Cinematography for the ages with Robert Deakins
Even though it has received critical acclaim from both IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, Robert Deakins’ latest project — Blade Runner 2049”— did not meet box office expectations. Instead, the movie’s investors and production company are predicted to lose a whopping $80 million over the course of the weeks following their October release. However, box office turnovers are not always indicative of how good a movie is. In fact, for Blade Runner 2049, as for many of his previous projects, cinematographer Robert Deakins has always gone the extra mile to create images worthy of beautifully haunting, often intertwined dreams and nightmares.
Deakins has produced several notable masterpieces
1984
In the movie “1984” — which has been adapted from George Orwell’s famous novel — Deakins’ portrayal of a dead, dystopian London is nothing short of remarkable. By stressing on straight lines and symmetry throughout the frames, the cinematographer successfully conveys the idea of life swallowed by rigid conformity.
Barton Fink
Out of a collaboration with Joel and Ethan Coen, Deakins’ talent overcame yet another challenge. The cinematographer succeeded in creating fantastic imagery to illustrate the story of a well-meaning, but pretentious writer who transitions from Broadway to Hollywood. As Fink sinks into dementia, the audience witnesses a succession of brilliantly devised visual cues and allegories.
The Shawshank Redemption
This masterpiece, which needs no introduction, has also benefited from Deakins’ artistic eye. Shawshank Redemption carries the story of the notorious prison escape in the elegant fashion of feel-good movies.
Fargo
Fargo has its protagonist Jerry Lundegaard conspire against his wealthy relatives to usurp their money. As the latter goes through consecutive blunders, he gets tailed by pregnant policewoman Marge Gunderson. The whole story is told through awesome-looking, painting-like frames.
The Man Who Wasn’t There
This film, realized alongside the Coens, comprises Deakins’ most evocative and mood-influencing work. In “The Man Who Wasn’t There”, protagonist Ed’s lying, embezzling, and killing is conveyed through striking black and white photography that takes after chiaroscuro classics. The visual beauty of the movie makes every shot worthy of being hung at a museum.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
For this western, which is now considered a classic, Robert Deakins dug deep into a history of American myth-making. The cinematographer even came up with a new way of layering lenses to permeate each frame with the feel and look of an old photograph.
The Village
The Village from M. Night Shyamalan is known for its mind-blowing plot twist. However, while the story elevates the movie to the rank of a classic, the cinematography surely is “The Village”’s secret ingredient. For this project, Deakins managed to recreate the atmosphere of an isolated Pennsylvanian Hamlet of the 1890's.
Skyfall
This action movie stands out from other action flicks in the sense that it is characterized by beautiful imagery all throughout. In the penultimate instalment of the 007 franchise, particular attention is brought to detail. For instance, while watching the sequences shot in Shanghai, one can enjoy Deakins’ beautiful colour experiments.
