With the new riff on the ol' Ghostbusters property nearly upon us, what better time to look back at the original comedy smash? While the film's comic tone and dialogue are well remembered its visuals are less often discussed. The film was shot by the Hungarian cinematographer László Kovács. He logged a lot of quality time in the romantic comedy genre (What's Up Doc?, My Best Friend's Wedding, Say Anything...) but made his name in the 70s on scrappy, famous and/or ambitious pictures like Five Easy Pieces, Shampoo, New York New York, and Paper Moon.
Without further ado, let's see what the Hit Me With Your Best Shot club thought of the look of this picture and what slimy memories this revisit stirred up...
GHOSTBUSTERS
Directed by Ivan Reitman. Cinematography by László Kovács.
Starring: (in order of billing) Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Sigourney Weaver,
Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton & Ernie Hudson.
Click on the 12 images to read the 15 corresponding articles
Bill Murray. What does make him tick?
-54 Disney Reviews
The look on their faces tho...
-Daniel Laferriere *first time participant*
Grown white men have their fun while the rest of the world cleans up their mess...
- Bennett Prosser *first time participant*
A good old fashioned 80s Improvement Montage, complete with a song that is either brilliantly awful or secretly genius...
-Scopophiliac at the Cinema *first time participant*
It arguably has endured as a beloved classic precisely because the people in it are so full-heartedly human.
-Nebel Without a Cause
I'm well aware that this is nobody's idea of a scary movie...
- Antagony & Ecstasy
it’s fun to see things pop in and out of frames, especially when the frames are static. It’s almost like seeing a painting being disturbed...
-Coco Hits NY
It’s useless to try to deny my love for her and it’s inescapable that my best shot features her...
-Magnificent Obsession
Bill Murray's chemistry with everyone... and I mean everyone in the movie.
-Movie Motorbreath
The images of Sigourney keep getting richer and sexier as the insanity mounts
-The Film Experience
We Need to Talk About Dana Barrett’s Apartment.
-FilmMixTape
Recreating the Exorcist as a screwball comedy date...
-Bohemian Cinema Salon *first time participant*
The movie doesn't really get interesting, narratively and visually, until midway when Weaver's character gets possessed by the spirit of Zuul.
-Sorta That Guy
Most of my favorite shots are when the movie embraces its crazy and over the top nature.
-Wick's Picks *first time Best Shot participant!*
Ghostbusters is a perfect '80s blockbuster version of the classic 50s monster B-movies...
-Dancin Dan on Film
NEXT WEEK: Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement (2007) with James McAvoy, Keira Knightley & little Oscar nominated Saoirse Ronan. [Keira Knightley Voice] "Come back to me it."