Every now and then, you watch a movie that you may or may not like, but can't completely fault because it just looks really good. It makes an otherwise bad movie tolerable. If it's a good movie then this nudges it toward greatness. Our host Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves understands this. That's why the topic for this week's Thursday Movie Picks is "favorite cinematography. Let's find some beautiful looking flicks.
Oldboy
(2003)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
Regulars have come across my unstoppable praise for this movie. The part I generally mention is the same one most people mention - the ridiculously disturbing ending. It's so well known for that aspect that that overshadows everything else about it except for its most famous scene, the hallway fight. It's a grueling one shot fight scene that has become legendary. However, the rest of the movie is nearly as gorgeous. So many shots simply and utterly pop thanks to stellar work by cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon.
Stoker
(2013)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
Stoker is Park Chan-wook's first American movie. For me, it's also a severely underseen film. Chan-wook again teams up with DP Chung Chung-hoon to create a film in which just about every frame could be hung on the wall as a great still photo.
The Handmaiden
(2016)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-hoon
If the shots in Stoker would make great still photos, the shots in The Handmaiden could be paintings in a museum. It's that gorgeous a movie. Of course, this would be met with controversy because so many of them depict graphic violence or sexuality. The duo fo Chan-wook and Chung-hon have given us some great looking movies. When it comes dazzling the eye, this is their crowning achievement.