No the film is not actually called Cinema Reloaded (awwwwwww, raspberries) but hey look! Keanu Reeves made a movie about the twitter argument I have every day*!
The topic of film vs. digital remains a contentious one, even as the writing on the wall has gone from being mere graffiti all the way to a sign made of (reusing my own term here) GIANT, EXPLODING, NEON BEN-HUR-LETTERS. There are still those that just don’t think digital looks as beautiful as film, or that perhaps the transition is happening a hair too fast but as Kodak files for bankruptcy (this morning!), camera companies fully cease production of film cameras, and Technicolor/Deluxe restructure to minimize losses on their print-striking businesses… well there’s just not an argument to be had anymore, 
unless it’s about aesthetics rather than industry trends. I’m kind of forcing the narrative I see onto Keanu’s film that I haven’t watched, but it would take real hardcore spin to conclude that digital isn’t on the cusp of marginalizing film completely. And considering the expense, multiple processes, and infrastructure necessary for film processing, I’m not sure it’s even going to be able to maintain a vinyl-like life on the fringes.
In other words: you can absolutely argue that film shouldn’t die, but it would be disingenuous to argue that’s its not in the middle of doing so.
That said, this short trailer promises a documentary that gets opinions from some of the biggest filmmakers on the planet, and acknowledges both sides of the digital, film, and even 3D arguments. James Cameron, Chris Nolan, Wally Pfister, Dick Pope, David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh, Walter Murch, David Fincher, Lars Von Trier, Martin Scorsese, “the glasses suck,” DSLRs… all the players are present. What’s great is that it looks like Keanu is conducting these interviews with a genuinely exciting curiosity and interest in the subject. I would imagine Mr. Reeves is a great documentary front-man (this was actually directed by Chris Kenneally), as he’s such a charming dude when he’s just himself. I can’t wait to see this.
The film has a nice website, twitter, and Facebook presence already up, and will debut at the Berlin Film Festival which begins February 10th. I hope I can find a place to give it a watch soon after.
Twitter
Comment Below
Message Board
*Where people like CHUD pals Joseph Kahn and Iain S. throw in their opinions frequently.
3 comments
We’ll see if Tarantino holds to his puerile word that when ‘film’ is gone he won’t make anymore ‘films’.
Film is just as much ‘technology’ as digital is, ignoring it is not really being honest/appreciating what makes movies, ‘movies’. Celluloid stilll has great beauty but the way it has been engineered to perform in light with samller grain structure etc. over the past few decades, it’s beginning to become more and more interchangeable with the digital image. Once digital can handle burn-out/light roll-off as well as film, I’m sold.
Someone should tell Quentin celluloid doesn’t look like it was shot and manufactured in the -glorious- 70’s anymore. That look is gone and is usually replicated via digital grading, whether a film is originated digitally or on celluloid.
I think the practical approach is to shoot on whatever format you plan to exhibit on. So if your plan is to project IMAX, shoot IMAX, if you want to exhibit on 35, shoot 35, etc. Since digital projectors have become the broad standard, and since virtually every “film” eventually becomes digitized for DVD and Blu-Ray, the writing, as you say, has been on the wall for quite some time.
I appreciate the head’s-up on this terrific-looking documentary. Can’t wait to see it!
I would love to see these twitter debates turned into a series of interviews.
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.