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The Best Cinematography of the Last Decade

As Determined by the American Society of Cinematographers / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | June 30, 2010 | Comments (60)

If you’re going to put a list of the 50 best shot movies over the last decade together, the members of the American Society of Cinematographers are probably the most qualified bunch to do it. They’ve done that, nominating the top 50 films, which were then put out to voters, some 17,000 of which voted to rank the list.

My first thought when I saw the headline for the list was Children of Men, which was appropriately placed at number two, right behind Amélie. I have no complaints there. The second movie that popped into my head was Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight, which somehow made Detroit look like the most gorgeous city in the world, which is quite a feat. Out of Sight, however, didn’t make the cut.

Are there any others that didn’t make the cut you feel should be included? The only other film that immediately occurred to me was Rules for Attraction, a mediocre anti-romantic comedy that I thought had excellent cinematography.

Here’s the list.

1. Amélie
2. Children of Men
3. Saving Private Ryan
4. There Will Be Blood
5. No Country for Old Men
6. Fight Club
7. The Dark Knight
8. Road to Perdition
9. Cidade de Deus (City of God)
10. American Beauty
11. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
12. Tie: In the Mood for Love
12. Tie: Pan’s Labyrinth
13. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
14. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
15. Gladiator
16. The Matrix
17. The Thin Red Line
18. The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
19. Slumdog Millionaire
20. Tie: Eyes Wide Shut
21. Kill Bill
22. Moulin Rouge
23. The Pianist
24. Hero
25. Black Hawk Down
26. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
27. Babel
28. Lost In Translation
29. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
30. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
31. The Man Who Wasn’t There
32. The New World
33. Sin City
34. Atonement
35. Munich
36. The Prestige
37. Memoirs of a Geisha
38. The Aviator
39. Zodiac
40. The Insider
41. Gangs of New York
42. Tie: Brokeback Mountain
42. Tie: The Fountain
43. The Fall
44. The Passion of the Christ
45. Snow Falling on Cedars
46. House of Flying Daggers
47. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

(Source: Movieline)


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Comments

Was "Eyes Wide Shut" such a bloated film that it tied itself? What can't Tom Cruise do?!

Posted by: Kballs at June 30, 2010 9:52 AM

Glad to see The Fall is on the list, though I think it deserves much higher. Also, Eyes Wide Shut tied itself?

Posted by: ThunderSacTriumph at June 30, 2010 9:52 AM

Well. I came here to say "Fuck them for not including The Fall". But they did. So, I'll echo Thunder and say "Why the fuck isn't it higher", Instead. Glad to see Assassination of Jesse James up there. I put that on when I clean the house just for the score/something pretty to look at now and then. Same for There Will Be Blood.

Oh, I know- "Fuck them for not including Van Diemen's Land".

I'm the kind of crazy that prizes cinematography above most aspects of a film's quality (but not quite first, if your actors are shit, your movie is shit. Sorry.) So my nitpicking over the problems I have with this list would take a very long time. As it happens I have work in the morning, and it's 2am here. So fuck it. Just trust me that it has some glaring omissions.

Posted by: The Only New Zealander at June 30, 2010 10:02 AM

I respect this list, since it represents quietly beautiful movies like Lost in Translation, alongside movies where the cinematography is almost a character by itself, especially Eternal Sunshine.

Posted by: Caroline at June 30, 2010 10:07 AM

I have no complaints there. The second movie that popped into my head was Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight, which somehow made Detroit look like the most gorgeous city in the world, which is quite a feat.

I would like to make some sort of angry retort about the slight of my beloved home city, but... I can't. It's true. Detroit is many things, but gorgeous is definitely not one of them.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at June 30, 2010 10:11 AM

How can they not include Cold Mountain? What a beautifully shot movie. I was glad to see Atonement on the list. That six minute scene on the French beach while the troops are waiting to be evacuated is amazing. Also, I would have included Miami Vice. I know you people hate that movie, but it's also really beautifully shot.

Posted by: Chris from Delaware at June 30, 2010 10:16 AM

How could they not include Vampire Killers? You haven't seen chromatography until you've seen a lesbian vampire explode into white semen.

Posted by: superasente at June 30, 2010 10:24 AM

i liked how garden state was shot, it added to the quirky humor and some genuine funny moments, but maybe that was more editing and set design than cinematography?

