The B and W

[MissHuff]

I don't know if there is already an existing thread but a quick skim tells me no. I can't sleep although I am completely exhausted so I thought I would come hang out in the lounge and compile a list of sites I need to check out and movies that I need to see. After reviewing the movie list I noticed that the movies on the top of my list weren't necessarily in color. (The Good German, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers). I love watching black and white films. I believe that it helps add a little more drama to everything.

I was curious to see what are other people's thoughts on modern movies that are made in black and white or desaturated (if that's the right word?). I remember watching "Good Night and Good Luck" for the first time and when my fiance commented on the black and white afterward I almost completely forgot it was in black and white. I guess that's one too many Golden Era movie marathons for me.

 

[Spitfire]

You should see "The man who wasn't there" if you like the B&W.:eusa_clap

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Schindler's List was in Black and White, and it definitelty set the tone for the entire film, with the exception of a little red. While I think all movies cannot be in black and white (example: Singin' in the rain or another movie that feeds on color entirely), I think there are plenty of movies that cannot look any better if they were in color. Road To Perdition wouldn't have looked as neat had it been in black and white and neither would Shawshank Redemption. Movies from the golden era were in black and white because color hadn't been put to good use. Technicolor had been around long before. But a film like Gone With The Wind and The Wizard Of Oz releasing, some films just cannot be in black and white. Sometimes color can also get in the way. If you want dramatic, mysterious, cruel and sinister, dark colors or black and white is the best.

Good Night and Good Luck's cinematography is great!
How about a nice Lynch film, Eraserhead?
The Man Who Wasn't There wouldn't have looked as nice had it been in color.

 

[Feraud]

Then there is Memento that used b&w film for the flashback sequences and color in the present.
The best of both worlds.

 

[CharlieH.]

The best modern black and white film I've ever seen has to be Woody Allen's Zelig. A mockumentary about a man from the late 20's that could chaneg his appearance.
More than simple black and white, this is a whole "neo vintage" film made using vintage cameras, lights, lenses, sound recording gear etc. And this is also important to the story, as there are some VERY realistic scenes of a highly neurotic Woody rubbing elbows with Lou Gehrig, Herbert Hoover, Pope Pius XI and even Adolph Hitler!

 

[J. M. Stovall]

How about Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, I can't help but like that movie.

 

[MrBern]

I remember watching "Good Night and Good Luck" for the first time and when my fiance commented on the black and white afterward I almost completely forgot it was in black and white. I guess that's one too many Golden Era movie marathons for me.

Actually, I had the reverse experience w/ CAPOTE. I really enjoyed the way it was shot, but afterwards we were trying to recall if it was in color or B&W.

Oh, heres a B&W classic from the `60s, Night of the LivingDead.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0063350/

 

[MissHuff]

Schindler's List was in Black and White, and it definitelty set the tone for the entire film, with the exception of a little red.

Schindler's List was in Black and White? [huh] lol

Actually, I had the reverse experience w/ CAPOTE. I really enjoyed the way it was shot, but afterwards we were trying to recall if it was in color or B&W.

Oh, heres a B&W classic from the `60s, Night of the LivingDead.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0063350/

I think the reason that I was a little afraid of this movie when I was younger was the fact that it was in B&W. I love watching it now and laughing.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

The best modern black and white film I've ever seen has to be Woody Allen's Zelig. A mockumentary about a man from the late 20's that could chaneg his appearance.
More than simple black and white, this is a whole "neo vintage" film made using vintage cameras, lights, lenses, sound recording gear etc. And this is also important to the story, as there are some VERY realistic scenes of a highly neurotic Woody rubbing elbows with Lou Gehrig, Herbert Hoover, Pope Pius XI and even Adolph Hitler!

Zelig is great! The world of Woody Allen's Love it or Hate it!

Zelig is a really good mockumentary if anyone gets the chance to see it.

Schindler's List was in Black and White? [huh] lol

Yes, Schindler's List was in Black and White. What version did you see? lol

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is another good film and such a clever one at that.

Has anyone seen The Last Picture Show?

 

[Doh!]

The Last Picture Show is a good one.

A fellow Lounge member and I were talking about how gorgeous Young Frankenstein was this very evening!

 

[LizzieMaine]

The essential thing to remember is that shooting in black-and-white is not the same thing as "not shooting in color." It requires a whole different approach to lighting, editing, and production design -- and it's the rare modern film that really gets that right. "Good Night and Good Luck" is an excellent example of B&W Done Right, and from what little I've seen in the trailers, "The Good German" will be another.

Probably my favorite post-B&W-era black and white film would be "Paper Moon," from 1973. Peter Bogdanovich and his crew knew exactly what they were doing, and did it extraordinarily well.

 

[scotrace]

.

I'm glad you made that point, Lizzie. To get proper contrast on B&W film so that everything doesn't simply appear "Absence of color" is tricky.

I liked Raging Bull (1980). The film pulls more intensity of light out of all those shades of gray than I would have thought possible.

 

[Feraud]

You have all named such great films! I feel like sitting down and watching each and every one of them right now.

Did anyone mention Young Frankenstein?

 

[Fletch]

Present day B&W movies tend to be grainy and harshly lit compared to the classics. Not all of them of course - GN&GL was beautifully done - but color really took away cinematographers' eye for detail, modeling and shadow. It also may be that film stock properties have changed.

 

[Spitfire]

Just had the great pleasure to see The Third Man - again!
Talk about light and shadow! A masterpiece:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Fletch]

Zelig is great! The world of Woody Allen's Love it or Hate it!

The best response to Allen's oeuvre is really "love/hate relationship."

I remember seeing Stardust Memories as a 13 year old kid in Des Moines and thinking, "why is 30s jazz in this soundtrack? Now everybody will associate it with whiny, self centered drips like the people in this film."

 

[CharlieH.]

Did anyone mention Young Frankenstein?

I can't believe I forgot about Young Frankenstein! I take back my previous post - Young Frankenstein is the best dang modern B&W film I've ever seen... well, actually it's a tie between this and the other one..... oooh! On to more important talk.

Funny thing 'ere- IMDB is having a "Mel Brooks or Woody Allen" poll today.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Stardust Memories is another good one.

So is Young Frankenstein.

Any other films from the 80's and 90's that were in black and white? There must have been others.

 

[CharlieH.]

Ed Wood, Manhattan, Sin City, Pleasantville....

Here's a list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recent_films_in_black-and-white

 

[MrBern]

Well, there was PLEASANTVILLE.

If I might go in a completely differnt direction with all apologies to the GoldenAge, how about HardDaysNight ?

And didnt Clooney remake FAILSAFE, as a b&w live tv broadcast.
the original is a great companion ot DoctorStrangelove....