"A montage of unique dolly shots from the films of Spike Lee."

April 30, 2012 9:02 PM

Spike Lee: The Dolly Shot (SLVimeo) Compiled by Richard Cruz, featuring "Bra" by Cymande.
posted by beaucoupkevin (13 comments total)

Thank you! This magic post has lead me to discover that She's Gotta Have It is on Netflix instant until tomorrow.
posted by munchingzombie at 9:13 PM on April 30, 2012

I think technically some of those are SnorriCam shots, not dolly shots.

Way cool, though. That bathroom scene in 25th Hour is one of my favorite things.
posted by arsey at 9:14 PM on April 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

SnorriCam, so that's what you call it! Anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of either technique. It's a little too cutesy and too wink wink. Inside Job was an otherwise really solid and (for Lee, anyway) straightforward thriller; that dolly shot of Denzel took me right out of the movie.

Though the SnorriCam is a great way to convey inebriation.
posted by zardoz at 9:42 PM on April 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

I actually hate this shot most of the time. It's not SnorriCam. SnorriCam is attached to the actor and moves with them. The Spike Lee shot the actor is just riding on the dolly. Their lower body isn't moving but they are and the camera is, that's what makes it so distinctive.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:57 PM on April 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Yeah, not a Snorricam and very annoying. I literally groan every time I'm at a Lee film and it comes on. Lee's had it in pretty much every movie and it's only ever worked a few times, imo: Washington practicing trumpet, Leguizamo reading the paper, and Paquin at the club.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:00 PM on April 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

Wait, you're telling me all those shots were actually in actual movies?! Crazy.

Especially the one with Denzel and the swat team, that just looked like an out-take style shot they would show in the bonus features on the DVD...
posted by inparticularity at 12:14 AM on May 1, 2012

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but he does tend to overuse it. It is fantastic is Crooklyn. Paquin at the club in 25th Hour is not unlike Tate at the club in Dead Presidents, which is not unlike Keitel at the club in Mean Streets.
posted by Rocket Surgeon at 2:44 AM on May 1, 2012

The PJs did a hilarious version of this shot.
posted by Trurl at 5:21 AM on May 1, 2012

Yeah! I hate it when a director tries to have style and do something unique! That totally sucks!

Shut up, people. The dolly shot in Malcolm X was one of the most powerful moments in filmmaking, IMHO.
posted by fungible at 5:36 AM on May 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

Yeah! I hate it when a director tries to have style and do something unique! That totally sucks!

Shut up, people.

Woah.

If it makes you feel any better I love some of the other stylistic, unique stuff he does. Just not this shot.
posted by nathancaswell at 7:39 AM on May 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I feel like this shot works best when it's really subtle or when it's completely over the top fake, but anywhere inbetween it kinda falls apart. My favorite is definitely Harvey Keitel gliding sideways alongside the kid on the bike in Clockers.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:22 AM on May 1, 2012

Yeah! I hate it when a director tries to have style and do something unique! That totally sucks!

Once is unique. Lee has made over 15 features, each of them containing a shot that instantly takes you out of them.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 9:10 AM on May 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

"Yeah! I hate it when a director tries to have style and do something unique! That totally sucks!

Shut up, people."

Just because something is unique doesn't make it good. If it doesn't serve the narrative or the film experience, if it's just some show off bs, then it's annoying.

Sort of like people who say "shut up" in a discussion thread.
posted by Outlawyr at 9:18 AM on May 1, 2012 [3 favorites]