I’m back, posting again – been 2 years since (my last confession) the last time I saw this treasure (see earlier post in this same thread).
There are so many put-downs of this film and I guess at this point I’ll just say "To each his own" (or, "You don't know what you're missing!"), because I really like this film for so many reasons and photography is certainly near the top of the list.
Now the old cynic in me will agree that a lot of the film work was "music video-ish"; kind of old film-hack "tricks of the trade" and you know what? – maybe film makers were doing a lot of very similar kinds of gimmick shots about that time (and such copy-cat work deserved criticism) – BUT – beauty is beauty!
And besides, there really isn't much left under the sun that hasn't already been done.
As to other’s favorite shots:
- Yes, I liked the treatment of night street scenes
- I too liked the colors in this film
- The opening shots were … beautiful
Just off the top of my head – favorite scene shots:
1) At the top of the list, cause I don’t think we can pretend otherwise – Kim Basinger is beautiful in this film!! The camera caresses her, scene after scene roaming its lens over her … - well, I got to say it – her exquisite body. But of course it’s not just her beauty, but how the camera creatively captures it – in the rain, blinding light or shadowy dark.
2) The cottage, when she stands in the artist’s studio surrounded by his old bottles, canvases and brushes – she leans toward a window to look out. She holds that pose for just a moment as the sun envelops her with grainy dust filled rays of light; beautiful!
3) The country, tree lined path she walks down – back lit; approaching the old artist (could have been a painting).
4) The silhouettes. Now this might be an example of “gimmicky”, but at least twice we see them running out of a “framed” structure toward a brightly sun-lit opening; their figures black against the bright lit background. I think that is an old gimmick and they used it at least twice – but you know what? - - I like it.
5) How about the swings? In a pensive moment she glances out the window and sees – just the heads of children on swings as they crest above a brick wall. I bet the photographer/director stole that shot too, but that’s okay. It was impactful and I enjoyed it (original or not).
6) Ill end on another Basinger shot (cause I’ve got a crush on her). I think it was when she was doing a striptease for her guy. I think she is wearing a whit slip (and nothing else – except maybe a hat, cause “you can leave your hat on”). The camera is at a lower angle and there’s a bright spot light behind her head (upper left). The shot I’m thinking of only lasts for “one second”, but in that one second my breath was taken away by the loving, playful, beautiful look on her face and the stunning pose of her body and that thin, satin, luminous slip.
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