Posted by: Sinnh at June 30, 2010 10:42 AM

I don't even care that it's almost at the bottom, I am so so happy to see Snow Falling on Cedars on here - I saw this film when I was 14, and I think it was the first movie that ever made me really understand what "cinematography" was - and how it could elevate an otherwise ok movie (acting and plot wise) to amazing. I can't believe it's actually on the list.

Also, I know Cuaron is already on here with Children of Men - which is clearly his best in terms of Cinematography, but I would like to also see Y Tu Mama Tambien - there are so many shots in that movie that don't say anything at all, but really inform the narrative - the shots of the countryside, when Luisa looks out the window at the children playing below - so so gorgeous.

Posted by: ninetwenteetoo at June 30, 2010 10:48 AM

Ditto on "City of God." No idea how the hell they shot that. It must have taken forever to edit.

As for what's not on the list, I think "Collateral" (or any Michael Mann movie, for that matter) should be mentioned. He makes cities look beautiful. Maybe it's because there are so many scenes set at night. Most cities look better at night than at daytime, kinda like old strippers.

Posted by: Slash at June 30, 2010 10:50 AM

After actually taking a minute to think about it, I'm like The Only New Zealander, cinematography is a very important component to a movie for me. I love an amazingly shot film so much, it often glosses over other issues I have with a movie. So I love this list very much, and enjoyed every movie I saw on it, and thank you for putting it up.

Posted by: Katers at June 30, 2010 10:51 AM

The one film I can think of not on the list is Dogville. That's a beautiful film. Unfortunately, my favorite scenes are massive spoilers, but they are gorgeous to look at. I can only imagine if there were sets, rather than chalk-marks on the floor, the film would be on the list.

Otherwise, I have no complaints. It's a great list.

Posted by: Robert at June 30, 2010 10:51 AM

"George Washington" ?!?!?!?

Posted by: dg at June 30, 2010 10:55 AM

also, shouldn't wes anderson get some love on this list? his movies have always struck me as impeccably beautiful/well-shot

Posted by: dg at June 30, 2010 10:57 AM

I LOATHED Pan's Labyrinth (yes, I know, but let's face it, I'm a total loser anyway, so it's not as though I'm losing any cred) - but I'm glad to see it on this list, because as much as I hated what I was watching, I had to admit it looked good.

Posted by: dsbs at June 30, 2010 11:07 AM

Spielberg already has a couple on there, but I'd like to have seen Minority Report up there, as well. It's one of the few times where Spielberg seems interested in actually making interesting, almost painterly moving images, instead of expertly-crafted-but-not-quite-mind-blowing shots. The umbrellas, the Janus composition with Tom Cruise and Samantha Morton, all the overheads of the precogs, the stuff inside the slum house. Yeah, it's got standard Spielbergisms (the pan-and-hold on the rocket pack lighting the stove, and the eyeball rolling down the hallway as Cruise chases it). But, man, it's got some poetic stuff in there, too...

Posted by: RobP at June 30, 2010 11:08 AM

Brick.

Also, since Amelie is a foreign film, The Princess and the Warrior. There's a 360 pan shot in P&W that is really amazing.

Also The Fountain.

Posted by: twig at June 30, 2010 11:10 AM

I'm glad Road to Perdition was included. The scene in the rain was unbelievably gorgeous.

Posted by: Julie at June 30, 2010 11:11 AM

RobP you are totally right with Minority Report.

Posted by: twig at June 30, 2010 11:11 AM

If The Assassination of Jesse James and SOMETHING by Christopher Doyle had not made the list I would have had to punch my computer screen. As it is they got Hero and In the Mood for Love, which is cool. I don't think American Beauty should have been so high, but otherwise I'm not going to quibble.

Posted by: Todd at June 30, 2010 11:13 AM

superasente:
In a few neighborhoods of Chicago, we refer to that as "Thursday morning".

Posted by: Jim Doggie at June 30, 2010 11:20 AM

No Spike Lee movies?

I second Y Tu Mama Tambien.

Posted by: jM at June 30, 2010 11:35 AM

I'm really happy to see In the Mood for Love on this list, a film where the cinematography is not only beautiful but used to excellent effect (creating the aforementioned mood). I think it deserves to be higher, though.

As for omissions, Russian Ark popped into my thoughts straight away, but would that actually be 'Best holding up the camera for 96 minutes to record one long shot' rather than 'Best cinematography'? I don't know enough of the technical aspects to be able to judge.

Posted by: Brittany at June 30, 2010 11:46 AM

Assassination of Jesse James
Pan's Labyrinth
Black Hawk Down
Brokeback Mountain
The Prestige

My favourite movies for cinematography. They happen in almost that exact order on the list. I approve.

