American Cinematographer picks 50 best-shot films of the decade

Posted on 06/29/10 49 Comments

American Cinematographer has conducted a poll asking participants to choose the 50 best photographed films of the decade (defined from 1998-2008). Craig Kennedy at Living in Cinema posts results via Movieline where the survey procedure is outlined:

“AC asked its international audience of subscribers to nominate 10 films released between 1998 and 2008 that they believed had the best cinematography,” the release notes. “A final ballot listing the 50 most popular nominees was then posted on the ASC website, and the final vote was open to the public. More than 17,000 people around the world participated.”

(Movieline says this “methodology is a little… hinky.” Nominees selected by specialists in each category; winners chosen by the membership at large. Is Movieline suggesting the Academy’s system is “hinky” too?)

Lists like these are always arbitrary, and serve more as a springboard for protest than any sort of definitive pantheon. With dozens of ways to dissect the results, here’s an Oscar slant. No surprise that the cinematographers named in the top 10 are in demand for prestige projects. Most of them have movies scheduled for release this year, and they’re all likely contenders.

  • Emmanuel Lubezki (4 Oscar nominations) — The Tree of Life
  • Jeff Cronenweth (zero Oscar noms) — The Social Network
  • Janusz Kaminski (4 Oscar noms) — Everything You’ve Got (for James L. Brooks)
  • Robert Elswit (2 Oscar noms) — Salt, & The Town
  • Roger Deakins (8 Oscar noms) — True Grit, & The Company Men
  • Wally Pfister (3 Oscar noms) — Inception
  • César Charlone (1 Oscar nom) — no known upcoming projects

Topping the AC poll, 3-time Oscar nominee Bruno Delbonnel shot Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last year.   Conrad Hall, who has two films in the top 10 and won Oscars for both (American Beauty & Road to Perdition), sadly passed away in 2003.   Sorry to see there appears to be only one female cinematographer whose work is recognized on this list. Ellen for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

  1. Amélie: Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC (2001)
  2. Children of Men: Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC (2006)
  3. Saving Private Ryan: Janusz Kaminski (1998)
  4. There Will Be Blood: Robert Elswit, ASC (2007)
  5. No Country for Old Men: Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC (2007)
  6. Fight Club: Jeff Cronenweth, ASC (1999)
  7. Dark Knight: Wally Pfister, ASC (2008)
  8. Road to Perdition: Conrad L. Hall, ASC (2002)
  9. Cidade de Deus (City of God): César Charlone, ABC (2002)
  10. American Beauty: Conrad L. Hall, ASC (1999)
  11. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Deakins)
  12. Tie: In the Mood for Love (Christopher Doyle, HKSC, and Mark Li Ping-bin) and Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Navarro, ASC)
  13. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (Andrew Lesnie, ASC, ACS)
  14. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Ellen Kuras, ASC)
  15. Gladiator (John Mathieson, BSC)
  16. The Matrix (Bill Pope, ASC)
  17. The Thin Red Line (John Toll, ASC)
  18. The Diving Bell and The Butterfly (Kaminski)
  19. Slumdog Millionaire (Anthony Dod Mantle, BSC, DFF)
  20. Tie: Eyes Wide Shut (Larry Smith, BSC) and Requiem for a Dream (Matthew Libatique, ASC)
  21. Kill Bill (Robert Richardson, ASC)
  22. Moulin Rouge (Donald M. McAlpine, ASC, ACS)
  23. The Pianist (Pawel Edelman, PSC)
  24. Hero (Doyle)
  25. Black Hawk Down (Slawomir Idziak, PSC)
  26. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Deakins)
  27. Babel (Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC)
  28. Lost In Translation (Lance Acord, ASC)
  29. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Peter Pau, HKSC)
  30. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Claudio Miranda, ASC)
  31. The Man Who Wasn’t There (Deakins)
  32. The New World (Lubezki)
  33. Sin City (Robert Rodriguez)
  34. Atonement (Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC)
  35. Munich (Kaminski)
  36. The Prestige (Pfister)
  37. Memoirs of a Geisha (Dion Beebe, ASC, ACS)
  38. The Aviator (Richardson)
  39. Zodiac (Harris Savides, ASC)
  40. The Insider (Dante Spinotti, ASC, AIC)
  41. Gangs of New York (Michael Ballhaus, ASC)
  42. Tie: Brokeback Mountain (Prieto) and The Fountain (Libatique)
  43. The Fall (Colin Watkinson)
  44. The Passion of the Christ (Caleb Deschanel, ASC)
  45. Snow Falling on Cedars (Richardson)
  46. House of Flying Daggers (Xiaoding Zhao)
  47. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Eric Adkins)

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47 Comments

  1. 1

    Rashad says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 3:44pm

    No Assassination for Jesse James in the top 10, at least, is confusing.

    I also thought Revolutionary Road was fantastically shot. Unsurprisingly both were by Roger Deakins

  2. 2

    Kevin Klawitter says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 3:44pm

    I agree with nearly all of these, though I probably would have put “The Dark Knight” and “Lost In Translation” a little higher up in the list.

