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@Kane
At last, someone with a sense of humor.
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And “Life of Pi” is still (along with SLP) the weakest link in the BP lineup.
I still think The Assassination of Jesse James is one of themost beautiful looking films ive ever seen.
So I absolutely think he deserved to win that year, even over NCFOM and TWWB
Carlos, I dunno. Something you said about “4th best prostitute” and “wawaweewa” really got me thinking.
@Kane
Yes!! How did you knew??
“Deakins should have won for The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Shawshenk Redemption and he could have won had 2007 not included three masterful pieces of cinematography.”
I have yet to see a stronger year for Cinematography than 2007. Not a weak one in the bunch. Personally, I’d give it to Diving Bell since (a) it was beautifully shot, and (b) the camera actually acted as a character in the film, but Atonement, Jesse James, There Will Be Blood and No Country were all stunning to look at.
Actually I think he’s from Borat’s hometown.
And what’s your country? Genovia?
I had no idea that your country was so homogeneous and single-minded that you can speak for the entirety of the film-seeing populace.
@Fabinho
[deleted — no patience for insults directed at readers today. – Ryan]
Fortunately, here in my country movie critics have not been impressed AT ALL with “Life of Pi”.
Deakins should have won for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford AND for True Grit.
And Carlos, everything about Life of Pi is a shit? Really? Thanks for open our eyes whit one thing that show us all your wisdom. Anyway, I must be a dumb, cause I guess the only shit about it is your comment.
Actually if you look back, 2 of the last 3 winners were shot in 3D and the last 3 winners were relased on an IMAX screen. It’s safe to say it’s between Skyfall and Life of Pi.
Zach, I was pleased with Inception winning mainly because most of it was done in camera. Plus the rotating hallway was pretty innovative with how it handled the action. I was championing Tree of Life, but if it had to lose I’m glad it lost to Hugo. Children of Men losing was a travesty but again, it lost to the 2nd best. And sadly I never saw The White Ribbon, I was hoping for The Hurt Locker to win it.
As far as the most carefully crafted work of the year I’d have to go with The Master (at least for what I had seen).
Life of Pi is shit.
All about that movie is shit.
Specially its pathetic atempts of FX.
Well earned. It is perhaps the best shot action movie I’ve ever seen.
I don’t think Miranda should be underrated because of Pi’s visual effects. From what I’ve read the shoot was extremely difficult and if the camerawork hadn’t been impeccable the movie would have looked cheap or fake.
I may be incorrect but Skyfall was also shot digitally, which means there was enhancement and special effects as well.
I am a Deakins fan from way back. He has gotten three ASC Awards now and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASC as well.
Miranda has lost twice at ASC.
It’s too bad Miranda had to skip the BAFTAs last night where he won. He may have thought the Brits would vote for Skyfall.
I would like to see Miranda get the Oscar but obviously I wouldn’t object to Deakins winning. If Miranda doesn’t get the Oscar, though, I think it will be a sign that the Academy doesn’t love the movie all that much.
Right now each movie undergoes a DI process, where a massive ammout of colorgrading is being done and actually Deakins is one of the precusors of this technique. So I guess these days there aren’t many mainstream movies that a free of the computer lab. But I get what you mean by seing Deakins’ work as more natural and true to the art.
However right now there is a tendency for the cinematography award go in pair with best visual effects (three years in a row). So I guess the Academy finally embraced the fact that VFX are simply a part of cinematography the same way as art direction and set decoration. There used to be a serious bond between cinematography and art direction. These two have allways had a symbiotic relationship in terms of transfering the image to the screen. The art directors respected the cinematographers and the cinematographers praised the art directors. Right now, with the increase of VFX and green screen that unique relationship might be damaged.
Anyway, “Skyfall” does not have an Art Direction nod or a VFX nod, so I don’t see it winning on any other note than “Deakins finally getting his due”.
Kane, Mr-Cinema, and rufussondheim, I agree with you all.
The tech-heavy film always wins the Oscar though — Pan’s Labyrinth over Children of Men, Hugo over Tree of Life, Avatar over The White Ribbon, Inception over True Grit (Inception won the ASC too).
@Akumax
Actually I’m an editor and I simply love how a simple typo can get the ball rolling.
Life of Pi is beautiful and I wouldn’t be upset if it won, but for me, I would definitely vote for Deakins.
Maybe it’s my ignorance, but I don’t know how to separate Life of Pi’s cinematography from its special effects and even production design. It’s hard for me to know where one ends and one begins, especially with the colors of the skies and water throughout. I get the sense that much of what was on the screen was done on a computer rather than through a lens.
And that’s why I prefer Deakins, because I get the sense that his work was created through him, and not manufactured after the fact in some computer lab.
Deakins has won the ASC before and still hasn’t landed an Oscar. He’s long overdue. My only concern is the BAFTA went with Life of Pi and they had a great opportunity to reward Skyfall with another win. Life of Pi may still end up with the Oscar.
