Darren Aronofsky’s movies always leave a visual impression on you all while they’re effing with your brain. That’s all part of it—the disorienting feeling experienced by the eye corresponds deeply with the same feeling being perpetrated on the mind. It’s one of the qualities that makes his films so distinct and affecting. And the visual aspect of this impression is a testament to the work of his collaborating cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, who shot Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and Black Swan, among other well-known titles.
Libatique has done solid work with Jon Favreau in recent years, but it’s his work with Aronofsky that stands out the most. His range is most evident in the stylistic chasm between The Fountain and Black Swan, the former possessing immense impressionistic color and beauty, and the latter employing frenzied movements and nightmarish images to create two distinct pieces of work. It’s not just the ability to carry out both looks, but the absolute mastery of them that makes Libatique unique. I can’t wait to see what he does with Noah.
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Published: Sep 20, 2013 06:52 pm