Black-and-white movies have been making a minor comeback in recent years, as directors have found interesting new ways of using an old technique. Black-and-white movies were gradually phased out throughout the 1950s and 1960s. For a long time thereafter, they were seen as outdated by most people, but now that enough time has passed, they are enjoying a second life. There are outstanding black-and-white movies in a wide range of genres, including horror, comedy and drama.
Monochrome photography is now being used as a tool like any other. It’s often a cheaper alternative to color for low-budget filmmakers, but it can also be used to evoke the past, or to create startling chiaroscuro compositions. Many filmmakers have found new and interesting ways of blending black-and-white scenes with color ones, like in Oppenheimer and Maestro, for example. There’s also a recent trend of movies getting special black-and-white releases, such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Parasite. After being seen as redundant for decades, black-and-white movies are a new Hollywood trend.
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10
A Field In England (2013)
Ben Wheatley’s Psychological Horror Movie Has A Lot Going On Just Beneath The Surface
A Field in England initially appears to be an ordinary historical drama, following a group of English Civil War soldiers who flee from battle. This first impression merely lulls the audience into a state of calm before A Field in England unravels and reveals itself to be a deeply unsettling exploration of madness, violence and chaos. Just as the soldiers believe they are in the clear, the real trouble begins, and the same can be said for the audience.
A Field in England is a dark psychological horror film that uses hallucinatory visuals and a steadily-rising sense of dread to cast a hypnotic spell on its audience. It follows a gradual but inevitable march into the unknown that lasts long in the memory, even if it isn’t immediately frightening in the way that most horror movies aim for. Its strange style won’t appeal to everyone’s tastes, but A Field in England is unique and bold enough to warrant more attention.
9
The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
The Coen Brothers’ Noir Pastiche Ticks All The Right Boxes
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The Man Who Wasn’t There
R
Crime
Drama
Release Date
November 16, 2001
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Joel Coen
Writers
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
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Frances McDormand
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Michael Badalucco
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James Gandolfini
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The Man Who Wasn’t There isn’t usually ranked among the very best Coen brothers movies, but it deserves far more attention than it gets. It’s an oddity in their filmography, as most of their crime movies overflow with dark humor, like Fargo, Burn After Reading and The Big Lebowski. The Man Who Wasn’t There is a relatively somber film noir pastiche, although its debatable whether it classifies as neo-noir or is simply a resurrection of film noir proper.
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The Man Who Wasn’t There uses a black-and-white palette to create the look of film noir, but its allusions to the genre are more than skin-deep. The plot follows a man whose simple blackmail scheme spirals out of control, and he gets in way over his head. The subsequent exploration of morality, fate and the mundane necessities of real life shows that the Coens revere and understand the genre beyond its aesthetic appeal.
8
Hundreds Of Beavers (2022)
A Chaotic Comedy That Evokes A Bygone Era
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Hundreds of Beavers
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Release Date
February 9, 2024
Runtime
108 Minutes
Director
Mike Cheslik
Writers
Mike Cheslik, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
Cast
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Ryland Brickson Cole Tews
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Olivia Graves
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Wes Tank
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Doug Mancheski
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Hundreds of Beavers first premiered in 2022, but it took a couple of years to get a wide release and start streaming on various platforms. Most people only ever saw Hundreds of Beavers in 2024, but it quickly garnered a cult following for its throwback charms. It’s a micro-budget romp, but Hundreds of Beavers leans into its underdog status rather than trying to paper over the cracks and pretend it’s a prestigious film.
It’s a micro-budget romp, but Hundreds of Beavers leans into its underdog status rather than trying to paper over the cracks.
The decision to shoot in black-and-white undoubtedly helped keep the budget low, but it also gives Hundreds of Beavers the same appearance as classic silent-era comedies. This is apt, since the comedy draws inspiration from slapstick greats like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. It’s a hilarious, fast-paced comedic delight that stands out from anything else being produced these days. Its rough charms are hard to resist.
