MovieChat Forums > Lone Star (1996) Discussion > Flashbacks

Flashbacks

posted 15 years ago by benhere
4 replies | jump to latest

I don't know if I've ever seen better manipulation of the old flashbacks gambit. I've seen most of Sayles' movies - I would say he's known more for his writing, his storytelling, than for innovative camera work. He certainly knows how to use the camera and set up shots, but he doesn't usually draw attention to it.

But the flashback transitions in Lone Star are seamless and riveting. Past and present in one shot, no edits. Sayles has said the movie is about borders, not just just geographical but personal as well - "a border is where you draw a line and say 'This is where I end and somebody else begins.'" The way he presents this idea visually, with the camera panning from today to yesterday to today again, is stunning.

Most films present flashbacks starting with an actor in the shot narrating, then fadeout/fade-in or quick cut to the past. I can't recall seeing Sayles' technique used before.

[–] HunterSVonnegut 14 years ago

Agree 100% It's one of the aspects of this film that set it apart from other films (for me anyway). It's a similarity I find with another, probably even lesser known favorite of mine, Jerry & Tom with Joe Mantegna and Sam Rockwell. It's written by Rick Cleveland who did a couple of West Wing and Six Feet Under episodes and directed by the character actor Saul Rubinek. I'm pretty sure you know his face if you don't know his name. Not so much with flashbacks (although there is such a case of seemless transition) but in the way it moves to the next scene in some cases.

[–] serfs_up 7 years ago

Agreed, they were very well done.

[–] Franco_Zed 7 years ago

Another great post about Lone Star. Thanks, Ben.

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[–] orangeflava (1725) 9 months ago

This technique was used just a year prior in Taylor Hackford's "Dolores Claiborne" to transition to the past and back. It is pretty cool.
I also saw it used recently in a new show or movie but I can't think of it right now.