4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Joe Pesci Edition

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Goodfellas (1990, dir by Martin Scorsese)

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.

Today, we wish a happy birthday to the great actor, Joe Pesci! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Joe Pesci Films

Goodfellas (1990, dir by Martin Scorsese, DP: Michael Ballhaus)

JFK (1991, dir by Oliver Stone, DP: Robert Richardson)

My Cousin Vinny (1992, dir by Jonathan Lynn, DP: Peter Deming)

Casino (1995, dir by Martin Scorsese, DP: Robert Richardson)

The DGA Honors Paul Thomas Anderson

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

If you were like me and you were hoping for some sort of big upset at the Oscars next month, it looks like we’re out of luck! The Directors Guild has honored Paul Thomas Anderson as director of the year for One Battle After Another.

The winners are in bold:

FEATURE FILM
Paul Thomas Anderson – “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Ryan Coogler – “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Guillermo Del Toro – “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Josh Safdie – “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Chloe Zhao – “Hamnet” (Focus Features)

FIRST-TIME THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Hasan Hadi – “The President’s Cake” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Harry Lighton – “Pillion” (A24)
Alex Russell – “Lurker” (Mubi)
Charlie Polinger – “The Plague” (IFC)
Eva Victor – “Sorry, Baby” (A24)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special King Vidor Edition

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we celebrate the 132nd birthday of Texas-born filmmaker, King Vidor! Though Vidor may no longer be a household name, he was one of the most important and idiosyncratic filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The Crowd is regularly cited as one of the most influential films ever made. (Certainly every film that’s ever featured a shot of an anonymous office worker sitting in a room full of cubicles owes a debt to it.) Duel in the Sun went on to inspire countless spaghetti westerns. The Fountainhead is also regularly cited as a favorite by a surprisingly large number of directors.

In honor of King Vidor’s life and legacy, here are….

4 Shots From 4 King Vidor Films

The Champ (1931, dir by King Vidor, DP: Gordon Avil)

Duel In The Sun (1946, dir by King Vidor, DP: Lee Garmes)

The Fountainhead (1949, dir by King Vidor, DP: Robert Burks)

Solomon and Sheba (1959, dir by King Vidor, DP; Fred A. Young)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Greydon Clark Edition

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, Through the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 83rd birthday to the one-of-a-kind director, Greydon Clark! And that means that it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Greydon Clark Films

Angels Brigade (1979, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Dean Cundey)

Without Warning (1980, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Dean Cundey)

Final Justice (1985, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Nicholas Josef von Sternberg)

The Forbidden Dance Is Lambada (1990, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: R. Michael Stringer)

The Society of Composers and Lyricists Honors Sinners

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

The Society of Composers and Lyricists has announced its picks for the best of 2025. The winners are listed in bold.

Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film
LUDWIG GÖRANSSON – Sinners
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT – Frankenstein
JONNY GREENWOOD – One Battle After Another
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ & JOHN POWELL – Wicked: For Good
MAX RICHTER – Hamnet
JERSKIN FENDRIX – Bugonia

Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film
DARA TAYLOR – Straw
BRYCE DESSNER – Train Dreams
DAVID FLEMING – Eternity
FABRIZIO MANCINELLI – Out of the Nest
JÓNSI & ALEX SOMMERS – Rental Family

SARA BARONE & FOREST CHRISTENSON – To Kill a Wolf

Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production
DIANE WARREN – “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless
ALICE SMITH, MILES CATON & LUDWIG GÖRANSSON – “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners
RAPHAEL SAADIQ & LUDWIG GÖRANSSON – “I Lied to You” from Sinners
SARA BAREILLES – “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from Come See Me in the Good Light
NIKHIL KOPARKAR & RAMMY PARK – “The Hills of Tanchico” from The Wheel of Time
ED SHEERAN, BLAKE SLATKIN & JOHN MAYER – “Drive” from F1

Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production
EJAE & MARK SONNENBLICK – “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ – “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ – “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good
JACK BLACK & JARED HESS – “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from A Minecraft Movie
MARK RONSON, ANDREW WYATT & JACK BLACK – “I Feel Alive” from A Minecraft Movie
BLAKE SLATKIN, SHAKIRA & ED SHEERAN – “Zoo” from Zootopia 2

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Francois Truffaut Edition

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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 94th birthday, TSL pays tribute to the great Francois Truffaut. No one captured the act of falling in love in life, people, and cinema with the skill, sensitivity, and humor of Francois Truffaut. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Francois Truffaut Films

Shoot the Piano Player (1960, dir by Francois Truffaut, DP: Raoul Coutard)

Fahrenheit 451 (1966, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Nicolas Roeg)

Day For Night (1973, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Pierre-William Glenn)

The Story of Adele H. (1975, dir by Francois Truffaut, DP: Nestor Almendros)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Mann Edition

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we celebrate the 83rd birthday of the great Michael Mann! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Mann Films

Thief (1981, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Donald Thorin)

Manhunter (1986, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotii)

Heat (1995, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotti)

Public Enemies (2009, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotti)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special George Romero Edition

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today would have been George Romero’s 86th birthday.

Now, those of you who have been reading us since the beginning know how important the work of George Romero has been to this site. A mutual appreciation of Night of the Living Dead is one of the things that first brought many of us together. It’s a film that we watch ever Halloween and Arleigh’s review of the original remains one of our most popular posts. If this site had a patron saint, it would probably be George Romero.

And yet, Romero wasn’t just a director of zombie films. He made many films, dealing with everything from hippie lovers (There’s Always Vanilla) to wannabe vampires (Martin) to government conspiracies (The Crazies) and eccentric bikers (Knightriders). George Romero was one of the pioneers of independent films and today, on his birthday, we should all take a minute to consider and appreciate the man’s cinematic legacy. It’s not just horror fans who owe George Romero a debt of gratitude. It’s lovers of cinema everywhere.

With that in mind, here are….

4 Shots From 4 George Romero Films

Night of the Living Dead (1968, dir by George Romero, DP: George Romero)

The Crazies (1973, dir by George Romero, DP: S. William Hinzman)

Martin (1978, dir by George Romero, DP: Michael Gornick)

Dawn of the Dead (1978, dir by George Romero, DP: Michael Gornick)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Cimino Edition

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, it is time to celebrate the birth of one of the most intriguing (if uneven) filmmakers of the 20th Century, Michael Cimino! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Cimino Films

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974, directed by Michael Cimino, DP: Frank Stanley)

The Deer Hunter (1978, dir by Michael Cimino. DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Heaven’s Gate (1980, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

The Year of the Dragon (1985, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Alex Thomson)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Early Bill Murray Edition

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Admittedly, it is not Bill Murray’s birthday today but it’s not really anyone else’s birthday either (and don’t you dare say Paul Mescal because you need to be around for a long while to get one of these appreciation posts). Today is Groundhog Day and, even though the production of the movie of the same name was not exactly harmonious by most accounts, it is one of the movies that has come to define everything that people love about Bill Murray.

So today, it just seem appropriate to share….

4 Shots From 4 Bill Murray Films