Though various incarnations of the superhero Blue Beetle have appeared on comic book pages since 1939, the current version of the character is a somewhat recent addition to the DC Comics pantheon. Introduced in 2006, Jamie Reyes, the son of Mexican-American immigrants, became the third character to don the mantle of the Blue Beetle. His … Continue reading BLUE BEETLE – A Different Kind of Superhero Movie
From relatively humble beginnings, the Mission: Impossible movies have grown into a vehicle for Tom Cruise—perhaps our last true movie star—to defy death through increasingly preposterous stunts in order to put some of the most spectacular action sequences ever conceived up on the big screen. Though the series has played host to five different filmmakers, … Continue reading MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE — Shooting an Impossible Mission
Over a career that has spanned six decades, director Martin Scorsese has often returned to the theme of examining the dark heart of American greed. But rather than gangsters or stock brokers, Killers of the Flower Moon turns its attention to ordinary people—cab drivers and undertakers and doctors— who are willing to commit, commission, and … Continue reading KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON – Reframing History
A film based on Barbie had been in various stages of development for more than a decade, but when it was announced that Greta Gerwig would be taking on the project hot on the heels of her tremendous work on 2019’s Little Women, it was clear that this was going to be something special. Now, … Continue reading BARBIE – Mid-Century Postmodern
Not content to merely coast on the merits of its clever conceit—namely a surgery that splits one’s consciousness between work and home—the first season of Severance ferociously pulled on the threads of that idea, unraveling as a twisty, existentially nightmarish, and often darkly funny reflection of our own fractured society. In the year since its … Continue reading SEVERANCE – Research and Development
Over the years, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been no stranger to elaborate oners, but even so, one shot in Mrs. Maisel’s season finale stands apart from the rest. In a single take, the camera follows the action over a balcony, through a railing, backwards down a set of stairs, and out onto the set … Continue reading THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL – One Marvelous Shot
When the first John Wick film arrived in theaters in 2014, it ushered in a new style of action movie, one that allowed the action choreography to play out in long, smooth, unbroken shots in contrast with the handheld shake and rapid-fire editing that defined the decade of action movies prior. Over nine years and … Continue reading JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 – Planning and Improvisation
For his first leading role in a television series, Jeff Bridges stars as a man named —as far as we know—Dan Chase, a former covert operative for the CIA who has spent years living off the grid, hiding himself and his daughter from the fallout of a 30-year-old job gone wrong. Coming on the heels … Continue reading THE OLD MAN – Not Moving the Camera
During the Society of Camera Operator’s Lifetime Achievement Awards this February, three operators were recognized as Camera Operators of the Year. Daniel Bishop SOC | ASSOC BSC | ACO was recognized in the Film category for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front, and the operating team of Dave Chameides, SOC, and Cristian … Continue reading Camera Operator of the Year Roundtable
When it opened in theaters in March of 2022, Everything Everywhere All at Once became a surprise smash hit and an immediate sensation, garnering rave reviews and earning more than $100 million off an estimated budget of only $15 million. Now, nearly a year later, the film written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel … Continue reading EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE – Making the Most Out of a Little
David Daut 