4 Shots From 4 Films: How Heavenly!


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!

4 Shots From 4 Heavenly Films

Stairway to Heaven (1946, Dir. by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)

Heaven Can Wait (1978, Dir by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry)

Days of Heaven (1978, Dir. by Terence Malick)

Made In Heaven (1987, Dir. by Alan Rudolph)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Celebrating Beautiful Landscapes


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!

As a photographer, I love movie that feature shots of beautiful landscape.  Here are four of my favorites!

4 Shots Of 4 Beautiful Landscapes

The Quiet Man (1952, Dir by John Ford)

Barry Lyndon (1975, Dir by Stanley Kubrick)

Days of Heaven (1978, Dir by Terrence Malick)

Nomadland (2020, dir by Chloe Zhao)

 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Terrence Malick 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 wish a happy birthday to one of cinema’s greatest visual stylists, the one and only Terrence Malick!

4 Shots From 4 Terrence Malick Films

Badlands (1973, dir by Terrence Malick)

Days of Heaven (1978, dir by Terrence Malick)

Tree of Life (2011, dir by Terrence Malick)

Song to Song (2017, dir by Terrence Malick)

Song of the Day: The Return by Ennio Morricone


Today’s song of the day comes to us from the soundtrack of Terrence Malick’s 1978 film, Days of Heaven.  Composed by Ennio Morricone, this is The Return:

Previous Entries In Our Tribute To Morricone:

  1. Deborah’s Theme (Once Upon A Time In America)
  2. Violaznioe Violenza (Hitch-Hike)
  3. Come Un Madrigale (Four Flies on Grey Velvet)
  4. Il Grande Silenzio (The Great Silence)
  5. The Strength of the Righteous (The Untouchables)
  6. So Alone (What Have You Done To Solange?)
  7. The Main Theme From The Mission (The Mission)

6 Good Films That Were Not Nominated For Best Picture: The 1970s


David Niven at the 1974 Oscars

Continuing our look at good films that were not nominated for best picture, here are 6 films from the 1970s.

Dirty Harry (1971, dir by Don Siegel)

“Well, I’m all torn up about his rights….” Detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) says after being informed that he’s not allow to torture suspects for information.  Unfortunately, in this case, the Academy agreed with all the critics who called Harry a menace and this classic and influential crime film was not nominated.  Not even Andy Robinson picked up a nomination for his memorably unhinged turn as Scorpio.

Carrie (1976, dir by Brian DePalma)

The Academy liked Carrie enough to nominate both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.  The film itself, however, went unnominated.  It’s enough to make you want to burn down the prom.

Suspiria (1977, dir by Dario Argento)

In a perfect world, Goblin would have at least taken home an Oscar for the film’s score.  In the real world, unfortunately, Argento’s masterpiece was totally snubbed by the Academy.

Days of Heaven (1978, dir by Terence Malick)

If it were released today, Terence Malick’s dream-like mediation of life during the depression would definitely be nominated.  In 1978, perhaps, the Academy was still not quite sure what to make of Malick’s beautiful but often opaque cinematic poetry.

Halloween (1978, dir by John Carpenter)

“The night he came home!” should have been “The night he went to the Oscars!”  The film received no nominations and it’s a shame.  Just imagine Donald Pleasence winning for his performance as Loomis while John Carpenter racked up almost as many nominations as Alfonso Cuaron did this year for Roma.

Dawn of the Dead (1978, dir by George Romero)

If the Academy wasn’t willing to nominate Night of the Living Dead, there was no way that they would go for the film’s longer and bloodier sequel.  But perhaps they should have.  Few films are cited as an inspiration as regularly as Dawn of the Dead.

Up next, in about an hour, the 1980s!