June 01, 2018

10 glorious long take shots

One take scenes are awesome. A camera trained on the action and not cutting away. It makes for extremely immersive watching and drags us into the film, like we are in the same room watching. Sometimes we are just looking at 2 people sitting in a room chatting and smoking and other times we are watching people kicking seven shades of shit out of each other. All impressive in their own way though. It's the best form of cinematic showing off. Just think of all the planning involved in pulling these shots off. Mind boggling.

Below are 10 excellent examples. The Copacabana scene from Goodfellas is missing....well because we've all just seen it too many times and sadly the 8 minute shot from Weekend just was not there to be found on youtube. Anyway.

Touch Of Evil


 


What an opening. The oldest shot on the list and maybe the most impressive. A scene that sets a classic story in motion and one that's inspired a lot of "homages".


Tom Yum Goong


 


You never take a man's elephant. You just don't do it. This is what happens when you do.


Oldboy




Oh Dae-su is looking for answers. He has a hammer and he means business. Even a knife in the back won't stop him.


Atonement




5 minutes. 1000 extras. A Dunkirk scene arguably as impressive as the entirety of last year's film Dunkirk. Which is pretty impressive as that was an excellent film.


Creed




Hollywood Donnie vs Leo The Lion. A one take fight ending in a left uppercut and right hook that makes every other movie boxing match look like shite. 


True Detective





Time for one from TV. Rust Cohle is undercover with a biker gang when shit goes sideways in spectacular fashion.

Hunger




Bobby Sands talks to his priest in a one take moment lasting 17 minutes. Bravura stuff from two Irish actors at the very top of their game. 


Boogie Nights




A beauty of a shot that introduces the vast majority of the supporting cast and the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. The later Little Bill shot is arguably better but this one is just fun.


Children Of Men




The moment you realise this film isn't playing by the rules. One of many extremely impressive tracking shots in a brilliant film.

Hard Boiled





Action movie Nirvana. 2 cops take on an army in a hospital corridor. 3 minute take. 30 something bad guy. 0 cuts.


So. What are your favourite examples? 




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