Pretty interesting lists overall so far, although I'm puzzled with certain choices ( Breathless is fantastic, quirky as hell, exciting, etc. but beautiful? hmmm... Amadeus did not strike me by its images either). But most selections already made in the thread are marked by a particular emphasis on aesthetics and on exquisite craftsmanship.
Days of Heaven was photographed by Nestor Almendros, one of the most accomplished director of photography and one of the greatest artists of the camera of the late 20st century. Malick was incredibly blessed by heaven by working with this guy, which leads me to add some of the titles into which he left his mark, with extraordinarily rich imagery. He did some of his best work with Eric Rohmer, and I'm thinking especially about La collectionneuse, Le genou de Claire, Ma nuit chez Maude, L'amour l'après-midi, etc. The most visually striking movies by Truffaut bear Almendros' signature as well (L'histoire d'Adèle H, Les deux Anglaises et le continent (Two Englush Girls), Le dernier métro, Vivement dimanche! etc. ). When these French movies became internationally recognized, the best directors had to fight to get the chance of hiring this master genius. Part of the success of the better known movies that he made after his purely French period comes from the Almendros special touch: Sophie's Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Blue Lagoon, etc. ... and Days of Heaven of course. And the most amazing thing is that even when he started working with Rohmer near the beginning of his career, he was already almost blind ! Perhaps his poor eyesight was a key factor in his solid and unrivalled grasp of how to use simple daylight or light from a burning fire, which confers to his work its very particular, almost magical quality....
- But you can't have her again as costume designer, Mr. Hitchcock!
- Really, Peggy? Give me Head!
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