Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by mr grits (A) on June 05, 2006 at 19:23:04

In Reply to: Another festival of bosoms- plus bonus books ! posted by Bambi B on June 5, 2006 at 07:37:31:

Nevertheless, Greenaway's triumph is not in plot or dialogue but in art direction and cinematography. That's what it's all about. He knows how to put it all together with excrusiating detail.

Dollying the camera through the kitchen and dining room in "Cook" is shear mastery of stagecraft--there is always something going on in the background. When Greenaway has his camera pan or take a closeup it is always nearly perfect in its placement and setting. The elegance of the apartment in "Belly" was overwhelming in its simplicity. The "fabric" beach house in "Drowning" lyrical with the wind giving it a sailing ship effect. The fluffy redhead counting down 100 constellations in "Drowning" incestuously alluring. (Naughty old man he was.)

I would have to say my favorite would be "Belly" (because it is damned near coherent) and "Cook" for its masterful stagecraft.

Ex nihilo, nihil fit . . .