That is not the only way, no, but just having admittedly gorgeous shots is also not it. Dialogue doesn’t have to be the main focus, but if you completely disregard it, it detracts from the whole film
The spinning top totem at the end of Inception.
Neo stopping the bullets in The Matrix.
The first shot of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.
The Nazis’ faces melting in Raiders.
Dialogue can be wonderful. But visual storytelling that treats the audience with respect is what cinema is all about.
Check out the (now defunct) YouTube channel Every Frame a Painting. The video on Drive in particular opened my eyes to how Refn composes shots to incredible effect.
And it is NOT about capturing “pretty” scenes, but about manipulating the viewer’s emotions in ways they do not even perceive.
This presumes that the only way to add substance to a film is through dialogue.
That is not the only way, no, but just having admittedly gorgeous shots is also not it. Dialogue doesn’t have to be the main focus, but if you completely disregard it, it detracts from the whole film
The spinning top totem at the end of Inception. Neo stopping the bullets in The Matrix. The first shot of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. The Nazis’ faces melting in Raiders.
Dialogue can be wonderful. But visual storytelling that treats the audience with respect is what cinema is all about.
Check out the (now defunct) YouTube channel Every Frame a Painting. The video on Drive in particular opened my eyes to how Refn composes shots to incredible effect.
And it is NOT about capturing “pretty” scenes, but about manipulating the viewer’s emotions in ways they do not even perceive.