Beauty in Film

Jackson O'Malley, Writer

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“They don’t make em like they used too,” said your grandmother after watching her favorite reruns of M.A.S.H and other godawful Hallmark movies.  She may be right, they make them differently but by no means worse. Film has changed and adapted through the ages into many different forms. Sure bad movies get released all the time, they always have.  New classics are always being created. But let’s take a minute to appreciate the spectacle, the majesty, the beauty in film.

Note: To watch these excellent scenes, look them up yourself.

A Funny Sense of Fun- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

This movie is great as a whole but the cut to the Arabian sunrise is breathtaking, to say the least.  This is only one among the many spectacular shots in Lawrence of Arabia. This transition sets the stage for the entire film and sweeps you off your feet leaving you with goosebumps.

 

Opening Scene- Blade Runner (1982)

This scene is almost surreal.  A massive conglomeration of practical effects that is just as impressive now as when it released in 1982.  This scene fully immerses you into the world of Blade Runner. The visuals accompanied by the fantastic score done by Vangelis creates a jaw-dropping opening, and the rest of the movie is just as good.  Picking just one scene from this masterpiece was a challenge. Go watch it.

Title Scene- Baby Driver (2017)

One long take alongside an excellent song.  It almost feels like a theme park ride as the lyrics of the song is sporadically and meticulously placed in the background as “Baby” dances to the music.  This scene is almost entirely disconnected from the rest of the movie and had to right to be there, but it’s incredible craftsmanship earned its a way onto the list.  What can I say, I’m a sucker for long takes.

 

Baptism Scene- The Godfather (1970)

The ⅔’s perfect Godfather trilogy ends it’s first film with a bang.  The Baptism scene is the true marker of how Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has changed from an idealistic and noble veteran into the cruel godfather of the Corleone family.  Michael orders the assassinations of anyone who would oppose his power during the baptism of his nephew. You can see in his eyes that he is a changed man, for better or most certainly for worse.  Like the rest of the movies on this list, this one is just as if not more perfect, stop reading and watch it.

 

This list is surely incomplete as there are countless more scenes that could be added.  If I were to add every single great piece of film this article would be 100 pages long. More and more films are released every day and all have the potential to top anything on this list.  The film is beautiful, it should be appreciated to its fullest.

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