how come subjective viewpoint cinema doesn't work? - rec.arts.movies.past-films

Message from discussion how come subjective viewpoint cinema doesn't work?

larry legallo

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More options Jun 12 2004, 3:14 am

Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.past-films, alt.movies, rec.arts.movies.current-films, alt.cult-movies

From: larry legallo <llega...@usa.net>

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 15:14:48 -0400

Local: Sat, Jun 12 2004 3:14 am

Subject: Re: how come subjective viewpoint cinema doesn't work?

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On 10 Jun 2004 21:38:37 -0700, symphonic...@hotmail.com (choral reef)
wrote:

>best use of subjective shot?

>goodfellas when the guys in a restaurant greet henry.

That's not a subjective shot. It's Scorsese playing games with us.
It *looks* like a subjective shot from Henry's point of view- as well
as a reference to the POV shot of Charlie entering the bar in Mean
Streets (which itself was an homage to the POV shot in Little Caeser).

But after the tracking shot along the bar introduces us to the guys
(who we assume are addressing Henry although they never say his name),
the camera continues into the back of the restaurant where Henry
enters the frame from the outside pushing a rack of fur coats. So the
shot wasn't from his POV after all. It's a playful, subtle, but
imortant, indicator that although Henry narrates most of the movie, he
is not controlling the film's perspective. Not surprising that you
missed it. I bet the Biq Quiz recognized it though, because he
notices those types of things. Oh wait, he hated Goodfellas (another
notch on his moron belt).

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