Best Long Tracking Shots

[stayillogical]

I'm watching Boogie Nights right now and I really love how well choreographed that long take is in the opening.

[Losthope182]

I watched this movie once when I was like 12, I have almost no recollection of it at all. Maybe I should check it out again some time.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Russian Ark.

[Recovery Room]

Hate the movie but the one in Atonement is pretty amazing.

[terrycw89]

I'm a big fan of Gus Van Sant's Gerry because of the long shots through out the movie. Also, the opening of The Player is pretty impressive.

[irthesteve]

Hate the movie but the one in Atonement is pretty amazing.
I came in to say this, well except the hate part

[stayillogical]

The thing about the Atonement one though, is that it really took me out of the movie. The first time I watched it, I kept thinking, "Holy crap, how much longer is this going to go on? omg, how many takes did they have to do? etc etc" It was kind of showy and unnecessary. Felt more like a "Oh hey, look what I can do!"

[TJ Wells]

it's not a tracking shot, but the ending of the passenger. maybe the greatest ending (visually) ever

[williek311]

The thing about the Atonement one though, is that it really took me out of the movie. The first time I watched it, I kept thinking, "Holy crap, how much longer is this going to go on? omg, how many takes did they have to do? etc etc" It was kind of showy and unnecessary. Felt more like a "Oh hey, look what I can do!"

Don't watch Russian Ark.

[Ailite]

Meh I think the one in Atonement is phenomenal. Children of Men, too

[stayillogical]

Don't watch Russian Ark.

Haha, well I'm definitely interested in a movie without a single cut. But the Atonement one was just distracting because it didn't include any of the main characters, it was just background. I think my favorites are when they use the dolly and follow a character down a hallway and whatnot, Goodfellas one is so great. I love watching it, but I don't feel out of the movie so to speak, like in that Atonement scene.

It is amazing, don't get me wrong Atonement fans, haha. I just don't think it adds to the movie, if that makes sense.

[williek311]

Meh I think the one in Atonement is phenomenal. Children of Men, too
Backed on CoM. I think that movie is great.

[bladerdude360]

Orson Welle's A Touch of Evil opens with a really famous tracking shot: Yg8MqjoFvy4

[alann]

Meh I think the one in Atonement is phenomenal. Children of Men, too
Pretty much.

[Thomas Balkcom]

opening of Touch of Evil and The Player come to mind

[stayillogical]

Yeah, love the car scene from CoM too. That long take makes the scene frightening.

[bladerdude360]

I'm a big fan of Gus Van Sant's Gerry because of the long shots through out the movie. Also, the opening of The Player is pretty impressive.
Hate to be picky, but they're long takes, not long shots. A long take refers to the duration of the shot, whereas a long shot refers to framing (when you see a character's whole body). Technically the title of the thread is wrong too. Like I said, nit-picky, but I'm in a film study class haha.

[stayillogical]

I know about medium shots, long shots, etc but I thought long tracking shot was an acceptable term for long take? You have the word tracking in there, so there's no confusion of the meaning.

[narcoleptic953]

Hate the movie but the one in Atonement is pretty amazing.

I came in here to post this WITH the hate part! Such a breathtaking moment. Too bad I hated the story so much.

[bladerdude360]

I know about medium shots, long shots, etc but I thought long tracking shot was an acceptable term for long take? You have the word tracking in there, so there's no confusion of the meaning.
That's true, but there could also be a close-up tracking shot, or a medium tracking shot that doesn't refer to duration. I guess the proper way to say it would be a long take that uses a tracking shot (which is kind of a mouthful), but people will definitely know what you mean if you say long tracking shot. It's fine haha, like I said, I was just thinking about my film study course.

[reductiondesign]

Hate to be picky, but they're long takes, not long shots. A long take refers to the duration of the shot, whereas a long shot refers to framing (when you see a character's whole body). Technically the title of the thread is wrong too. Like I said, nit-picky, but I'm in a film study class haha.

