films

Carmen, Baby (1967, dir by Radley Metzger, DP: Hans Jura)

Camille 2000 (1969, dir by Radley Metzger, DP: Ennio Guarnieri)

The Lickerish Quartet (1970, dir by Radley Metzger. DP: Hans Jura)

Little Mother (1973, dir by Radley Metzger, DP: Hans Jura)