In Praise of Subtle Cinematography

Fine, Thomas, I'll watch Burning again

The thing that seems to go unsaid in cinematography essays is that one of the reasons bold shots stand out is how they stand in contrast with the rest of a film. Those "beautiful shot" compilations are very fun to watch in the context of wanting to watch a series of visually striking shots, but a film where every shot tried to be cooler or attention-grabbing would be exhausting to watch. And yeah definitely agreed on how it's often the subtler cinematography work that does the most heavy lifting of communicating subtext, even on a subconscious level.

This channel is the most under-rated cinema critique and performance art channel on youtube. This dude has shown me so many new movies and tv shows that I love and educated me. Top notch content. Thank you.

Its great to see you use "Burning" so much. Love that movie and its a masterpiece of subtle storytelling

The one subtle shot that nearly made me fall out of my chair was actually in Wandavision. From the start it follows the rules of a three cam sitcom, and is so amazingly consistent with it that when (in the dinners scene, first episode I think) wanda starts to notice something is off, they show it by simply using a close up camera angle that couldn't possibly be in a three cam sitcom. Such a genius way to use the crux/gimmick of your story as a tool for drawing the audience into wandas (very unique) perspective.

THANK YOU! It’s such a struggle for most of the friends I talk to about films to articulate anything about cinematography other than “it was pretty”. Can be frustrating that they miss out on all the other qualities about the camera work that service the greater story. & when you dig into it they think you’re “over thinking it”. This “in praise of subtle.. ____” series needs to touch on every department on a set, this is so wonderful Thomas thank you thank you thank you

Everytime I watch one of your videos I get that movie fizz - I just want to enjoy a beautifully shot movie with a cup of warm coffee and melt into my couch. You do fantastic work, Thomas.

I'll never forget in Phantom Thread the scene where the camera moves from the dress into the two characters to signify how Reynolds priorities are shifting from dressmaking to Alma

For some reason when I think of subtle cinematography, I think of the end of Sicario where Benicio Del Toro’s character confronts the female lead. And he’s nearly sitting in the dark while the light in the background can barely illuminate his face. I don’t think it’s that profound of a shot but it’s so ordinary looking that people don’t think twice about it.

I know you already commented on it in another video months ago, but what Better Call Saul did with its subtle cinematography and subtle performances throughout all 6 seasons is probably a masterclass of everything shown in here and your other videos. My highest praises for that show

One of my favourite examples of subtle cinematography is in Deux Jours, Une Nuit (Two Days, One Night), where every time Sandra argues with one of her coworkers to allow her to keep her job, there's a line, formed by something in the background, between them — representing the emotional wall she has to overcome.

I don't usually write comments like this, but I honestly want to thank you. This way you presented the ideas and topics intercut with clips from films and how you broke them down gave me new perspectives on a handful of what were already some of my favourite films. Honestly, watching this video may have given me some more insight into what I'm drawn toward in films because a lot of the moments you drew from as examples are precisely the moments that resonate with me the most. I'm writing this comment as a personal thank-you because I feel that I really got something out of watching it. There are plenty of times when I watch video essay info-dump videos on YouTube as a way of procrastinating, and most of the time I click off halfway through because I look at how long it is and realize that I could be spending my time doing something better. Here, you presented the ideas in an engaging and concise manner; I got more out of watching this 13 minute video than most hour long video essays I see on YouTube. I've gotten more conservative with my subscriptions these days, but you've just earned another subscriber. Thank you for the truly educational content.

Please do "In Praise of Subtle Music" next.

Thomas, great discussion on cinematography. Burning is an all around fantastically photographed and composed film. They do a great job of using subtle techniques as you mentioned here while also using splashy moments like Hae-mi dancing during sunset or the slow motion greenhouse. The contrast between these two techniques elevates the movie to be more than a sum of its parts.

Absolutely love this video. I'm continually trying to improve my film literacy and more deeply see what I'm watching. Internalizing these examples will help me to grow!

I have to leave this comment expressing how much I liked everything about the background and framing you chose for yourself. Often, video essays come across as lectures, where there is a definite visual separation established between the presenter and the audience. Everything about this one, however, is extremely welcoming and personal. Keep up the good work, I'm enjoying these videos! :)

This is one of my favorite youtube channels. Thanks for the work you put into this videos.

Instantly thought of Richard Linklater. I think his unobtrusive style contributes so much to the realism and 'hangout' nature of his films. Watched Before Sunset last night and its reserved direction and cinematography is a great strength.

Sweet! another video! Recently have been trying to get into filming, this channel is just what I needed.

Dick Pope's work with Mike Leigh, in decades of films such as Naked, Secrets & Lies, All or Nothing, Vera Drake, and Another Year, begs mention here. People might think of Leigh as someone who makes visually no-frills films that are about dialogue and acting, but their cinematography is vivid and of increasing sophistication. I love in Another Year how each section of the film, corresponding to one of the calendar seasons, has its own distinct look. We're just seeing people in their houses and gardens, some bars and offices, but it has a visual style that lingers in the mind.