More Tech Awards

Cinematography:
The art of how the camera is used to capture the image the viewer will ultimately see. A complicated field that involves types of camera, style of filming and point of view. These are the people who are responsible for capturing the scene from the best possible viewpoint and frame, that ultimately can dictate the emotion, mood and authenticity of the scene. And the nominees are...

Changeling- Great usage of the camera to create a striking difference in perception and tone between the scenes in LA, the ranch and the psychiatric ward. Each location has a unique and distinguishable feel thanks to the usage of still shots in the calm neighborhood and the erratic, darkly lit scenes at the ranch.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- The one thing that is most notable in this film is its striking beauty as it captures the adventures and travels of the title character. From a fishing boat in the Atlantic to the the streets of New York City, the idealistic nature and brilliant usage of color captures the sense of the fantasy world that this character inhabits.
The Dark Knight- It is always difficult to create a dark, menacing atmosphere with the usage of low light, and yet make sure that the action and setting are still visible. The way that the entire usage of the metaphor of dark/light and good/evil and the hazy mixture of them together are used throughout this movie is cinematography at its finest.
The Reader- While this was not my favorite movie, I do acknowledge how meticulous and precise its cinematography is. The contrast between the shabby, bleached out look of the apartment and the brilliant color of the lake shots in the first half of the film create a dire sense of foreboding and foreshadowing for the later trial scenes.
Slumdog Millionaire- Another movie that gets points for sheer beauty. This movie takes a camera to film a motion picture and at the same time is able to create something that would be worthy of a tourist video about the history and sights of India. The pullback shot of still picture by still picture that showcases the vastness and uniformity of the slums during the first chase scene, along with its parallel shot as the two brothers look down from a skyscraper on the unrecognizable landscape that used to be there home is poetry in motion.

Who I would have nominated:
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Revolutionary Road

Editing:
- These are the people whose job it is to make sure that the viewing public doesn't have to sit through the five hour movie that most directors probably think their masterpiece deserves. They are responsible for taking the best footage, that most directly accomplishes its intended purpose, and cutting and weaving it into an enjoyable experience that flows, marks the passage of time, creates suspense and drama and most importantly actually makes sense. And the nominees are...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Ok, so this movie didn't get the memo on keeping it short, but epic adventures usually are given some leniency on that point. The editing in this movie showcases itself with the an impeccable sense of flow and, trailing right along with its main premise, the passage of time. The brilliance of starting the movie in a hospital room next to an old woman on her death bed, and springboarding from there thru the various stages and meaningful moments in time is just as adventurous and exciting as the action happening on screen.
The Dark Knight- In movies that utilize a vast set of characters who largely are not on screen at the same time, the essential job given to the editor is to make sure that those characters are not lost in the shuffle. They also have to craft the film in such a way as to bring important details, events and other minor characters to the viewers memory when they become important. Due to the quick pace and non-stop action in this film that can become a very difficult job, but this movie manages to pull it off without a second thought.
Frost/Nixon- The usage of archival footage, the incorporation of the post-facto interviewers dispersed throughout that gradually peel back this story layer by layer, along with the perfectly created stage for the actors to shine during the actual interviews are all picture perfect.
Milk- Another film that incorporates the usage of archival footage in a very meaningful and poignant manner. This film also has a great sense of time and flow as it meanders during the lazy periods and races at breathneck pace when the action heats up.
Slumdog Millionaire- This movie also uses an effective springboard in the form of a gameshow to enter the story, and it is very effective. Shot for shot, this movie gives you the most bang for your buck of any movie this year. There is a sport analogy that works well here that describes a player who always gives his all by "never taking a play off." Well this movie never takes one screen shot off, and that is a testament to great editing.

Who I would have nominated:
- Once again I have no complaints, these were my top 5 going into the nominations.