BEST LONG TAKES
russian ark
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not my favourite from Angelopoulos—can’t find much on youtube—but this is quite powerful:
So much stuff from THE LONG GOODBYE…someone recently describe the movie’s cinematography as “simple”. Boy, could they have been more wrong? Almost always invisible, but repeatedly exhibiting thoughtful technical craft and imagination without being showy. The nighttime battle with the Malibu waves is a standout.
The Consequences Of Love has several beautifully composed tracking shots. These are two of my favorites.
Children of Men long takes are just amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjNk-nxHjfM
Atonement’s long take
And the ones in Children of Men are brilliant!
Has no one mentioned the opening shot of Touch of Evil? Or The Player, which references it?
More Angelopoulos, this time from Alexander the Great.
Elephant. Period.
@Santino, If you are a big fan of Elephant, I would highly recommend you check out the works of Béla Tarr (if you haven’t already, that is). Especially Werckmeister Harmonies and Sátántangó. Van Sant is on the record stating the magnitude of Tarr’s influence on the film.
Thanks Nick.
Yes, I’m familiar with Tarr and actually heard about him after Savides talked about how much he influenced his work on Gerry. I can’t say I share in the enthusiasm that Van Sant and Savides feel towards Tarr’s work but I certainly appreciate his distinct vision as an artist.
The long shot on Wahlberg’s face in Boogie Nights during the “drug deal gone bad” scene. Just brilliant!!! One of my all time favorite shots in cinema.
I like every long take, even if I don’t like the movie.
Hunger
My favorite long take in Hunger is of the poor bastard made to mop-up the piss that the prisoners have spread on the floor of the hallway (and a previous shot, from the same angle, of those streams of piss first synchronously emerge from under the doors is pretty chilling).
@Steve
I also enjoy the opening of Boogie Nights — very playful in the way the camera flies and weaves, and the shot does a great job introducing the characters in full, their personalities showcased succinctly and sweetly.
Miklós Jancsó employes a lot of great long takes [He is a Hungarian filmmaker who preceded Bela Tarr]
And the film I AM CUBA employs nothing but long takes [It preceded both BOOGIE NIGHTS and GOODFELLAS – two films that lifted similar shots from it].
One of several great long takes from I AM CUBA. Starts at 1:40.
Jia movies.
@Matt L, Jancsó is my hero. His long takes are absolutely breathtaking. His influence on Tarr can not be understated.
BALISTIK
What are some of the best long takes and tracking shots in films?
I’ll start with some obvious ones :
Goodfellas long take