This is tough…I love the work for both Skyfall and Life of Pi. However I’m still having trouble believing an effects heavy film that’s a lot of green screen deserves to win a cinematography Oscar. It’s hard to know where you draw the line between the camera work and the visual effects. I felt this way back when Avatar won that award. Either way, both men did exceptional work and I won’t lose sleep. But…it would be great for a Bond film to win this 🙂
I can’t argue with this, and as beautiful as Pi is, the visual effects are to me what stood out, as distinct from both the cinematography and art direction. Deakins is overdue and that cinematography was gorgeous. The Oscar will probably still go to Pi, which won BAFTA, but both are richly deserving.
Well deserved win for Deakins. I always loved his work. He should have won for The Reader and True Grit imho. I hope Academy would not repeat last year’s mistake of awarding Richardson for the sake of 3D. Lubezki was the real artist that year and he was robbed.
Shame people don’t get rewarded for their best work, but for being overlooked previously. It’s a line of dominoes.
I actually prefer L.A. Confidential from the 1997 line-up. It’s gorgeous and has the feel of the film noir of the 40’s and 50’s even though it’s in color. Terrific work.
deep see lenses and shit
Koleś are you a Cinematographer? your technical comment about titanic I think just give you away… “deep see lenses and shit” ?!?
Much as I love Life of Pi and Claudio Miranda’s fabulous work in it, I was rooting for Roger Deakins. The cinematography in Skyfall was outstanding.
This is wonderful, as the cinematography of this finest James Bond film was deserving of such an honor. I’m so excited to also receive an email from amazon.com that my pre-sale order of Skyfall will arrive tomorrow! 🙂
Should have won for The Assassination of Jesse James. Rembrandt would have wept at those images.
Should have won for Kundun. I still don’t see all the fuss about “Titanic’s” cinematography, except it’s technical values (deep see lenses and shit).
Deakins should have won for The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Shawshenk Redemption and he could have won had 2007 not included three masterful pieces of cinematography.
Deakins should have won for True Grit.
I’ve seen Skyfall for the second time and even I’m still not extatic about Deakn’s work, one thing caught my eye. I simply adored the consequence and precision of daylight slowly dimming throughout the whole scene at the old house. I loved as the garys and pale blues of the foggy sky slowly dimmed into twilight and than into stark darkness only lit up by flames. The whole sequence is masterful when it comes to light direction. A true work of art and less flashy than the IMHO overrated fight scene in Shanghai. The camerawork and framing is not very innovative and unique, but the light in the movie is outstanding.
Come to think of it, I don’t care it’s not his best work. I don’t care his potential win might be seen as a consolation prize. The man is a legend, should have won a long time ago and more than once. I’m happy for you, Roger. Hope you’ll win the big one.
Finally! Can’t understand why Deakins isn’t sweeping. Seriously. Actual camera work and absolutely breathtaking. He lends mastery to straight forward scenes & elevates the film.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Think how frickin’ sick it would be if Miranda and Deakins TIED for Achievement In Cinematography… 0_o
If I had a vote it’d be for Miranda, but I won’t be upset at all if Deakins wins on Oscar night. For one, Skyfall was also beautifully-shot, and two, Deakins is long overdue for an Academy Award by now.
Finally the reward after the Bafts snub!
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Rog!!!!!!!!!!
LiP only should win 4 effects
Miranda was robbed.
It’s a shame!
Congrats to Roger Deakins! This was not an upset as it was a surprise for me, a welcoming one. I don’t think he will win the Oscar though. I think out of Life of Pi’s 11 nominations, it will win Cinematography. Hopefully, Roger Deakins will win someday for another Coen movie.
This is just another example of why awards are an impossible task, why factors other than artistic achievement ultimately determine who wins. I mean, the cinematography in Skyfall and Pi are both Oscarworthy.
Absolutely brilliant work in Skyfall. Just voted for Deakins in the Awards Daily ballot. That wonderful scene in the skyscraper with the blue tint, the shadows–gorgeous work! Of course, it was between Skyfall and Pi for me, but I decided to vote Pi visual effects, sound mixing and directing and reward Skyfall for cinematography, the great command of color and framing.
Well, luckily the ASC only matches the Academy less than 40% of the time, so I’m guessing that the more-deserving Miranda is still going to take the Oscar easily, unless the Academy finally just wants to give Deakins a pity Oscar. Then again, Tree of Life seemed like a lock last year, right up until the Academy somehow decided to give it to Hugo, so who knows what’s going to happen.
Surprising, but can’t complain. The fight in the tower at night was deserving of the award by itself.
Cool for Deakins but too bad for Life of Pi’s Miranda, who skipped BAFTA, where he won and attended ASC, where he lost.
Huh. Out of the available films, that’s what I would have chosen.
Congrats, Roger Deakins.
Skyfall takes it
LIFE OF PI for the win, with SKYFALL as the potential spoiler.
#1 pick: Life of Pi
#2: Life of Pi
#3: Life of Pi
Yep, it’s LIFE OF PI for me too, and it fully deserves the award for Claudio Miranda.