4 Shots From 4 Films: Special John Schlesinger Edition

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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 would have been the birthday of director John Schlesinger. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 John Schlesinger Films

Darling (1965, dir by John Schlesinger, DP: Kenneth Higgins)

Far From The Madding Crowd (1967, dir by John Schlesinger, DP: Nicolas Roeg)

Midnight Cowboy (1969, dir by John Schlesinger, DP: Adam Holender)

Marathon Man (1976, dir by John Schlesinger, DP: Conrad Hall)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Alan Parker Edition

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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.

82 years ago, on this date, the late director Alan Parker was born in London. One of the many British directors, like the Scott brothers and Adrian Lyne, who began by directing advertisements, Parker went on to become a director known for both his intense visual style and his revolutionary use of music as a storytelling device. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Alan Parker Films

Midnight Express (1978, dir by Alan Parker, DP: Michael Seresin)

Fame (1980, dir by Alan Parker, DP: Michael Seresin)

Pink Floyd — The Wall (1982, dir by Alan Parker, DP: Peter Bizou)

Angel Heart (1987, dir by Alan Parker, DP: Michael Seresin)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Friday The 13th Edition

Posted on February 13, 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 is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

The Friday the 13th films aren’t exactly known for being the most visually impressive horror films ever made. That’s especially true of the first 8 films, which were all shot on a low budget and in a hurry. Actually, I think you could argue that’s a part of the enduring charm of the series. Today is Friday the 13th and there’s no way that I, as a lover of the horror genre, couldn’t use the 4 Shots format to pay a little bit of tribute to one of the most successful and influential horror franchises of all time.

So, with that in mind, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Friday the 13th Films

Friday the 13th (1980, dir by Sean S. Cunningham)

Friday the 13th Part II (1981, dir by Steve Miner)

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984, dir by Joseph Zito)

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989, dir by Rob Hedden)

Back in 2012, I reviewed every single film in the Friday the 13th film franchise! It was a lot of fun!

My Friday the 13th reviews:

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Darren Aronofsky Edition

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 57th birthday to one of our favorite filmmakers, Darren Aronofsky! When we first started this site, we were eagerly awaiting the release of Black Swan. Now, fifteen years later, we’re eagerly awaiting the release of Aronofsky’s next film, whatever it may be.

In honor of the birthday of a true visionary director, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Darren Aronofsky Films

Pi (1998, dir by Darren Aronofsky, DP: Matthew Labitique)

Requiem for a Dream (2000, dir by Darren Aronofsky, DP: Matthew Libatique)

Black Swan (2010, dir by Darren Aronosfky, DP: Matthew Libatique)

mother! (2017, dir by Darren Aronofsky, DP: Matthew Libatique)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Joseph L. Mankiewicz Edition

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we celebrate the great director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who was born 117 years ago today. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Joseph L. Mankiewicz Films

All About Eve (1950, dir by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, DP: Milton R. Krassner)

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959, dir by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, DP: Jack Hildyard)

Cleopatra (1963, dir by Joseph L. Mankiewicz , DP: Leon Shamroy)

A Carol For Another Christmas (1964, dir by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, DP: Arthur Ornitz)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Alexander Payne Edition

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to director Alexander Payne! It’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Alexander Payne Films

Election (1999, dir by Alexander Payne, DP: James Glennon)

Sideways (2004, dir by Alexander Payne, DP: Phedon Papamichael)

The Descendants (2011, dir by Alexander Payne, DP: Phedon Papamichael)

Nebraska (2013, dir by Alexander Payne, DP: Phedon Papamichael)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Joe Pesci Edition

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Goodfellas (1990, dir by Martin Scorsese)

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