4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Vilmos Zsigmod 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 pay tribute to the legendary cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond.  Born 90 years ago today in Hungary, Zsigmond got his start in the 60s with low-budget films like The Sadist but he went on to become one of the most in-demand cinematographers around.  In fact, of all the people who started their career working on a film that starred Arch Hall, Jr.,  it’s hard to think of any who went on to have the type of success that Zsigmond did.

Zsigmond won one Oscar, for his work on Close Encounters of Third Kind.  He was nominated for three more.  He also received a BAFTA award for his work on The Deer Hunter and was nominated for an Emmy for his work on Stalin.  He’s considered to be one of the most influential cinematographers of all time.

In honor of the legacy of Vilmos Zsigmond, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

Deliverance (1972, directed by John Boorman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

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

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, dir by Steven Spielberg, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

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

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special 1972 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!

Since we already highlighted Cabaret today, here are a few the classic films that we released the same year.

4 Shots From 4 1972 Films

The Godfather (1972, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)

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

Deliverance (1972,dir by John Boorman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972, dir by J. Lee Thompson, DP: Bruce Surtees)

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 100th birthday of the great director, Robert Altman!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Robert Altman Films

MASH (1970, dir by Robert Altman, DP: Harold E. Stine)

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.)

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)

8 Shots From 8 Films: Special John Boorman 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.

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 92nd birthday to British director John Boorman.

Boorman is one of those great director who sometimes doesn’t seem to get as much credit as he deserves.  An undeniably idiosyncratic director, Boorman easily moved from genre to genre and who brought his own individual style to each of his films.  Sometimes, critics and audiences responded to that vision and sometimes, they didn’t.  And yet even Boorman’s so-called failures have come to be appreciated over the years.  Zardoz is a cult classic.  Even The Exorcist II: The Heretic is not quite the disaster that some insist.  If nothing else, it’s one of the strangest studio productions to ever be released.

At his best, Boorman is one of the most influential directors of all time.  How many neo-noirs have ripped off the look and the feel of Point Blank?  The ending of Deliverance has been imitated by a countless number of horror films and, indeed, every backwoods thriller owes a debt to Boorman’s film about four businessmen spending a weekend canoeing.  Excalibur is one of the most elegiac of all the Arthurian films while Hope and Glory retains its power to make audiences both laugh and cry with its portrayal of life on the British homefront during World War II.  Meanwhile, films like The General and The Emerald Forest gave underrated characters actors like Powers Boothe and Brendan Gleeson a chance to shine.

So today, in honor of the career and the legacy of John Boorman, here are….

8 Shots from 8 John Boorman Films

Point Blank (1967, directed by John Boorman, DP: Philip H. Lathrop)

Deliverance (1972, directed by John Boorman, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Zardoz (1974, directed by John Boorman, DP: Geoffrey Unsworth)

The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977, dir by John Boorman, DP: William A. Fraker)

Excalibur (1981, dir by John Boorman, DP: Alex Thomson)

The Emerald Forest (1985, dir by John Boorman. DP: Philippe Rousselot)

Hope and Glory (1987, dir by John Boorman, DP: Philippe Rousselot)

The General (1998, dir by John Boorman, DP: Seamus Deasy)

6 Shots From 6 Best Picture Winners: The 1970s


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, I’m using this feature to take a look at the history of the Academy Award for Best Picture.  Decade by decade, I’m going to highlight my picks for best of the winning films.  To start with, here are 6 shots from 6 Films that won Best Picture during the 1970s!  Here are….

6 Shots From 6 Best Picture Winners: The 1970s

The French Connection (1971, dir by William Friedkin, DP: Owen Roizman)

The Godfather (1972, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)

The Godfather Part II (dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Gordon Willis)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975, dir by Milos Forman, DP: Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler)

Rocky (1976, dir by John G. Avildsen, DP: James Crabe)

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

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 Brian De Palma Edition


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 is the birthday of Brian De Palma and that means that it is time for….

4 Shots From 4 Brian De Palma Films

Carrie (1976, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Mario Tosi)

Dressed to Kill (1980, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Ralf D. Bode)

Blow Out (1981, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Scarface (1983, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: John A. Alonzo)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Phillip Noyce Edition


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, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 73rd birthday to Australian filmmaker, Phillip Noyce.  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Phillip Noyce Films

Heatwave (1982, dir by Phillip Noyce, DP: Vincent Monton)

Dead Calm (1989, dir by Phillip Noyce, DP: Dean Semler)

Blind Fury (1989, dir by Phillip Noyce, DP: Don Burgess)

Sliver (1993, dir by Phillip Noyce, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Brian De Palma Edition


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 is the birthday of Brian De Palma and that means that it is time for….

4 Shots From 4 Brian De Palma Films

Carrie (1976, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Mario Tosi)

Dressed to Kill (1980, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Ralf D. Bode)

Blow Out (1981, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Scarface (1983, dir by Brian De Palma, DP: John A. Alonzo)