Visual Index ~ Bright Star's 'Best Shots'
Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 11:13PM We're almost to the mid season finale of Hit Me With Your Best Shot. This week's episode looks at Jane Campion's sorely underseen Bright Star (2009). The romantic drama about the poet John Keats and his unconsummated love with the headstrong Fanny Brawne was lost in the 2009 shuffle, but is a true beauty and a worthy entry in Jane Campion's tremendous filmography. It introduced the film world to the then 34 year old DP Greig Frasier, who had previously made shorts and obscure features, before Campion's film provided his breakthrough. He went on to plum assignments like Foxcatcher, Zero Dark Thirty and Snow White and the Huntsman. Frasier has yet to be Oscar-nominated but he's already one of the best DPs in the business.
Even more impressive, given that Bright Star is such a successfully intimate portrait of new love, is that the movie introduced its star Ben Whishaw to its film composer Mark Bradshaw; they were married just three years later.
Bright Star's Best Shots
11 images chosen by 13 participants
(in the order the articles came in this time)
Click on the pictures for their corresponding articles
One of the prettiest things I've ever seen.
-Zitzelfilm
Bright Star is all about the subtle touches of skin..."
-A Fistful of Films
...so many beautiful images that also happen to be encapsulations of the universal aspects of falling in love"
-Coco Hits NY
What is it that she spies beyond the boundaries of her domesticity, fenced off by windows and hidden behind opaque curtains?"
-Lam Chop Chop
In a film with mostly subdued feelings, this particular scene is electric with emotions..."
-Sorta That Guy
The years have been kind to the film..."
-Film Actually
This is the first time i’ve done a HMWYBS where I was absolutely disinterested with a film..."
- I Want to Believe
Fanny, trapped and bleached of color, but already pushing against her confines with a creative act."
-Anne Marie, The Film Experience
a film about four things: romance, Romanticism, being outside, and costuming..."
-Antagony & Ecstasy
What is young love if not...
-Evan Stewart
I truly and deeply hope that more people will seek this film out."
-Movie Nut
Unrequited love...
-Hey Norge
Campion has rightfully earned a reputation as a fiercely feminist filmmaker..."
-The Entertainment Junkie
NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS THE MID-SEASON FINALE. YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF ONE OF THREE MOVIES FOR THE ORSON WELLES CENTENNIAL: CITIZEN KANE, THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS or THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI. See something you've always meant to see and pick a shot. You won't regret it.
Reader Comments (6)
The first one is my cover photo on Facebook. It makes me swoon.
oooh. that's a good choice. Raul. I may change mine soon. maybe to that!
Love these selections. Lam Chop Chop, beautifully written too.
Greig is so amazing. You'll be happy to know Nat he's currently in my home town of Melbourne, Australia filming Nicole's new film, "Lion."
ooooh
A lot of very. Romantic images at play there.