The use of color and visual effects in a film can greatly impact its overall success. A film’s color palette is just as important as the plot and the sound design. Color and lighting are the key elements to establish a tone without heavy monologue, conversational dialogue, and narration. Something as simple as incorporating blue into a scene means something very different from the use of red or yellow. Some of the greatest cinematographers of all time have encapsulated entire cities into a film reel with their use of visual effects.
There are many ways to use color to establish a tone, or provoke symbolism. The Sixth Sense uses the color red throughout the film as a symbol to establish the difference between the living world and the dead. Another great example is the use of the same color, but in Schindler’s List, which is shot almost entirely in black and white. One of the most memorable scenes of the film is that of a little girl walking through the carnage wearing a bright red coat. This is interpreted to be a symbol of hope during one of the darkest moments in history. Visual effects are a key element in storytelling and are remarkably compelling to watch on screen. Here is a look at some of the most visually stunning films of the 2010s.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Call Me by Your Name
La Cinefacture
Call Me by Your Name was released in 2017 and was heavily regarded by both critics and moviegoers. It is an adaptation of a novel by the same name and won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film follows Elio (Timothée Chalamet), a 17-year-old spending the summer in Italy with his family, and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a doctoral student interning for Elio’s father. The two embark on a romantic journey together as they explore their sexualities in the summer of 1983. Call Me by Your Name is visually beautiful. The earthy tones and array of blue hues, helps create the idea that the relationship between the two is as emotionally stunning as their surrounding environment. As the film progresses and Elio becomes more and more vulnerable with Oliver, the color shifts from bright and stunning to deep and warm. Call Me by Your Name deserves the critical praise in all its regards, and is truly a coming of age drama that will withstand the tests of time.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Moonlight
A24
Moonlight, the story of a young African-American boy’s journey to manhood, has some of the most mystifying visuals to date. The deep purples and dark blues mend together to create the very close relationship between reality and childhood fantasy. The colors in the film literally emulate the title, focusing in on the very same hues you would during the twilight hours. Moonlight is stylized by three major moments in Chiron’s life. The chapters signify difficult defining moments, as Chiron attempts to find postive role models in the adult figures in his life. One of the most beautiful scenes in Moonlight is the swimming scene, where Juan (Mahershala Ali) teaches Little to swim. Barry Jenkins, the film’s director, said to EW: “I think the beauty of making this film was the cast, the crew, all these elements come together to capture what the world is presenting us.” Jenkins used the swimming scene to create an intimate moment between the two characters to build trust.
4 Joker
Warner Bros. Pictures
Wrapping up the decade with one of the most anticipated origin stories of the 2010s, Joker danced its way into the rankings as one of the most aesthetically pleasing movies of 2019. The film follows Arthur Fleck, society and Gotham City’s number one reject. Fleck works as a clown, but as he descends further into madness, he utilizes this persona to transcend into a full-on criminal mastermind. The bright, accentuated colors in Joker not only touch on the traditional portrayal of clown makeup, but also tap into the overall mood of Arthur Fleck. Deep greens are often associated with nature. However, this film uses these colors to mark the inherent corruption and suggest a more ominous tone.
3 Birdman
Regency Enterprises
Birdman follows Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who is a former onscreen superhero. His career has been at a stand =-still, and he hopes that his new endeavor on Broadway will reopen doors within his acting career. It is up for debate whether Riggan’s powers are actually manifesting in real time, or are merely delusions. However, the splice between crippling instability and fantastical feats is only half the fun of the film. There are various scenes of Riggan walking through the city and his alter ego aggressively dropping in behind him. The lighting alone provides almost all the mood coloring for the film, whether that be the deep blues of the stage lighting, or when he is engulfed within the warm embrace of the mixed Christmas and chili pepper lights. Yet, the most compelling is the specific yellow hues they use with Emma Stone who portrays Sam, a recovering drug addict. In an argument with Riggan, Sam states, “You’re doing this because you’re scared to death, like the rest of us, that you don’t matter. And you know what? You’re right. You don’t. It’s not important. You’re not important. Get used to it.” Sam is illuminated in yellow, emulating the insecurity within her father.
2 La La Land
Summit Entertainment
It is no surprise that musicals naturally use compelling imagery and have a larger display of flashy costume design. However, La La Land is arguably one of the most modest displays of a contemporary written musical. The fantastical events of the film are jarring enough to suggest that the premise isn’t grounded in reality. Neon lights, bright dresses, and the dark purples of a jazz club aid La La Land’s journey to the film’s final heartbreaking scene that offers something that a stage performance could never. As Sebastian and Mia lock eyes for what most likely will be the very last time, viewers are cast into a montage of what could have been. The montage is quick, and the music picks up its pacing. The colors are bright and transcend the drab coloring that the two wear in the jazz club as Mia sits watching Sebastian’s performance. The couple is walking on exaggerated set pieces, as opposed to the sad reality. La La Land is not only a certified tear-jerker, but guaranteed to provide emotional whiplash.
1 The Grand Budapest Hotel
Searchlight Pictures
Wes Anderson’s range as a filmmaker knows no bounds. No two films are ever the same, but his style is without a doubt one of the most recognizable on screen. The Grand Budapest Hotel is visually one of the most hypnotizing films of the 2010s. The film follows M. Gustave and his trusty lobby boy, Zero as they attempt to clear Gustave’s name as a murder suspect. The film takes place in the 1930s and the grand allure of the hotel itself is only one of the mystifying aspects of the off-beat comedy. Viewers are showered in magnificent purples and pastel pinks and blues. The over exertion of the hotel itself is to not only glorify the time period that the film takes place, but the counter the grim situation that Gustave finds himself in. The film was awarded the Oscar for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. Anderson is one of many great directors who knows just how important of a role ambience plays when it comes to the tone of a film.
