It's a crime that Cuaron directs a movie once every 6 years

I worked as talent in “ROMA” and got to see the making of the one-shot long take of the student protest/massacre (the shooting & vandalization of the car & the girl screaming)... I mean WOW! It was so great to witness a masterful work of blocking within a seamless panning of a long take. And yes, they all work in favor of storytelling itself. Watching most of his films, in the one-shot sequences, feels like cinema verité filmmaking. Even Spike Lee himself said he was astonished by “ROMA”’s climatic scene in the beach! (plus, the sound design always helps and Cuarón is a visionary in terms of the evolution of sound systems, the Dolby Atmos experience was so immersive within the framework itself)

Cinematography is easily one of the most important aspects of a film. Too bad the Academy doesnt seem to understand this.

Children of Men and Prisoner of Azkaban are two of my favourite films that made me love Cuaron as a director.

I just watched Roma not too long ago and those one shots were incredible

There was legit a second where I thought I was watching an Every Frame a Painting video. Thats a good thing.

So happy to see modern super talented Mexican artists get this kind of recognition

Just when you thought more could not be said about the one-shot... Great work. Cuaron's one-shots, at least in Children of Men, Gravity, and Roma, do so much to *trap* you in his worlds. They give you no chance to breathe or mentally break yourself from what you're experiencing. The scene on the beach in Roma is truly harrowing.

You missed the long take in POA where Mr. Weasley explains to Harry about Sirius Black. It’s the best scene in the movie. Edit: Oh, you sorta showed it at the end, good!

that intro text was spectacular

I admire how beautiful Romas shots are, its truly inspiring to anyone who wants to become a filmmaker

Yes, if you're looking for the word, it's essentially: intentionality. Even maybe sincerity or honesty. He employs the long take so that, as a viewer, you know that you see the whole picture-- as close to the truth as you can get. He doesn't cut because you need to know that *this* is how it happens; no doctoring, no editing, no looking away. And because of that, the shots are all at once intimate, intense, suspenseful, brutal, beautiful, laid bare. He doesn't do long takes for the sake of the long take (no matter how much it may seem like that). It always has a narrative, as much as a formalist, function.

I love your channel. Don't ever stop. I felt you were a bit to harsh on 007. The transition from "Person at a party" to "Spy" was effectively communicated through that one-shot. I think if it was cut it would not have been as impactful when you see James walking on the rooftop. Perhaps it wasn't worth the expense and effort to create that scene, but I don't think I'll ever forget that movie because of that one-shot. Thanks again. Great job pushing the boundaries of video essays.

Roma it's not a movie it's an experience like the revenant.

Thanks for the reminder of how visually stunning Children of Men was. Also for getting me more hyped to see Roma.

How do you not see the benefit of the opening to Spectre? It's like you don't watch movies just to enjoy them ever? It puts you in the setting. It allows you to explore It defines the suave tone of the film.

Great video man, camera work has been always Cuarón's signature (obviusly with the help of Lubezki)... but in Roma he proved himself as a great cinematographer. He is one of the all time greats!!

I think a Cuarón long take is when your watching the movie and 3 min into the take you go “Holy shit this is all in one take”

Great Video! But In my opinion, it should be named "The Lubezki-Cuaron One-Shot Sequence". I believe these great sequences are the result of the talent, the creative and artistic collaboration of both artists.

I've watch Roma 16 too many times 😂😂 I love the sounds. It takes me back to my childhood in southern Mexico ❤🇲🇽

"almost like a Terrence Malick film" Maybe because also a lot of Malick films were shot by Lubezki? Lol

Cuaron is my favorite director. So underrated and unique

Aaw man this kind of videos are the reasons why I visit KZfaq every day. Instant suscription.

I love the distracted camera technique he employs. By taking the camera off the characters to look at other things of note in their surroundings, it makes the viewer feel more like an active participant rather than an omniscient observer.

Long shots are done to create tension or showcase a complex environment or to create a sense of gracefulness.

I hope you're able to dip into some television cinematography soon. I'm sure you've considered this. But I'd recommend Sam Esmail and Mr. Robot. Absolutely beautiful and very effective long takes when necessary. Well done, another awesome video thank you!

I was looking for a video like this for so long! thank you.

Excellent video!! I found his long shots super interesting and yeah it's cool that he can use those shots in such different ways in his films. Roma...is pure art.

Fantastic video, thank you! Your point on using long takes for a narrative reason was great food for thought, especially with that Spectre example. Really great stuff.

I like it when long takes are supposed to sort of be a climactic moment in a film. For example, in Creed there aren't a lot of obvious long takes, but there is one when he does his first fight, and it lends itself to the big moment because it makes you feel like you're in the ring with him, and that you can't afford to miss a second of what's happening.

Children of Men is on my top 5 movies of all time. A true MASTERPIECE 💙.

Fantastic video! Great summary and analysis of why Cuaron is a modern master. That riot scene in Roma blew my mind.

What about A Little Princess? A great Cuaron movie no one ever talks about

I think that's brilliant establishing in Spectre

Great work! I enjoy your essays.

HE HAS TO WIN TO BEST PICTURE

Children of Men and Roma are two of the greatest films I’ve ever seen. And I only refer to things as films as opposed to movies when they’re real masterpieces. (Or just old)

Great work, man. Just discovered your channel. I really dig it so far. Y Tu Mama Tambien breaks my heart. I love that film. I still need to see Children of Men and Gravity.

one of your best videos

Thank you for this video!

Amazing work!

This is a brilliant video essay!

Your "Spectre" analysis is very accurate. Cheers to that!

Brilliant analysis!

I almost cried with your video, all from remembering Roma

Excellent! Thank you so much!

