9). "Imitation of Life" (2001), R.E.M. / directed by Nick Goldsmith
"Imitation of Life" is simple and complex all at once. The shot itself is rather brief, but Goldsmith continues to draw us in closer to the details. It takes multiple viewings to try and catch everything.
8). "Hard to Explain" (2001), The Strokes / directed by Roman Coppola and Johannes Gamble
The found footage film has been an integral part of experimental cinema since Bruce Conner popularized the format in the late fifties. While music video seems like a ripe form for found footage to flourish, few put that to the test until Coppola and Gamble directed the Strokes' "Hard to Explain." The video is found footage at its finest, pulling in film clips from a variety of sources, strung together with ease. The band makes a brief appearance.
7). "Tonight, Tonight" (1996), Smashing Pumpkins / directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Like "The Universal," "Tonight Tonight" pays homage to a cinema pioneer. Filmmaker and magician George Melies famously invented special effects when he realized he could make objects seemingly disappear just be turning the camera on and off. His most ambitious film, 1902's A Trip to the Moon, is the basis for "Tonight, Tonight." Dayton and Faris improve upon a few cinematic elements, but maintain most aspects of the Melies' style, paying tribute to a director who paved the way for so many. It happens to be one of my favorite songs as well.
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1 comment:
That R.E.M video is awesome. I can watch it again and again and think to myself "How did they do that ?"
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