I know about medium shots, long shots, etc but I thought long tracking shot was an acceptable term for long take? You have the word tracking in there, so there's no confusion of the meaning.

You're both right and wrong.

When the camera remains on for a long period of time, this is called a long take. A shot is how the frame is composed. However, a tracking shot (or a dolly shot) is when the camera moves, normally to follow a subject.

The thread's title isn't incorrect, but it's overly specific. What about long takes that are common in New Taiwanese Cinema? These are characterized by a long duration and very little camera movement (if any)—see the work of Wong Kar Wai, Tsai Ming-Liang, and Edward Yang for examples.

Ideal thread title: "Best Long Takes" Long tracking shots would surely come up in discussion.

(I'm a film major.)

[reductiondesign]

That's true, but there could also be a close-up tracking shot, or a medium tracking shot that doesn't refer to duration. I guess the proper way to say it would be a long take that uses a tracking shot (which is kind of a mouthful), but people will definitely know what you mean if you say long tracking shot. It's fine haha, like I said, I was just thinking about my film study course.

The crux of the issue is that your definition of "long" doesn't erase other definitions of "long".

[williek311]

fight scene in Oldboy

[reductiondesign]

Oh, and this is the winner of the thread:

yXIGP6_fNZk

[whoaisame]

Theres a bunch of reeeally long shots in Children of Men. Pretty amazing.

[bladerdude360]

You're both right and wrong.

When the camera remains on for a long period of time, this is called a long take. A shot is how the frame is composed. However, a tracking shot (or a dolly shot) is when the camera moves, normally to follow a subject.

The thread's title isn't incorrect, but it's overly specific. What about long takes that are common in New Taiwanese Cinema? These are characterized by a long duration and very little camera movement (if any)—see the work of Wong Kar Wai, Tsai Ming-Liang, and Edward Yang for examples.

Ideal thread title: "Best Long Takes" Long tracking shots would surely come up in discussion.

(I'm a film major.)
Fair enough. You definitely put it better than me haha.

The crux of the issue is that your definition of "long" doesn't erase other definitions of "long".
I'm not sure what you mean by this. "shot" refers to framing, whereas "take" refers to duration, so the word long means different things for the two. Long in the context of shot would mean from further away, but long in the context of take would mean more time...so they have different definitions? I know the way I worded it was wrong (and overly complex), but I don't think I understand what you mean here.

EDIT: that question mark after "definitions" was meant to be a period, making it a statement rather than a question.

[reductiondesign]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. "shot" refers to framing, whereas "take" refers to duration, so the word long means different things for the two. Long in the context of shot would mean from further away, but long in the context of take would mean more time...so they have different definitions? I know the way I worded it was wrong (and overly complex), but I don't think I understand what you mean here.

Some people say that a long shot refers to framing and not duration. I'm saying that "long" can mean either of those and, therefore, causes confusion.

[Protested Hero]

Orson Welle's A Touch of Evil opens with a really famous tracking shot: Yg8MqjoFvy4

Came in here to say this.

[ThexQuietxCull]

Orson Welle's A Touch of Evil opens with a really famous tracking shot: Yg8MqjoFvy4

this

and the shot from High Noon

[popdisaster00]

I'm watching Boogie Nights right now and I really love how well choreographed that long take is in the opening.
PTA rules so hard at long shots. Magnolia is full of them too.

[bladerdude360]

Some people say that a long shot refers to framing and not duration. I'm saying that "long" can mean either of those and, therefore, causes confusion.
I'm agreeing that a long shot refers to framing and that a long take refers to duration; those are the definitions of the terms. The term you use is significant because the two have different meanings. If you use different words that each have a specific meaning it should eliminate confusion. Long means different things in different contexts, but the words "shot" and "take" provide that context and demonstrate your intended meaning.

EDIT: that question mark in my last post was supposed to be a period. Maybe that's where some of the confusion here is stemming from haha.

