Ralph Steiner Mechanical Principles
What I really like about this is how the closely cropped images of machinery break up the screen creating areas of movement and contrasting areas of stillness, for example 2.37 + 3.41. I think being in black and white definitely adds to that effect, and also gives a continuity to the film despite the variety of forms. The way this has been shot gives recognisable images a new meaning, some become almost anthropomorphic - particularly at 5.02, with the machine picking up and dropping the weight. The pace is largissimo, generous and leisurely. The string score makes the slow + smooth movements weirdly hypnotising.
Bill Viola: Inner Passage
The use of a tall frame in this film is very striking, it's claustrophobic - I associate it with iPhone filming, found footage + home videos. But it also suggests emptiness, particularly with the shots that book end this film of the figure in the desert. They also enhance the story telling, scenes of dryness contrasting with an overall theme of water. It's quite nightmare-like in parts, lots of different images but all very haze and dreamlike. The water featured is both violent and calm. The quick shots are SO arresting when followed by the still lake, the use of slow cross fades helps with this effect.
A Brief History of John Baldessari
This is John Baldessari's documentary.
It's fantastic! So funny! It mimics that kind of old fashioned documentary, Jacque Cousteau type films. The contrast of ~serious~ artistic analysis with 'These are John Baldessari's push pins.' The score is dramatic and the text follows so wonderfully. I love that John Baldessari is present throughout. The repetition of his name is really funny and something I want to do with ~contrapposto~ they're so good sounding!
This is just a beginning! More to follow ~
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