    OT: Production begins on “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” + Cast updates
    http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67404

  3. 3

    Dan says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 3:48pm

    Children of Men should be at the top.

  4. 4

    Dan says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:01pm

    I see there are two Dan’s that comment on here.
    Well anyway… all great choices for well shot films.

    My personal faves… Road To Perdition, Pan’s Labyrinth, Benjamin Button, There Will Be Blood, Saving Private Ryan, The New World, Gangs Of New York, Inglourious Basterds, The Four Feathers, The Dark Knight, Children Of Men, The Thin Red Line, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd and even thgough the movie was pretty much panned itself, the cinematography in Australia was outstanding and felt that was a huge snub at that years Oscar’s.

  5. 5

    Marco G. says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:04pm

    You forgot to mention Emmanuel Lubezki who will be in contention for Tree of Life.

  6. 6

    Ryan Adams says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:17pm

    Thanks Marco G.
    Lubezki is probably the 2nd-most “overdue” cinematographer currently waiting his turn.

  7. 7

    * says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:36pm

    A film history class that I took in college had Ali Selim (director of Sweet Land) come in as a guest speaker and he said that if you’re making a low-budget film one of the things to splurge on is definitely the cinematography. It’s always one of my favorite categories (tied with screenplay) come awards time – most people don’t understand how important it is.

  8. 8

    bama lama says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:37pm

    This is a great list of movies and not just for cinematography. The Fountain ftw.

  9. 9

    daveylow says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:53pm

    So glad to see Prieto made the cut. I really thought Brokeback deserved to win the Oscar the year it was nominated for Cinematography.

    And Children of Men was robbed of an Oscar!

  10. 10

    daveylow says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 4:54pm

    Also love the love for Richardson.

  11. 11

    Carlos says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:12pm

    Cesar Charlone was nominated for the best cinematography Oscar in 2003. You need to correct your mistake.

  12. 12

    Terry says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:34pm

    City Of God is in the top 10. Correct your mistake :)

  13. 13

    Free says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:35pm

    How is Diving Bell not, at the very least, in the top 10?

  14. 14

    Scott (yes that one) says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:35pm

    Yay American Beauty!!

  15. 15

    John says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:37pm

    All about the Assassination of Jesse James for me.

  16. 16

    Matte Dæmon says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 5:49pm

    Carlos :

    César is spelled with an accent over the é
    You need to correct your mistake

  17. 17

    Chris Price says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6:31pm

    Children Of Men, There Will Be Blood & Road To Perdition are my favorites. Glad to see they all made the top 10! Other films I would’ve loved to see included but were snubbed: Mullholland Drive, all Almodovar films from 98-08 but especially Volver and Broken Embraces, A Single Man, Control, The Darjeeling Limited and The Truman Show.

  18. 18

    Dan M. says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6:36pm

    I don’t know why Sky Captain made the list. That’s all green screen. At least with LOTR that was green screen but a lot of location shooting as well. I never got why some people think Amelie is such a wonderfully shot film. And Fight Club is in the top 10 ? For outstanding photography ? I think The Fountain and Gangs of New York should be a little higher. Here are some that didn’t make the list that had impressive cinematography… The Cell- Paul Laufer, Australia- Mandy Walker, Elizabeth- Rehni Adefararin, The Patriot- Caleb Deschanel, Letters From Iwo Jima- Tom Stern, L.A. Confidential- Dante Spinotti, The Truman Show- Peter Biziou, Good Night and Good Luck- Roberet Elswit, Open Range- James Michael Muro, The Majestic- David Tattersall, The Road- Javier Aguirresarobe

  19. 19

    N8 says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:02pm

    Obviously everyone will think the order should be shuffled according to their own tastes, but overall, that is a damn fine list.

  20. 20

    Bob Burns says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:18pm

    Girl with a Pearl Earring by Eduardo Serra should be rather high on this list. Likewise, A Very Long Engagement by Delbonnel, which was, for me, well ahead of Amelie.

  21. 21

    Terry says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:42pm

    Amelie number one ? Fight Club in the top ten ? I mean we are talking about the best photographed films. I think The Fountain should be in the top 10.
    And nobody ever brings up Conrad Hall’s superb work on A Civil Action. Underrated cinematography there.

  22. 22

    Kersda says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:49pm

    The Man Who Wasn’t There, Zodiac, The New World, and especially Hero, which should be in the top three, are all placed way too low on this poll.

  23. 23

    Free says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7:57pm

    A Civil Action’s from ’98, so it wasn’t under consideration. But yeah, beautifully shot. Good film, too.

  24. 24

    Jonah says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 8:30pm

    If we’re talking ’98, Pleasantville is both technically and artistically a triumphant masterpiece.

  25. 25

    Na'viFrommer says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 8:42pm

    some great movies overall on this list. Lord of the Rings, Saving Private Ryan, No Country for Old Men, The Dark KNight, Kill Bill and The Prestige are my favorites. Aviator could’ve been better

  26. 26

    Dave says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 8:56pm

    House of Flying Daggers!

