The Ten Best Cinematic Shots of 2009

One of the better features around the blogosphere each year is Kris Tapley’s “Top 10 Shots” piece, and not because he comes up with ten shots I always agree with — which doesn’t matter in the first place — but that he so excellently gives his reasons for each choice as well as includes a brief commentary from the director of photography that captured the image.

This year I wasn’t at all on the same page with his numbers 6-10, although I do agree with his inclusion of Up in the Air, just not the particular frame. However, his top five is excellent. The shot he chose from Public Enemies is damn near a no-brainer as it is not only emotionally striking, but it also goes to the theme of the entire film. The shot from The Hurt Locker is one that stops your heart the first time you see it, whether it was in a trailer or inside the film. The shot from The Cove is an excellent choice and one I didn’t necessarily even consider until he mentioned it and the shot from Paranormal Activity proves Tapley is truly thinking about this list rather than just hammering out a list made up of gorgeous lighting… composition must be considered. The shot’s overall effect on the film is more important than how pretty it is, which is why I was so excited to see his choice from Precious.

A seemingly innocent shot of boiling pig’s feet, described as a “cauldron of bubbling mess” by cinematographer Andrew Dunn is so much more. The scene surrounding this one shot set a dramatic tone for the rest of the film. In my review I said there were times the film “made my stomach turn” and this would be one of those times. It was visual storytelling at its finest and I’m happy to see Tapley didn’t let it go unnoticed.

Of the ten films Tapley lists, only Barry Ackroyd’s work on The Hurt Locker was nominated for an Oscar, although he does give Oscar-nominated Robert Richardson a nod in his honorable mention for Inglourious Basterds.

So be sure to check out both parts one and two of Tapley’s 2009 list and you can click here for his 2008 list (I love the comment by Deakins on Revolutionary Road) and here for his 2007 list (the shot from Atonement makes me surprised he didn’t include A Single Man this year although he does give it an honorable nod).

I have actually been working on a weekly feature along these lines for over a year now and was hoping I would have already started featuring it on the site, but things got in the way and it will just have to wait a little while longer.