Posted by: A-schaef at June 30, 2010 11:48 AM

Am I the only person who still thinks that The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover is a beautiful film? The color saturation adds to the plot. I've heard some people say that's it's ham-handed, but I love it.

Posted by: Estelle at June 30, 2010 11:53 AM

I will humbly submit "Strange Days" - I wondered for years how they were able to shoot the P.O.V. scenes. Also, Hurt Locker was beautifully shot as well.

Posted by: Stella at June 30, 2010 11:55 AM

"Let the Right One In" was beautifully shot. It also happened to contain the most breathtakingly unforgettable scene of the decade.

Posted by: bcarter3 at June 30, 2010 12:06 PM

OK, I really have to watch Children of Men. It's been on my list forever (well, since it was in theaters).

Posted by: esme at June 30, 2010 12:07 PM

Though they're of the same flavor;

Crank 2: High Voltage
District 9
Surveillance
Oldboy

and other blatant omissions,
Punch Drunk Love
Royal Tenebaums
Adaptation
In the Mood For Love
Mulholland Drive
Brothers Bloom
Prisoner of Azkaban
Science of Sleep
Control Room (doc)
Sexy Beast
Secretary
Spirited Away
There Will Be Blood
Up
Y Tu Mama Tambien

Posted by: Jackseppelin at June 30, 2010 12:20 PM

"The Limits of Control"
A truly strange movie but visually stunning!

Posted by: brite at June 30, 2010 12:25 PM

Second 'Let the Right One In' as hard as I possibly can.

Posted by: trippdup at June 30, 2010 12:26 PM

Shutter Island was gorgeous!

Posted by: Mebe at June 30, 2010 12:38 PM

Agree with most submissions to the original list plus most additional comments here. Glaring omission for me was 'A Single Man'.

Posted by: Kersti at June 30, 2010 12:46 PM

Have never posted on the site before but felt necessary to mention that Michael Mann's 'Collateral' and 'Miami Vice' easily have some of the most hypnotic cinematography of the decade. Quality of 'Miami Vice' be damned, it looked damn good, boundary pushing for cinematography I'd say for how it captured grittiness in such an exotic way. Brilliant looking pictures.

Posted by: CoreyM at June 30, 2010 1:23 PM

the fall and the fountain are beautiful films in many respects so i was happy to see them here; there do seem to be glaring omissions and i will echo those above who mentioned the princess and the warrior and mulholland drive; several films like babel perplexed me but, then again, what do i know about cinematography?

Posted by: splinter at June 30, 2010 1:44 PM

I would have liked to see 28 Days Later on that list. The deserted and quiet shots of London in the opening sequence are very impressive, as are many of the gritty DV shots in the rest of the film. If I'm not mistaken, there weren't many directors/cinematographers at the time that utilized DV film as well as Boyle did in 28 Days Later; also, Boyle essentially was using 28 Days Later as a jumpoff point for DV cinematography, paving the way for other DV films like Slumdog Millionaire . I think it should have had a mention; but then, I'm biased- 28 Days Later is in my top 5 favorite films.

Posted by: krza at June 30, 2010 2:18 PM

Would like to add The Pacific and Eddy to this list. Very, very pretty movie, as was Bright Star.

Posted by: grace b at June 30, 2010 2:53 PM

So glad to see Pan's Labyrinth on this list!

Though I think its curious that Mega Shark versus Giant Octopus is notably absent. Maybe the criteria was that the movie had to have wide release? Sad that we cannot see beauty in the made for television.

Posted by: juiceinla at June 30, 2010 3:31 PM

This is a list that geeks (I'm referring to myself) could talk about for hours. Condensing a comment is tough.

1. Glad to see Robert Richardson represented so well. He's able to keep a sub par Scorsese movie engaging.

2. Glad to see "The Insider" love. It's still one of my favorite Mann films. In all truth, any of Mann's films could/should be on this list, regardless of the actual quality of the film.

3. "Road to Perdition"...Conrad Hall, your genius is still deeply missed.

4. No "25th Hour"? Really?

5. Perplexed as to why "The New World" is as low as it is.

6. The Russian film "The Return" should be an honorable mention, if not on the list itself.

Posted by: Barnes78 at June 30, 2010 3:32 PM

I think Scorsese's "Bringing Out the Dead" has the best cinematography I've ever seen. Wish it was on the list...

