Sunday, May 27, 2012

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

Jack Cardiff was a master cinematographer who worked in the film industry for an astounding span of ten decades. An innovator with light and the Technicolor format, Cardiff made his name with the inimitable writing/directing British duo of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, ventured out on his own as a director, and left a remarkable legacy which included two Academy Awards, one for his work in "Black Narcissus" and the other an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award. "Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff" is an in depth look at his career, led by the man himself through a series of interviews shot shortly before his death in 2009 at the age of 91, where he reveals even more of his unique abilities, such as an adept penchant for painting. Cardiff's achievements are incredible in their own right, and with the warm and funny man guiding us through his own journey, it makes this insightful documentary all the more worthwhile.