egafd.com

As my DVD player is playing monochrome, I reflected on B&W films that have realism. I honestly dont think you can beat Raging Bull, and on reflection, it would be shit in colour.
There isn't THAT much out there in terms of *new* films, but I remember 'Eraserhead' was VERY wierd, but worked in B&W. Manhatten was excellent, but anything Woody Allen does behind a camera is usually excellent.
U2's Rattle and Hum is another that works in B&W, especially the concert footage of BAD, Gloria, Exit and Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Another favourite of mine is 'Ed Wood' featuring Johnny Depp which is entirely shot in monochrome..........an excellent film, second behind Raging Bull.

Nominations then lads........................

For Future Presentation:

La Haine - makes Trainspotting look like, well...trainspotting.

Rumblefish - Francis says this is his best film. Francis might have a point.

The Man Who Wasn't There - Not the Coen Bros. best, but still way ahead of the pack.

(By the way...Ed Wood. Nice one).

--
"Let's do it..."

'the elephant man' - gut wrenchingly beautiful.

freddie francis' cinematography is beyond masterful.

good performances from john hurt/anthony hopkins.

Man Bites Dog....very cool

Wasn't Shinders List filmed in b/w & The Pianist by Roman Polanski?

The Pianist is in colour, while Shindler's List is monochrome in the main except for colour bookendings (and a slightly patronising use of spot-colour for big Steve to make a point).

--
"Let's do it..."

The emphasis on the little girl with the red coat was in Thomas Kenneally's book: the OTT Oskar breaking down and counting his jewellery in lives wasn't. Spielberg just can't resist some saccharine.

Yes, you're right on all three points. But it still smacks of condescension when the idea is transferred in such a smack-around-the head sort of way. The audience would've got the point otherwise, and it wouldn't have been the first thing he left out of the book either. It pains me and doubtless many others to see Spielberg trying to be an overly intellectual director when really he's a quite brilliant sensory one.

--
"Let's do it..."

Why 'List' instead of 'Ark', for starters?
What's wrong with Kenneally's original metaphor? Was he frightened of upsetting the fundamentalist Xians?