7
Persepolis (2007)
A Rare Black-And-White Animated Movie
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Persepolis
PG-13
Animation
Biography
Documentary
Drama
War
Release Date
June 27, 2007
Runtime
95 minutes
Director
Vincent Paronnaud, Marjane Satrapi
Writers
Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Cast
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Chiara Mastroianni
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Catherine Deneuve
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Danielle Darrieux
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Simon Abkarian
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Black-and-white animated movies are exceptionally rare. Even in the early days of the medium, animation made the leap to color before live-action movies could. There are only a few modern exceptions. Movies like It’s Such a Beautiful Day and Mary and Max are almost black-and-white, but they feature a few odd splashes of color. Persepolis and Frankenweenie may be the only two high-profile animated movies of the 21st century to exclusively use black-and-white.
The autobiographical story is remarkably powerful.
Persepolis is an adaptation of co-director Marjane Satrapi’s best-selling graphic novel of the same name. It wouldn’t have had the same appeal if it had added color, and the monochrome composition works well as a constant reminder of the movie’s origins. The autobiographical story is remarkably powerful, detailing Satrapi’s turbulent coming-of-age against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution.
6
Mank (2020)
David Fincher’s Hollywood Biopic Takes Audiences Back In Time
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Mank
R
Drama
Biography
8/10
8/10
Release Date
December 4, 2020
Runtime
131 minutes
Director
David Fincher
Writers
Jack Fincher
Cast
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Lily Collins
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Arliss Howard
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Mank is a little underrated, possibly because it doesn’t stack up well when compared to David Fincher’s best movies. It also sticks out from his filmography for a couple of reasons. Notably, Fincher takes a break from his exploration of criminality and psychology to indulge another of his passions: cinema. Mank looks back on Herman J. Mankiewicz’s experiences writing the script for Citizen Kane, with some scenes from his earlier life in Hollywood.
The black-and-white appearance of Mank roots the story in its Old Hollywood setting.
Mank‘s non-linear structure proves to be an inspired technique, as it creates a tangled web that ties Mankiewicz’s past and the present together, so that his inspirations are inextricable from his art, and his triumphs are tied to his failures. The black-and-white appearance of Mank roots the story in its Old Hollywood setting, as if Mankiewicz and those around him live their lives like movies, since their every waking moment is so consumed by artifice and glamor.
5
The Tragedy Of Macbeth (2021)
Denzel Washington Shines As One Of Shakespeare’s Greatest Characters
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
R
Thriller
Drama
History
7/10
Release Date
December 5, 2021
Runtime
105 minutes
Director
Joel Coen
Writers
Joel Coen
Cast
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Denzel Washington
Macbeth
-
Frances McDormand
Lady Macbeth
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Now that Joel and Ethan Coen have each made movies separate of one another, it’s clear to see who brings what to their creative partnership. Ethan Coen’s crime comedy Drive-Away Dolls is filled with risible mishaps, eccentric characters and wry wit, while Joel proves with The Tragedy of Macbeth that he may be responsible for the emotionally resonant power of their movies.
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The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of the best big-screen Shakespeare adaptations in years, partly because Coen chooses to keep things simple. The decision to film in black-and-white places more emphasis on the performances, and Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand are both outstanding. They bring Shakespeare’s words to life with a rare urgency and emotion that is so often lacking in modern adaptations, and they make famous quotes feel brand-new.
4
The Lighthouse (2019)
Robert Eggers’ Genre-Bending Marvel Revolves Around Two Great Performances
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The Lighthouse
R
Horror
Fantasy
Drama
7/10
10/10
Release Date
October 18, 2019
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Robert Eggers
Writers
Robert Eggers, Max Eggers
Cast
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Robert Pattinson
-
Willem Dafoe
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The Lighthouse is based on a true story, albeit very loosely, since Robert Eggers takes the basic idea of two hostile lighthouse keepers and spins it into his own dark, strange fable. The result defies simple categorization, with critics in disagreement over whether The Lighthouse should be considered a psychological horror movie, a character study or something else entirely. This unique blend of styles is one element that makes The Lighthouse worth watching multiple times.
