Early Oscar Predictions: Cinematography

The thespians aren't the only ones who have to “perform” on set. Camera operators and directors of photography have their own marks to hit and creative decisions to make, working closely alongside the director to capture images that will compose the final product. Since I'm so crazy about cinematography in general, I determined that this category needed its own post.

My Award nominations: Cinematography

I'm kicking off this year's award nominees with my favourite of all categories, Best Cinematography. There was a lot of great work to pick from this year, and inevitably I had to leave some excellent work off my final five (some that will probably be Oscar recognized anyway).

Check out my top five below, accompanied by my favourite shot from each.

Review - Rush

The 'sports movie' tends to be a troubled genre; one usually marred by predictability and all too willing to eschew the human spirit behind the sport. Such is not the case in Ron Howard's Rush, which takes us inside the world of 1970s Forumla One racing for a look at a legendary rivalry bewteen two champion motorists. The film is less interested in impressing us with their achievements, as it is in discovering what drives the drivers.

One is James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth); with his roguish good looks, cocky charm and playboy antics, he seems the spitting tabloid image of a stereotypical racing superstar. It helps that he has the God-given skill and renegade aggression behind the wheel to back up his boasts in front of a microphone. The other is Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl); more prickly and misanthropic, but with a sharply analytical mind that serves him remarkably well in the garage and on the pavement.