Lost in the Movies: Captured screens

Captured screens

These screen-grabs have been on my computer for a while now - many were intended to crown blog posts that never materialized. Others were going to be entered in the "Guess the Pic" challenge on Wonders in the Dark, before that contest died a long, painful death at the hands of Philip Johnston. One was supposed to be a DVD menu for a disc that never got burned, and at least one was taken just because it looked good. So here they are, apropos of nothing. Click on the pictures if you want to see 'em full-size:














And this one, a composite:



Sources: Berlin Alexanderplatz, Made in USA (I think - actually, later in the day, I'm pretty sure it's Pierrot le fou), Michel Gondry's music videos, the Quay Brothers' short films, Sans Soleil, The End of St. Petersburg, The Big Lebowski, and Hail Mary.

This post was originally published on The Sun's Not Yellow.

8 comments:

Ed Howard said...

There's something really satisfying about looking at a good film frame in isolation. It's like a shorthand reminder of the film it came from, of the aesthetics at work in the film. So I love the shots included here, particularly Karina, Alexanderplatz, that great Hail Mary collage and the amorphous blob from Marker's Zone.

MovieMan0283 said...

True, but sometimes the appeal is also an isolated one - I think some of these frames may work better even out of context. At the very least they probably make one curious as to where they came from - though I can't be sure given that, by definition, I'd seen the works before capturing the frame.

The next post, tomorrow, will be another picture one, albeit with a slightly different approach. One could come up with several justifications, but the truth is I don't have the wherewithal for a prose piece right at this moment! Still, images speak louder, yada yada

Stephen said...

Fantastic images. Hail Mary is my second favourite Godard film (after Notre Musique).

Shortly after Jesus is born there is a collection of little scenes to the sound of Dvorak or Bach (I can't remember) that to me come as close to perfection as possible:

Mary walking away in the sunshine with the baby in her arms
CUT TO
Pink blossom on a tree
CUT TO
Mary and baby bursting out to the surface of a swimming pool
CUT TO
Incredible sunset


P.S. My post of animated review links is up, MovieMan - including your review of Spirited Away

Margaret Benbow said...

Anna Karina! Most actresses with a face that lovely let it do their acting for them (I'm thinking, with sadness, of Hedy Lamarr.); but Karina had, and has, remarkable skills. She's a marvel in A Woman Is A Woman, and Pierre Le Fou. "A girl and a gun" indeed! If Karina had not existed, it would have been necessary for Godard to invent her.

MovieMan0283 said...

It often feels that way with particular filmmakers and particular stars, doesn't it? As for Karina, I've ever seen her in a non-Godard movie, come to think of it.

Margaret Benbow said...

Many years ago I saw her in Visconti's L'Etranger, but missed her Rivette movies--both of the 60's and the 90's.To my mind her Godard roles usually resemble each other: her persona vulnerable but tough, and effortlessly fatale to the male actors. (The minute a Belmondo character appears in a Karina movie, he might as well shoot himself in the first frame as the last.) And of course you're right that certain stars and filmmakers will always be linked. Thank God for the directors' unwise passionate obsessions.

Just Another Film Buff said...

Wonderful. I would say that the Karina still is indeed from Made in USA. But, may be not.

but Stephen may have given me the surprise of the day. Never heard anyone call Notre Musique as their favorite Godard. Lovely choice Stephen. Would like to read something on it, if you've not written already...

MovieMan0283 said...

"Thank God for the directors' unwise passionate obsessions."

Agreed, Margaret!

JAFB,

Yeah I shuttle back and forth on it. Looking at it again I think you may be right.

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