  27. 27

    Chris Price says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 8:58pm

    The decade as defined by their poll is 1998-2008, so Civil Action, Truman Show and Pleasantville all count, and are all deserving of inclusion.

  28. 28

    Sarah El says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 9:04pm

    A like a lot of these choices, but as I spotted A Single Man in the comments I have to throw a bone in that direction. Everything about that movie was gorgeous.

  29. 29

    Terry says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 9:36pm

    Na’v… are you talking about the movies in general or the cinematography. Certainly there have been beautifully shot movies that were average as a whole at best. This list is strictly films considered the best cinematography.
    It seems like anytime Conrad Hall shot a film the Academy took notice. Most people don’t know or remember this but A Civil Action was nominated for an Oscar in cinematography.

  30. 30

    Carlo says:
    Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 11:52pm

    where’s minority report?:O

  31. 31

    Nick says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 1:17am

    Where’s 2046(Christopher Doyle)?

  32. 32

    Sxottlan says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 1:43am

    I guess the only one I think is missing is Dark City.

  33. 33

    Duncan says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 3:38am

    Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty, The Matrix, Fight Club and The Thin Red Line weren’t in this decade? They were in the Nineties.

  34. 34

    Friedl says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 3:59am

    Generally, I like it.

    I don’t get the Sky Captain love. & Think Mulholland Dr, Good Night & Good Luck & Romeo + Juliet should have made the list.

  35. 35

    the real mike says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 4:53am

    Now I´m worried if I appreciate Cinematography more than any other in movies because that list includes the majority of my favorite movies…

  36. 36

    Fivus Viener says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 6:57am

    @Duncan,

    “American Cinematographer has conducted a poll asking participants to choose the 50 best photographed films of the decade (defined from 1998-2008).”

  37. 37

    Cameron says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 7:37am

    Pretty good list over all-happy that City of God, American Beauty, and There Will Be Blood ranked so high (and Children of Men, but that was a shoo-in)
    Here are some that SHOULD have been there:

    -A.I.
    -Antichrist (if we’re counting 2009 as part of an extended decade)
    -28 Days Later
    -Let the Right One In (Still scratching my head over THAT omission)
    -Mulholland Drive
    -Oldboy (or any of Chanwook Park’s films for that matter)
    -Punch-Drunk Love (one of the few films I’d like to hang on my bedroom wall)
    -Where the Wild Things Are

  38. 38

    apollon2000 says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 8:57am

    Harris Sivides for Birth?

  39. 39

    Ivan says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 9:53am

    I miss in the list…
    ELEPHANT, 2003
    THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, 1999
    PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE, 2002
    RUSHMORE, 1998
    CONTROL, 2007
    ALI, 2001
    28 DAYS LATER, 2003
    MARIE ANTOINETTE, 2006
    ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, 1999
    25TH HOUR, 2002
    THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR, 2001
    KILL BILL VOL.1 & 2, 2003-2004
    PARANOID PARK, 2008
    IRREVERSIBLE, 2002
    THE CONSTANT GARDENER, 2005
    MIAMI VICE, 2006
    PRIDE & PREJUDICE, 2005
    COLLATERAL, 2004
    BIRTH, 2004
    HUNGER, 2008
    THE WHITE RIBBON, 2009

  40. 40

    Watermelons says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 1:54pm

    Glad to see Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow on the list! I saw the film twice on opening day in 2004.

  41. 41

    Terry says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 3:41pm

    Sky Captain is borderline all green screen though. How is that great cinematography? Good CGI but camera work ? Same with Avatar winning.

  42. 42

    Alan of Montreal says:
    Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 9:57pm

    I agree with 41–some of these are more special effects than camera work. What about Far from Heaven? A Single Man? Bright Star? Those are some of the films off the top of my head with great inventive camera work. And definitely some Almodovar films, as well. Even Chicago had some great work.

  43. 43

    jayrig5 says:
    Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:57pm

    It’s funny, when I first saw that there was a list and clicked through to read it, I tried to come up with the films that would have to be on any such list. Road to Perdition was, to me, the obvious one, you could put that movie above a mantle, it’d be number one for me. But then I thought, well, what else? I came up with O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Assassination of Jesse James, LOTR, Benjamin Button, and my sleeper was Hero, which is a beautiful film, I somehow managed to see that in theaters here in northern Indiana. The only two I had that didn’t make it were Good Night, and Good Luck and The Darjeeling Limited.

  44. 44

    Craig Z says:
    Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:18pm

    The Thin Red Line should be number 1. That film’s cinematography is the reason I’m in film school! Oh well though to each his own.

  45. 45

    Ben says:
    Friday, July 2, 2010 at 10:37am

    How about “Let the Right One In”

    They should do a list of the best shot TV Shows as well…

  46. 46

    jnow says:
    Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 9:32am

    The films on the list are good, but not sure about the order. I know it is a highly controversial film due to subject matter, but I think “The Passion of the Christ” had some of the most amazing cinematography of any. It’s like looking at some of those old Renaissance paintings of the same subject matter (albeit a little bloodier)

  47. 47

    Alex says:
    Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 3:20pm

    Wheres Cold Mountain? That film had gorgeous cinematography.

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