Cinematic

Sometimes when I'm given the choice of two movies to watch, I choose the worse one. Just because I've noticed a trend: bad Hollywood movies have much better and interesting light than good Hollywood movies. Has anyone else noticed this? Am I all alone here?

I feel like your Oscar nominees, in general, try much harder to make it look like natural light.Your blockbusters, on the other hand, are not quite so restrained. Multiple light sources? Check. Looks like no natural light anywhere in the world? Check! Gels? Oh hells yes. Completely different lighting in exactly the same place depending on whether the character is male or female? Double and triple check. Next time you're watching a movie that has a scene with a male and female actor, check it out. Chances are almost 100% that the lighting on the chick will be a lot softer than the lighting on the dude.

I won't lie, sometimes I watch entire scenes in movies and the only thing I pay attention to is the shape and number of catchlights in the characters' eyes. This may be some kind of dangerous obsession.

One movie in particular that flouted the bad movie = fun light rule was Inception. Great film, gorgeous light. I dare you to watch parts of it without the dialogue just to look at the lighting.

Anyway, I felt like this image had a bit of a cinematic feel to it. Let me know what you think.