4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Mann 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 82nd 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)

Song of the Day: Night Train to Mundo Fine by John Carradine


On this date, 119 years ago, the great actor John Carradine was born in New York City.

Over the course of his career, Carradine worked for just about everyone.  He appeared on stage.  He appeared in film and television.  He played the great roles of Shakespeare and he also played Dracula.  He was a part of both the John Ford and the Fred Olen Ray stock companies.  He had a reputation for taking almost any role offered to him and, as a result, his huge filmography offers up a wonderful amount of variety.

He was also a singer!  Here he is performing today’s song of the day, Night Train to Mundo Fine!  This song was featured Coleman Francis’s Red Zone Cuba.  Say what you may about the song or the film, how can you not love Carrdine’s dramatic (and perhaps slightly mocking) delivery of the lyrics?

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Cimino 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, 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, dir 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 Time Travel 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.

*tick tick tick*  TIME!

4 Shots From 4 Time Travel Films

Beyond The Time Barrier (1960, dir by Edgar G. Ulmer, DP: Meredith Nicholson)

Back to the Future (1986, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Dean Cundey)

12 Monkeys (1995, dir by Terry Gilliam, DP: Roger Pratt)

Primer (2004, dir by Shane Carruth)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Norman Mailer Edition


Norman Mailer, running for mayor of New York City in 1969

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.

Norman Mailer wasn’t just a writer and symbol of New York City.  He was also an aspiring filmmaker, a director who made three experimental films in the 60s and one studio film in the 80s.  And while none of his films could really be described as being a hit with either audiences or critics, they do — to a certain extent — epitomize an era.  Plus, the story of Rip Torn hitting Mailer with a hammer during the filming of Maidstone will live forever.

In honor of Norman Mailer the director, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Norma Mailer Films

Wild 90 (1968, dir by Norman Mailer, DP: D.A. Pennebaker)

Beyond The Law (1968, dir by Norman Mailer, DP: D.A. Pennebaker)

Maidstone (1970, dir by Norman Mailer, DP: D.A. Pennebaker)

Tough Guys Don’t Dance (1987, dir by Norman Mailer, DP: Mike Moyer and John Bailey)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Dystopia Noir 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!

I have a headache and it’s raining outside.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Dystopian Film Noirs

Blade Runner (1982, dir by Ridley Scott, DP: Jordan Cronenweth)

Streets of Fire (1984, dir by Walter Hill, DP: Andrew Laszlo)

Inland Empire (2006, dir by David Lynch, DP: David Lynch)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017, dir by Denis Villeneuve, DP: Roger Deakins)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Pop Art 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!

Happy Pop Art Day!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Pop Art Films

Empire (1965, dir by Andy Warhol)

Vinyl (1965, dir by Andy Warhol)

Lupe (1966, dir by Andy Warhol)

Chelsea Girls (1966, dir by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Dancing 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!

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Red Shoes (1948, dir by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, DP: Jack Cardiff)

Saturday Night Fever (1977, dir by John Badham, DP: Ralf D. Bode)

Flashdance (1983, dir by Adrian Lyne, DP: Donald Peterman)

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

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Roger Vadim 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!

Controversial French director Roger Vadim was born 97 years ago today.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Roger Vadim Films

And God Created Woman (1956, dir by Roger Vadim, DP: Armand Thirard)

Blood And Roses (1960, dir by Roger Vadim, DP: Claude Renoir)

Spirits of the Dead: Metzengerstein (1968, dir by Roger Vadim, DP: Claude Renoir)

Barbarella (1968, dir by Roger Vadim, DP: Claude Renoir)

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 82nd 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

Eggshells (1969, dir by Tobe Hooper, DP: Tobe Hooper)

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

Salem’s Lot (1978, dir by Tobe Hooper, DP: Jules Bremmer)

Lifeforce (1985, dir by Tobe Hooper, DP: Alan Hume)