Posted by: Jeff at June 30, 2010 3:47 PM

The best cinematography of the last decade? Oh I got excited, then I saw the line, as determined by some American society. Yeah, right.
Oh they tossed in Pan's Labrynth and Crouching Tiger in there, plus put Amelie at no 1 to show that 'hey..we saw films outside of the US that were blockbuster hits'.
Per-lease. When I saw no's 2 then no 3, then..well, I feel sad. No, its more like nausea

Posted by: JaneSpotting at June 30, 2010 4:02 PM

@ JEFF

"Bringing Out The Dead"...glad to see love for that film. It's a deeply underrated film in the Scorsese canon. His DP was Robert Richardson, whose work I love. I wouldn't mind if he worked more often.

@JANESPOTTING

Such passionate criticism but no suggestions of what /should/ be on the list??? -sigh-

Posted by: Barnes78 at June 30, 2010 4:17 PM

Harris Savides' work on Gus Van Sant's "death trilogy" films really deserve mention, especially "Gerry".

Posted by: Mohaski at June 30, 2010 5:18 PM

The Fountain at 42 is blasphemy, third "Let the Right One In"

Posted by: jared at June 30, 2010 5:24 PM

Also, has anyone ever heard of Re-cycle and Habitat? Very unique cinematography. Re-cycle is like the scariest acid trip ever, Habitat is just cheesy scifi greatness

Posted by: jared at June 30, 2010 5:25 PM

I think they should have included Pride and Prejudice, for the scene where they meet up at the end. That has to be one of the prettiest things I have ever seen on film. That and where KK is standing on the bluffs. Gorgeous!

Posted by: Jayem at June 30, 2010 6:33 PM

Babe! I know it's about a talking pig, but I thought it was beautifully done. Into the Wild, is another one. Kill Bill too.

I'll agree with those who mentioned Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Let the Right One In, as well as Rules of Attraction.

Posted by: lucy at June 30, 2010 8:42 PM

Nevermind, I see Kill Bill is on there already.

Marie Antoinette was gorgeous. Also Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice.

Posted by: lucy at June 30, 2010 8:45 PM

Fourth for Let the Right One In.

Also, disappointed that "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" didn't make it. As well as "Sunshine" though I guess "Slumdog Millionaire" makes up for it a little?

Posted by: Em at June 30, 2010 9:25 PM

Bright Star . It just gets better and better as the movie goes on. THAT is exactly the reason why film is my favorite medium in the arts.

Posted by: Berberuh at June 30, 2010 11:09 PM

On a slightly different note, I like that the LofRs trilogy got one spot not 3. It makes much more sense that having it take 3 spots.

Posted by: Morgan Lefai at July 1, 2010 12:58 AM

Put me down for Let the Right One In and Marie Antoinette as well, otherwise hard to quibble with this list.

Also, because I'm a gigantic dick disguised as a normal functioning young adult I would like to point out to The Only New Zealander that YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND I WILL STALK YOU ALL THE WAY TO WAITAKERE BUT NOT MUCH FURTHER BECAUSE MY TOYOTA IS LOW ON GAS.

Posted by: Ashley at July 1, 2010 5:03 AM

Ooh I nominate Drag Me To Hell! It's so colorful and purty and the least the cinematographer could've done to do justice to all the bodily fluids flying on screen! BTW, doesn't anybody else think a 3D Drag Me to Hell sequel would be "the tits" so to say?

Posted by: Pancho at July 1, 2010 1:43 PM

Let the Right One In should replace Black Hawk Down on the list. The movie sucks hot poo chunks.

Posted by: smithee at July 1, 2010 3:12 PM

Biggest omission for me...
Se7en
should definately be here

Posted by: danr at July 2, 2010 9:43 AM

Nevermind...just realized I'm old
and that movie is older than these movies

Posted by: danr at July 2, 2010 9:47 AM

I knew Atonement was going to be on this list. That beach scene was such a masturbatory piece of crap. It had little relevance on the movie and, in fact, was distracting. Took me completely out of the moment (not that I was that much into it - I found the movie a bit ridiculous).

So, yeah.

Posted by: masonwasp at July 2, 2010 12:14 PM

Bring it on!

Posted by: Simon at July 2, 2010 5:55 PM

20 is tied with?????

I think THE FALL should be higher...but I'm ok with the overall listing.

Posted by: james at July 3, 2010 2:32 PM

Bruno Delbonnel's work on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince should be on that list. I thought that was some of, if not the finest cinematography I've ever seen.

Posted by: Andrew at July 16, 2010 12:32 AM





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