Without their intoxicating chemistry, the entire film could easily fall flat.
The Lighthouse hinges on two outstanding performances from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Without their intoxicating chemistry, the entire film could easily fall flat, but they constantly tease out the obscure mystery that lies within the script. The tone swings between a feeling of claustrophobic dread and some scenes so unexpected and strange that they become funny. As the isolated setting raises the pressure on the two characters, it amplifies their worst impulses.
3
Frances Ha (2012)
Greta Gerwig Leads An Endearing But Deep Comedy
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Frances Ha
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
May 17, 2013
Runtime
85 Minutes
Director
Noah Baumbach
Writers
Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
Cast
See All
-
Greta Gerwig
Frances Halladay
-
Mickey Sumner
Sophie Levee
-
Michael Zegen
Benji
-
Adam Driver
Lev Shapiro
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Although Greta Gerwig has since shifted her focus toward directing, Frances Ha shows off her talents as an actor. Gerwig also co-wrote the script with director Noah Baumbach, so the character of Frances Halladay is her own creation, and a reflection of her identity as an artist. The story follows Frances as she struggles to keep her personal and professional life as an aspiring dancer under control.
Frances can be frustrating and immature, but she’s ultimately a character who’s easy to love, and she’ll resonate with anyone who feels less put-together than everyone around them seems to be. Gerwig’s endearing performance carries Frances Ha through its meandering narrative indulgences. It’s a character study more than anything else, using humor and heart to make some of life’s harsh truths a little more palatable.
2
Roma (2018)
Alfonso Cuarón’s Opus Is A Towering Achievement
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Roma
R
Drama
8/10
10/10
Release Date
December 14, 2018
Runtime
135 minutes
Director
Alfonso Cuarón
Writers
Alfonso Cuarón
Cast
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Yalitza Aparicio
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Daniela Demesa
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Roma is arguably Alfonso Cuarón’s best movie, and it’s his most personal by far. Blending his childhood experiences with the broader context of civil unrest in Mexico City in the 1970s, Cuarón zooms in on the intimate story of a live-in housekeeper. Her personal troubles coincide with upheaval in the household and riots in the streets. These different layers continually reflect one another in interesting ways, creating a tender portrait of class inequality.
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Roma is Cuarón’s first movie in which he takes on the cinematography duties, and he constructs delicate vignettes of domestic life that overflow with relatable human details. There’s more substance in one of his slow, ponderous tracking shots than some entire movies can muster, as the black-and-white imagery gives the film a simplicity and elegance that draws attention to the blocking. When framed in the middle-distance, Cuarón’s subjects often look like figures in a Vermeer painting.
1
The Artist (2011)
The Artist Stands Alone In The 21st Century
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The Artist
pg-13
Drama
Romance
Release Date
December 22, 2011
Runtime
100minutes
Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Writers
Michel Hazanavicius
Cast
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-
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Jean Dujardin
-
John Goodman
-
James Cromwell
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The Artist broke several records during awards season, as it became the first black-and-white movie to win Best Picture since 1961 and the first silent – or mostly silent – film to win since 1929. The Artist has a lot of fun toying with its form and its limitations, often coming up with witty tricks to advance the plot and communicate all the vital information. It also creates maximum impact with the few audible words of dialogue.
It can be fun and piquant, but it’s also an emotionally resonant tale.
More than just a clever narrative gimmick, The Artist‘s retro style makes it a full-bodied tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood. It can be fun and piquant, but it’s also an emotionally resonant tale. It’s surprisingly affecting, especially considering how far removed it is from the prevailing style of most movies today. More so than most black-and-white movies, The Artists stands as a testament to the power of monochrome photography in the modern era.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment