4 More of the Best Shots of All Time - Movie Lists

[@AlfoMedia]

oh my god, the focus on the row of glasses from The Young Victoria

[@jaybugo]

Alfo Media Right??? I literally said "oh wow!" Out loud. I gotta see the movie now that I saw that shot. Lol

[@aryehlevine8677]

Gabriel Ocasio same

[@oddcasual5006]

That shot actually got me f'd up and idk if I'd want to actually want to watch it again. It was so jarring to me.

[@oldDNU]

It just kept going! That movie’s on my radar now for that shot alone.

[@jjsmith706]

Goddam brilliant. I had to stop the video and watch it again, because I've never seen anything like it. I wish Lumet/Roizman had thought of it for the boardroom scene in Network.

[@oldDNU]

When you showed the telephoto shot of Benjamin running in The Graduate, my mind immediately wandered to the repeated shot of Lancelot storming the castle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[@malindemunich2883]

[@Bananskuden]

So did I!

[@tutirutan111]

Me too but at the Lawrence of Arabia scene haha!

[@alexandernoahlyngberg3300]

Wtf. Me too

[@johnstrawb3521]

You've been corrupted.

[@belugaabs]

the focus one is so good

[@jasondoe2596]

Indeed!

[@nathanielpranger7370]

It seems to me to create the effect of tears welling up in your eyes. Both on screen and in my actual eyes.

[@minch333]

Nathaniël Pranger I really like that interpretation of the shot! I saw it as representative of the woman's attention, as if she had a slight out of body experiences from the disbelief

[@kevtb874]

That really is a fantastic use of focus. Something I can't recall seeing very often. Such a great way to highlight a major turning point in the story. It gives you a moment of pause. It feels like Ben's attention is still on the mother. It feels like the daughter's attention is elsewhere. It feels like the movie itself is afraid to bring focus back on the poor girl. Just brilliant.

[@patpallopoika]

I just wonder why it isn't used more often🤔 Very effective and probably not that hard to pull

[@saixenophase]

Okay, can I just say how WELL WRITTEN THESE VIDEOS ARE?! ANALYZING EACH OF THESE SHOTS ARE SO DIFFICULT BUT THEY MAKE IT SEEM SO...EASY AND SO NATURAL. This is honestly one of my favourite channels ever.

[@FrenchAccentsChannel]

Yes, you can feel they actually love and respect cinema. It's not just clickbait tops that want to piggyback on films reputations like yt has become filled with.

[@ManorHQ]

Re: The Graduate rack focus. Elaine's blurred face comes into focus as her confusion (blurred) becomes realization (more focused) becomes truth (focused) - "oh no."

[@JohnSoh]

That's how I saw it, and it came into focus as she said "Oh No" upon that realization

[@davidlean1060]

Which means Kathrine Ross would of needed a cue to let her know her face was back in focus. The timing of it is perfect.

[@leogothisoscar271]

11:52 That was a beautiful shot. I've never watched The Young Victoria before, but I kind of want to just for that.

[@ronniedion4104]

seriously.

[@jonathanmelia]

It’s actually incredibly dull...

[@wierdalien1]

@@jonathanmelia eh, it isn't dull but you have to be interested

[@cjmcc5231]

Barry Lyndon is THE film where the phrase “every frame a painting” is most accurate. The zooms (as stated in the video) are meant to replicate/create the perception of an animated oil painting. Another notable thing to mention about the use of zooms is that the film zooms our throughout Barry’s life to show the scope and range that his life can lead. That his environment and circumstances have the potential for change as he still has his life ahead of him and opportunities available. However, the movie’s final shot zooms into Barry, signifying the doomed certainty his life has ultimately led to. He has lost everything and has no opportunities left available to him. This is as he enters his carriage to return home to Ireland, exiled from England and never to see his wife again.

[@sunchip1111]

i feel like the shot from the graduate is actually Elaine coming to terms with the situation. Before, rushing around with noisy chaos, after, slowly focusing and realizing what exactly is happening. -good vid :]

[@TheGioge99]

Yeah, exactly! I'm surprised they didn't interpret it that way.

[@hopsiepike]

Indeed. Male gaze vs female gaze. The genius here is that the shot is equally charged from both points of view, a rare accomplishment.

[@LLlap]

I read the graduate shot as a realization. It slowly dawns on her. And when she puts the pieces together, she`s clear. I`m pretty sure the dude in the situation would be super focused and zoomed in on her eyes and mouth LOOKING intensely for signals. Not avoiding contact in shock, I mean, he knew the cougar was up to something devious, why is he so surprised?

[@CoolDudesUnited]

LLlap I think you're right.

[@MyBoomStick1]

I completely agree

[@obelieoly3455]

That's how I see it too... it's Elaine slowing having the situation become clear to her.

[@keyman6689]

That's how I interpreted it too. Either way it's a cool shot...surprising and powerful.

[@kkfoto]

One could interpret it either way (his focus on the empty space, avoiding her gaze, or the realization coming slowly to her). I though it was the first one. Great shot regardless of how you read it.

[@ThePynnacle]

The second I saw your choice of Fallen Angels, I immediately had to pause the video and start screaming "YES!". It is in my five unordered all time favorites, and one that I was really upset wasn't spoken of enough, and the best use of wide angles of all time. This. Is. Why. I. Love. You.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

For the first time I know all the films showed in the video, does that mean I'm smart??, NOUP, it means I don't use enough time studying. Thanks cinefix for another great list.

[@TheLaraR25]

Man, can I relate to this

[@user-qb3jg8ep9t]

I don't see how watching these particular movies relates to being smart

[@pd7161]

not 'these particular movies' but the fact that he has happened to know/see 'all the films' in a video full of at least a hundred references. i wish i could say that, but i will be happy knowing i have a few good recommendations to check out. thank you, cinefix

[@lucinae8512]

I've seen at least 95% of films they talk about in each video, but I don't feel smart about it until they talk about what they did right.

[@user-qb3jg8ep9t]

Any movie for that matter

[@wargray2303]

The focus on her in the Graduate can also be linked to her putting what's happening all together. Once she is in focus it clicks and she knows what has happened. Light bulb moment. Its brilliant sheer brilliance! You guys got any job opening?!?!?

[@alighalib4395]

the focus on the row of glasses is amazing

[@dog_____ravine]

This exact zoom from Barry Lyndon impressed me so greatly 20 years ago. I never came across anyone who saw the movie, let alone had the experience with this one particular shot that I had... and here it is: A best shot of all time on Cinefix. Thumbs up for understanding!

[@kooj22]

As soon as I saw Anne Bancroft in the thumbnail I got so excited. The Graduate is film perfection.

[@HAL-vm3wn]

I've never really known a lot about lenses, so YAY!

[@LordTenebrus]

HAL! Open that F-stop HAL!

[@azzyclark3860]

If the mirage shot from Lawrence of Arabia isn't in then I'll... oh it is in. Good job Cinefix.

[@fredbyoutubing]

It's not a Cinefix list without at least one mention of Lawrence of Arabia!

[@realgamergirl4638]

Harrison Clark This isn't a Watchmojo list. It's an educational video masquarading as a top 5 list.

[@gabrielgomez8814]

Didn't they also use that scene in another 10 Top video. I think it was character introduction. Someone tell me.

[@kostajovanovic3711]

+Gabriel Gomez they did

[@InvisiblerApple]

What did you expect from Cinefix? I think the real question is, where is The Mirror? /s

[@JayKimDotNet]

I mean call me cliché, but Citizen Kane is a treasure trove of the greatest cinema defining shots of all time. The dolly back from young charles foster kane keeping him framed in the window while his mother signs his care to Thatcher, the best use of deep focus ever when Thatcher is reading off Kane's lost assets as Kane gets up from his chair and starts to shrink into the background, that obscene mirrored hallway shot, etc.

[@Waxalousgalaxy]

They are great shots but wouldn't be appropriate for this list because most of the deep focus shots were made by combining to different shots in a optical printer.

[@Budgiebottom]

that 4th pick literally made me gasp out loud. I love every Movie List video your team produces. You help me remember why I love film so much. Thanks yet again. You're inspiring and educating us all to the beauty and awe of cinema.

[@egtoonster]

Another way of interpreting that last shot from The Graduate, is that the lack of focus represents the way Elaine reacts in that moment. It’s as if is she slowly starts processing what just happened, and then - quite literally - everything falls into focus. Great video!

[@thekingofcool2105]

Free film school class.

[@mollycromb4412]

For real...I've learned so much about movies and the making of them through this channel

[@InvisiblerApple]

I'm literally here for film class (although I've been here since long before)

[@mancamiatipoola]

And with a far more interesting teacher - The Narrator

[@CoolDudesUnited]

The Graduate is one of those movies that just makes me feel like a shitty film maker. It's 50 years old, yet so subtley genius and innovative.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

At least it gives you some notation... a sort of "measuring stick" by which you can aspire through that notation to understand where you want to go and possibly on some level, how to get there. You mention it as "one of those movies"... SO you might well consider writing that list down, and from time to time going back to those movies to scratch out and refine your notes over time... Using them in future reference "style" you can make the exercises of which elements to employ from what movies and for which desired effect or influence. I don't think you should regard yourself as a "shitty" film maker. You are a less informed or experienced or practiced film maker by comparison.... BUT these are mainstream feature level films, not one-offs created by nobodies out of family garages or the like... It's pretty stiff competition, and certainly they also had their share of "shitty films" before anything of a tangible worth came of their craft. ;o)

[@CoolDudesUnited]

gnarth d'arkanen the list idea is good. I'll do that! And I don't really think I'm shitty. I'm pretty decent. But movies like The Graduate are just so inspiring that it's a bit overwhelming.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Matt Fitch, I can understand that sentiment. It's kind of what the whole list idea is about, really... When you first start, of course, there's going to be this big long list of stuff... BUT that puts into tangible writing a series of steps, each of them FEASIBLY ACHIEVABLE... Then, as you tackle and experiment with them, you will find them integrating into your style, quite possibly without you really even focusing on it so much as just experimenting and "playing at them", even in spare time... Digital film is re-usable... so cheap! Then all you invest per-step (per detail or technique written) is a little bit of time. AND I didn't really believe you saw yourself as shitty, but it was a line worth saying... just one artist to another. ;o)

[@roopjm]

I can't adequately put into words, what this video did to my brain. So many things clicked, understanding rained down. It was like an entire cinematography class in 15 minutes. Thank you for this, thank you.

[@TheUbeeR]

Meanwhile at WatchMojo: Top 10 Logan Paul poops

[@nizirascorner5883]

Lol 😂

[@notwerkinginthishouse8634]

Logan Paul is stupid af

[@leonardo9259]

Cringe ass comment

[@nateds7326]

1:48 Love how the card at the bottom says dr. Strangelove etc.

[@grimsorrowxx9884]

Just discovered Terry Gilliam and his work, so happy you mentioned him

[@trillo3332]

I literally applauded in an empty room when you showed number four.

[@wilsonsiregar5463]

me too haha

[@shyamwarrier9865]

Me too 😂😂

[@MattAndImprov]

Yeah, but I take that delay to be hers, not his. She's slowly realizing. If it were a POV, then maybe I'd see it from Benjamin's point of view, but I always took it as her clarity arriving. It's interesting to hear different people's takers explained.

[@button9]

That's how I saw it, the slow realization of pieces coming together in focus for her - we're watching her brain register in the form of a focus.

[@TheSmilyInc]

Dude, same

[@arabelleclark6019]

Love the focus segment! One of my all-time favorites: when Oskar leaves the school, and the blue of the shopping bags matches the blue of the jalopy in Let the Right One In. A memorable shot in a film filled with 'em!

[@chrischrosmelimelo]

That whole sequence from The Graduate, with the following zoom out in the corridor is masterful.

[@sietevick]

The slow focus on Elaine shows the real-time realization and focus in Elaine's mind of the hard-edged truth.

[@russduncan1009]

One of my favorite examples of zooming out from a stationary subject is the end of the bridge scene in Columbia. Beautiful shot. Perfect for the context of the exchange.

[@sethwoodhouse4797]

I fucking LOVE that rack focus in The Graduate. So devastating

[@dougim]

There’s an excellent snap-zoom in The Sting when Luther does that both intensifies the emotion of the moment and the shock of it to Johnny Hooker. (Why you guys never seem to mention The Sting kinda baffles me.)

[@DTyrannosaurus]

Beautiful and elucidating as always.

[@afrosymphony8207]

the glass focus thingy in young victorian is nuts!

[@DavidCervera702]

I like how you added the green peaking in the shot from The Graduate.

[@mfreeman313]

Glad you mentioned it. Wondered if I was having a stroke. Seriously I assume it's some form of chromatic aberration I've never seen before. Nuts.

[@sudevsen]

As soon as you said zoom I thought Barry Lyndon

[@Thecoolguy463]

Sudev Sen movie has the most vicious zoom game ever lol

[@AngusRobert]

Pull out! Pull out!

[@johnbarry5036]

the analysis on the Graduate focus shot... that is SO well done and shows me things I never thought about. Great work.

[@cutalin]

I love that you are not concerned only on the Hollywood cinema and taking into account international cinema!

[@umerrupani]

GREAT VIDEO! One of my faves keep it coming! Would be interested in a best shots lists that focused on shots through objects (doors, keyholes, body parts, etc.)

[@52BLUE]

Every time one of these videos drops, I go in hoping a movie I love will be on there, and I end up graciously leaving with new films to watch.

[@LittleB2007]

I'm so happy you talked about The Graduate here. I watched it when I was 13. It was the very first movie that made me conscious about all these techniques directors use to convey emotions...and turned me into a hardcore movie buff. lol

[@randmiller88]

There's another great focus pull in It's A Wonderful Life -- when George storms out of the house in anger after yelling at his family, he walks by the camera and drifts out of focus. Just thought I'd give it a mention since I love it so much. Great video as always!

[@GMoneyChuck89]

I wish I could work at Cinefix.

[@Slarti]

I'm glad you had a scene from Barry Lyndon. Barry Lyndon is like a secret jewel only able to be appreciated by those who know what it is to see beauty. Kubrick was an absolute master of scene composition, if that't the right set of words to use.

[@peterlewerin4213]

It's not that I missed any of this watching the films. I just didn't know they were happening. Mind/blown: out of all your excellent videos, this one is the most distilled one yet. I had no idea that it would be possible to show so much about how much is accomplished by good filmmaking, in four shots.

[@doclewis8927]

11:52 - My OCD side loves that shot. Wow. Thanks to whomever set the table and the shot. It's lovely.

[@jp_produces]

Please do a Top-Ten on best sound design / most unique sound design! Love your work!

[@diegolazzzo]

I know you have before but thanks for mentioning The Master once again. One of the most beautifully shot (and acted) movies I've ever seen.

[@thomasneufeld2035]

I love these lists. They make me look for little details in movies and appreciate film in general more

[@aolson5795]

There was a shot in a Mindhunter episode directed by Asif Kapadia that actually dynamically changed the aperture. The focal point didn't change, and the focal length didn't change, but the aperture was enlarged *during the shot* to dynamically isolate the character from the rest of the scene by making everything else slowly go out of focus. I had to watch it again because it was so incredible. Never saw anything like that before.

[@josephalmazan4805]

A Olson can you tell me what episode?

[@candlechantchalice538]

That series had some of the best camera work and editing I've ever seen.

[@anthonyaltamore739]

SO HAPPY you didn't sleep on Wong Kar Wai. I was thinking to myself "I hope they don't go for the easy choice of Jean Pierre Junet or Terry Gilliam..." then you went with my favorite of all his movies. Well done.

[@DX-uj6tj]

The last one was soooo briliant!

[@BoomstickGaming]

Good work as always

[@petersonj198]

OMG I LOVE these videos! This series is what inspired me to start watching Tarkovsky. That break down of the rack focus shot in this video of 'The Graduate' was brilliant!

[@remytherat2929]

yall ever find a video that makes you fall in love with the medium of cinema again? because same.

[@ThreeThingsIResold]

This series is the best work you do. Please keep going!

[@upchuckles243]

Another thing that's great about that shot in The Graduate is that it's a symbol - it shows her obtaining literal clarity on the situation as the realization dawns on her.

[@scifieric]

One point about the telephoto shot from Barry Lyndon that you didn't point out was the excellent framing. Not only did it isolate Barry, then pull away to make him seem small against the world, but in the beginning with the tight shot, the world seems bright. But because of the brilliant positioning of the camera, when the pull out is complete, the frame is mostly dark. Absolutely spectacular framing and positioning.

[@wright96d]

I never saw your rack focus pull choice coming but as soon as you said The Graduate I knew what it would be and couldn't agree more.

[@ceeryle]

This is my favorite series of yours. Please, please keep it up.

[@FrenchAccentsChannel]

Barry Lyndon=Motion Painting. It's like walking into a museum, getting closer to a painting to watch a detail, take a step back to look at the ensemble.

[@bagamingshow]

That last one WOW. that's amazing work. Brillaint shot.

[@TheCubert120]

one of my favorite movie shots of all time is something i feel is very underrated but also is very subtle. my favorite shot of all time is the POV camera shot of the uncovering scene of Robocop, where morton uncovers robocop, from underneath a see through plastic sheet, to tracking and framing of each monitor showing you an image of yourself as you pass through the crowd of executives. this follows a lomg montage shot of Robocop being built from the POV of Alex Murphy becoming a machine. its a beautifully build scene.

[@davidlean1060]

...but the best use of POV for me is in No Country For Old Men. The film places huge emphasis on characters 'seeing' There's a dozen quotes I could cite...'do you see me?', 'he's seen the same things I've seen....', 'You know Anton Chigurh by sight?'...and so on. How do you get that theme across using the camera? Easy, have a load of POV shots...shots of characters looking and seeing. Simple but brilliant I think. Pay attention to it if you ever see the film again.

[@clyvelagerquist6198]

I've always thought of the slow second rack focus from The Graduate as being metaphorical for Elaine's dawning realization coming into clarity

[@stimpackedmarines]

Wow, thank you for getting the "zoom perspective is based on DISTANCE not focal length" correctly. The only video on KZbin to get it right, even above photography channels.

[@UCreations]

Exactly. I had way too many discussions about this subject with (pro) photographers on forums and youtube channels...

[@dannygillespie6614]

Yes!!! Finally a video that talks about The Graduate!

[@MrDomq22]

The focus rack shot has to be one of the best shots I've ever seen in my life. Even though I know nothing of these characters or even the story in the movie, the shot literally had me in awe.

[@oldDNU]

Domenic Quarato I haven’t seen The Graduate or The Young Victoria, but both films had shots on this list that made me audibly say “wow”.

[@dumbledoreous3080]

I also love that shot from the graduate, but I always saw it as things literally "coming into focus" for the daughter. That the audience gets to see through the slow refocusing the daughter putting things together, until the whole picture is revealed. But I never thought about it as you guys have here, focusing on the emptiness of where Mrs. Robinson used to be instead of focusing on the out of focus face. Well now I need to go listen to some Simon & Garfunkel. What a turn this day has taken...!

[@danielrhuron]

Yes, I've never thought about the shot the way they did here. They're read makes sense, though: We are seeing the shot through his POV after all, but my first read has always been that the slow focus on her face was representative of her putting two and two together and then ... "Oh no."

[@painkiller346]

CineFix doing it amazingly again

[@dwilli777ams]

Some love for Mike Nichols, unexpected and appreciated

[@nateds7326]

7:38 great shot

[@jasondoe2596]

As a (shitty) amateur photographer, I approve of this episode! Great job, CineFix. Now I've gotta watch _Fallen Angels_ :)

[@CronicGaming94]

Depth is important.

[@lonewolfgamingplus379]

Blade Runner's glass scene is definitely beautiful

[@Carfalog]

If there is a channel that does daily vids breaking down individual shots, I need to find it right now. The library of film history is a limitless pit of content waiting to be explored.