Such a unique director, can't wait to see what he does next

great analysis

ROFS did an essay about arguably the best director working right now and my absolute favourite I'm so happy thank you Andy

a long take is never to show off...its always about character and emotion....

The best filmmaker of the decade.

A great long take... close encounters of the third kind. When Roy sees the mountain on TV

Increíble, muy orgullosa de él

Wonderful observation

You made me finally watch Children of Men just to avoid spoilers from this video. It didn't have any. Still, thank you. That one was brilliant.

I probably watched PoA 10 times in 2 weeks on DVD release. It blew my mind how beautifully shot and fun that film is. Whilst also having an awesome soundtrack adding to the chaotic timey wimey story And this was all before I even knew anything about film/directing etc.

Love this!

An underrated director

Orgullo mexicano!

Cuaronvs one shots and directorial acumen have been garnering a lot of attention lately. He should be included in the discussion of the greatest 21st century directors, now with two Best Directors in his bag.

Long take creates a beautiful illusion

the one shot scenes from prisoner of askaban scenes are my absolute favourite... especially that one where they all are eating candies in dorm room..

His long takes give us a better sense of space.

God I love Cuaron so much

"Happy accident blood splatter on the lens" ) You really do have a way with words ) Thanks for one more great analysis video though )

Pan shots were used frequently in classic films, in Roma very much like Pather Panchali.

Indeed, long track shots of more than a minute can become boring very quickly because they often come off as being self-congratulatory. Alfonso Cuarón and his brother Carlos use them in their individual styles however, always to further the plot. "Roma" easily was one of the best movies of over twenty I saw at last year's AFI Film Fest and Alfonso deservedly won for best director and cinematography - on top of taking best foreign contribution at the Oscars this year.

"the background of the story becomes the background of the frame"

You can spot several cuts in the Great Expectations bit. Every time someone walks in front of the camera or he goes through a dark spot in the street the view becomes completely black.

Looks like there's a cut on the phone booths in the "great expectations" example. Oner in spirit though I guess.

Great video but it should definitely should be titlled 'The Chivo Lubezki One-Shot Sequence'. All the movies you have mentioned with the exeption of 'HP the prisoner of azkaban' and 'Roma' (where even though Lubezki wasn't the DP through all the entire movie it was present in the pre-production stage of it, and Cuaron himself pointed out that he have planed the movie to be directed by Lubeski) So almost all of those movies where directed (DP) by Lubeski and i think that it's him that should be credited for all of those amazing long shots

Bring out the good fellas's long shot arguments :)

we need Cuaron's Masterclass

Made before 1917 came out, with Mendes and Deakins creating that one shot look....(I think they collaborated on that Bond film too you mentioned) *Btw, I noticed the beginning of A Quiet Place Part II had a nice one shot look at the beginning. Edit: actually Spectre was Mendes & Hoyte van Hoytema, but I think that opening shot is where Mendes got the idea for 1917’s one-shot look.

hey just some positive criticism. The yellow in your logo made think your video was an ad and almost not click it. but I'm high and it's late so maybe there's that to consider, too.

Alfonso's movies are very personable to his audience which makes them impactful movies.

The best of all time

Not sure if I agree with your take on Spectre's opening - a movie such as that - in my opinion requires a grand beginning and that long shot sequence is very well executed - it is immersive and keeps the suspense on what is about to happen on a simmer.

Cool, related to this subject you should make an analysis about the supposed film in a single shot of Iñarritu´s Birdman

Afonso Cuarón won the Oscars again!! Ese es mi chingón!!!

Lubezki is the man.

Hey the first shot of spectre was over here. So stop it. It was beatiful

The single shot through the war torn street in Children of Men is brilliant. I cannot wait to see Roma. I don't think enough directors do long takes. I think that actors relish long shots.

The long shot at the beginning of Spectre grounds the existence of the festival in the square. Later, the crashing helicopter is threatening the people we were walking with earlier.

The Cuaroner.

I remember an interview in which he said that he didn't make some long shots just for a "look mama no hands kind of thing".

Great essay. I would just add the tremendously important influence of Emmanuel "El Chivo" Lubezki.

Great video bro. But your pronunciation of 'Y tu mama tambien' was killing me, lmao

“Good Lord, this right is just perfect.” 🙏

I love Cuaron’s filmography! It’s a shame Rome only got a limited theatrical release yet amazing that he was able to rangle together the resources to much applause for a personal story with no pretense. Although, I thought that Prisoner of Azkaban was kinda boring. Most likely this was purely a gig and I’m just reacting to a Harry Potter movie (that’s the only one I’ve ever seen). I don’t understand why they have to mull over the school stuff instead of just getting to Sirius Black if that was the 3rd movie. Also, why does that movie end with a freeze frame?

I'd argue that SPECTRE's opening shot eloquently lays out the world into which Bond will soon crash back down into, in pursuit of his target, towards the helicopter. That opening shot pays off just a minute or two later.

One shot bro! It means it's great bro

M. Night has some great non spectacular long takes in his filmography, often used in dialogue scenes where the length of the shot doesn't draw attention to itself. Unlike a lot of the more recently seen long takes.

I was extremely lucky in watching Roma in a big theater. This Netflix movie does not deserve being seen on television screen. It's really that good.

Roger Deakins & Immanuel Lubezki are the best on what they do.

Not to mention that the Spectre opening shot wasn’t even one take. It was four takes, stitched together.

I know this is pretty rich and there’s more to talk about in this video but I just realized that a song in the soundtrack for Great Expectations is what Kanye West sampled for Robocop is his 2008 album 808s and Heartbreaks.

I also try to incorporating long takes in my short films.

Yes, the beach scene is perfect

Wait was the music in the intro from Children of Men or just an awesome chance? If was a change, was it from Twin Peaks: The Return?