Still Gotta Love Hillman Curtis

I've always been a big fan of Hillman Curtis. When I was a young designer I read his MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer and it influenced me greatly; so much so that as an undergrad I made a film about Curtis for my design class.

His series of short films are so beautifully edited that I wish there were more. Take alittle time and watch them when you have the chance here.

You Never Knocked Me Down Ray

So as promised, here is another of the best title sequences of all time, from Scorsese's seminal Raging Bull. Scorsese has stated that the sequence was the greatest 60 seconds he ever filmed, and it is tough to disagree with him.

From Art of the Title:

Sometimes the opening frames of Raging Bull remind me of the linear roll of a marble in To Kill A Mockingbird’s opening sequence. Both opening sequences share the perfect music (Raging Bull’s theme is Intermezzo from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana, by Pietro Mascagni), incredibly visualized soundscapes, beautiful black and white cinematography, and a refined sense of gritty production design.

A row of shapes sits in judgment, while old-timey flashbulbs pop and die with the slowness of the tragedy that is about to unfold. What do those photos look like? Robert DeNiro’s Jake La Motta is a coiled human animal, caged like a note on sheet music; fierce, balletic and balanced to its function. The ropes of the ring are framed like bars of music. Indeed, “give me a stage where this bull here can rage…that’s entertainment.”

Director Martin Scorsese: “I didn’t understand what the ring was. I couldn’t interpret it in my life…but I think at that time I was taking it too literally. Ultimately I came to understand that the ring is everywhere. It depends on how much of a fighter you are in life. The hardest opponent you have is yourself.” Listening to Scorsese’s commentary track for “The Set-Up” we learn of that superb film’s influence on what is arguably his magnum opus.



I decided to include the youtube clip of it as well, because of the importance of the music to this sequence. Scorsese chooses to use Cavalleria Rusticana, by Pietro Mascagni (and Francis Ford Coppolla would later use this same piece for the finale of Godfather III to astonishing effect). Now this is true genius. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Watch The Prestige

Christopher Nolan is one of the most underrated directors working today. Everyone is familiar with him for directing both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (which should have been nominated for Best Picture). The range of films Nolan has directed is limited, but astonishing. Both Memento and Insomnia (coaxing Pacino's best performance since Heat) as superb, atmospheric, and unconventional thrillers.

But Nolan's best film is 2006's The Prestige. The cast is truly superb, bringing together Christian Bale and Michael Caine from his Batman franchise, as well as Hugh Jackmen, Scarlett Johannson, Andy Serkis, and the brilliant David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. The Prestige is a story of obsession; two magicians at turn of the century London continue a lifelong competition of wills across several years. This obsession destroys the lives of everyone around the dueling pair of magicians (Jackman and Bale).

This film is extremely well written and acted, and the visual world is unnervingly convincing. You really can't take your eyes off of the screen for a moment, as every frame builds to it's surprising and satisfying ending. A masterfully directed film, and vastly entertaining.