[@brianezell2213]

I've always seen The Graduate focus shift as Elaine's realization of the situation. She slowly comes into focus as she slowly becomes aware of the situation that surrounds her.

[@jem5381]

Do a list for Best Screenplays!!

[@dlively7650]

I'm not sure what it's called, but Spike Lee's signature shot where the subject is walking, but in the shot, he stands still with the camera as only the background moves. The final act of Malcolm X is a good one.

[@Neat0_o]

Thank you so much for this video. I’m a film lover and I like to try and make my own films and this information on lenses and focal length is just fascinating and you showed and explained it perfectly. Thank you!

[@balleet210]

No mention of the zoom out from Clockwork Orange? Am I in another universe?

[@jonathanmelia]

Balleet Many of the shots in that were tracking, rather than zooming, out, and I think that’s one of them: look at the statues and they’re moving three-dimensionally. (There are photos of Kubrick on set filming from a wheelchair, such as the nurse walking through the hospital near the end) This is why the guys who made the Steadicam a few years later first sent their demo to Kubrick, because they knew he’d love it. He replied with the telegram, “Your demo for this new invention was spectacular, and you can certainly rely on me as a customer. This could revolutionise the way films are made in the future.”

[@davidlean1060]

that's a track shot, isn't it? I do like the snap focus in The Shining, when Danny is playing darts and he sees the twins and the camera whips in to focus on his face. Brilliant!

[@Corndog4382]

That shot from the graduate made my knees buckle.

[@username4570]

I know you don't like to pick new movies, and Kubrick is the toughest of competition, but the bedroom/bathroom scene in The Killing of a Sacred Deer that is shot in one, reframing what feels like dozens of times using only slow zooms is one of the most beautifully unsettling things I've ever watched

[@thisisscorpio6024]

Another thing about the The Graduate shot is the rain. Seeing her mom wet with rain, the daughter immediate makes the connection that Ben and her mom were just together outside of the home.

[@tomhahnl1927]

'Fallen Angels' what a great movie, I loved it!

[@IainMcClatchie]

This is great stuff. I love movies and I'm enjoying learning about what is it that makes me love movies.

[@davidbryson1332]

Challenging and brilliant as ever. Thanks for this.

[@deltacharlie2829]

Short focal length shots, expecially POV shots, are great at showing confusion or an altered state of mind. Trainspotting (Danny Boyle and Brian Tufano) and Clockwork Orange (Satanley Kubrick and John Alcott) are the best examples that come to mind.

[@sezarsezar2830]

oh this was what i subscribed to this channel for

[@themohamedsh28]

Wow that shot from The Graduate is brilliant.

[@needamuffin]

For the next set of these, can we get the shot of Kylo killing Snoke? There's so much going on in that shot and all that the camera does to capture all of it to shift focus once out and once back in. You get Ren's action to inflict the killing blow to Snoke, Snoke's death, the Praetorian Guards' reactions to it, Rey's arm reaching into frame to grab the incoming lightsaber, the camera focusing up to her and she moves into frame to give her reaction to her vision of Kylo's future coming true, and the advancement of the guards to begin the ensuing battle. It's so simple mechanically but oh so filled with pertinent information, I absolutely love it. The Holdo jump may be absolutely beautiful, but this was the best shot in the film for me.

[@isabelaoliveira9270]

I really loved this scene from The Graduate

[@Linebecken]

I feel like that slow focus from the Graduate was her slowly realising that Ben was talking her mother when the shot finally focuses in on her.

[@fricken99]

Your analysis is divine.

[@elsoldesanpedro]

I love the movies they choose to show us ...

[@andynguyen3271]

I just found my new favorite shot: The end credit from the movie "Call me by your name".

[@oldDNU]

Ngọc Nguyễn Thái have you seen Michael Clayton?

[@ObsydyanInkTV]

You guys are amazing! Thank you for creating this channel.

[@thefilmandmusic]

This might be the most outstanding cinefix...

[@GrantParker]

I love this series.

[@r.k.edwards3008]

In more recent filmmaking, I think the 180 degree tilt in the Killmonger takes the throne scene in Black Panther was freaking amazing.