Thursday, April 19, 2012

Best of the Academy Awards Winners: Best Art Direction, Cinematography, and Film Editing

Best Film Editing
Winner - Thelma Schoonmaker "Raging Bull"
Runner Up - Schindler's List and Jaws
Commentary - Raging Bull is probably considered one of the singular masterpieces of the last half of the 20th c. It climbed to number 4 on the AFI's list in 2007. It is because of the dynamic duo of Marty Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker that Raging Bull, as well as their other collaborations are so damn good. Her work in this film is stunning.

Best Art Direction
Winner - Gone With the Wind
Runner Up- Titanic and Sunset Blvd.
Commentary -  Gone With the Wind remains one of the greatest epic masterpieces of all time. It's scale is huge even for today's standards, and one of the most fantastic elements is the stunning art direction. Done before computers and special effects, the sets are spot on, and only add to the grand nature of this visual masterpiece.

Best Cinematography
Winner - (TIE) The Third Man and Apocalypse Now
Runner Up - The Bridge on the River Kwai
Commentary - I decided that a tie was necessary to include both black and white, and color films. The Third Man's stunning cinematography can be seen even without any color with incredible shots and perfect focusing. In the modern era, the benchmark for future endeavors seems to be Coppola's classic Apocalypse Now, a feat in cinematic photography.

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