[pshh]

i have such a fetish for tracking and steadicam shots like the film whore that i am

some scenes from annie hall come to mind

[reductiondesign]

I'm agreeing that a long shot refers to framing and that a long take refers to duration; those are the definitions of the terms. The term you use is significant because the two have different meanings. If you use different words that each have a specific meaning it should eliminate confusion. Long means different things in different contexts, but the words "shot" and "take" provide that context and demonstrate your intended meaning.

EDIT: that question mark in my last post was supposed to be a period. Maybe that's where some of the confusion here is stemming from haha.

I think we're arguing about the fact that we agree.

[heyozzie]

PTA does have some good tracking shots, i remember there being a few in there will be blood. After reading this thread, i'm seeing the difference between tracking and long shots, but i wanted to point out a couple of my favorite long (time-wise) takes, that don't necessarily 'track.'
the final scene of Tarkovsky's sacrifice is incredible, I won't give away what's happening but it's definitely worth watching.
One of my favorite movies is Jacques Tati's Playtime, he's the king of creating multiple storylines within a single shot. The last hour of the movie takes place in a restaurant and is quite a lesson in filmmaking and comedy.
Finally is Roy Andersson's 'Songs from the second floor,' another one of my favorites. The camera remains still the entire movie except for a single scene when he pans. It's made up of a series of long takes and very little dialogue. incredible movie.

I'lll probably think of some good tracking shots soon, i just saw this thread and had the urge to comment.

[Bob Payne]

Finally is Roy Andersson's 'Songs from the second floor,' another one of my favorites. The camera remains still the entire movie except for a single scene when he pans. It's made up of a series of long takes and very little dialogue. incredible movie.


I saw You, The Living and he did the same thing. I get the whole theater-like aspect of it, and the shot compositions were cool, but it really takes you out of the movie. It didn't help that You, the Living was itself essentially an anthology film.

[apresnuledeluge]

fight scene in Oldboy

came to say this.

[stayillogical]

You know what guys... as I made the thread I thought Long Take or Long Tracking Shot, and I thought the longer title sounded and looked prettier. Lol. But we all understand.

[stayillogical]

I saw You, The Living and he did the same thing. I get the whole theater-like aspect of it, and the shot compositions were cool, but it really takes you out of the movie. It didn't help that You, the Living was itself essentially an anthology film.

I sent you a PM about the MDC.

[heyozzie]

I saw You, The Living and he did the same thing. I get the whole theater-like aspect of it, and the shot compositions were cool, but it really takes you out of the movie. It didn't help that You, the Living was itself essentially an anthology film.

I've yet to see that one. great avatar by the way.

[And Hours Pass]

Meh I think the one in Atonement is phenomenal. Children of Men, too
Came in to drop Children of Men and Rear Window.

[OtherBen]

everyone should check out the fight scene one that someone posted earlier in the thread. choreography-wise, it's probably better than most mentioned here.

[Ravenna]

Scorsese's tracking shot in Goodfellas remains one of the most poignant in my mind. Maybe not one of the most technically intricate, but is responsible for one of the first shots in film i was consciously amazed by.

[bard]

there's a ten minute long scene at the end of Four Rooms that tarantino directed that is incredible. probably the best work he's ever done, in my opinion of course.

the movie sucks, but that last room/scene is the best.

[MyNameIsRoss]

Children Of Men is so fucking good.

[stayillogical]

I haven't seen the Perfume movie, but I'm going to read the book after I finish what I'm working on. Is the movie good?

[Brand-new-123]

Hitchcock's Rope was just one continuous shot front to back.

[modestdarci]

Eyes Wide Shut. Weird movie that i iddnt really like or get. But had some really cool camera work.

[heyozzie]

Hitchcock's Rope was just one continuous shot front to back.

actually it wasn't. it was just edited to look so. film reels only lasted for 7 mins or so, so he just used crafty editing. he actually said it didn't really work as an experiment because it took the suspense out of the film.

[reductiondesign]

Well, if we're getting into Tarkovsky territory...

PBZsj8FPSbo

[reductiondesign]

Hitchcock's Rope was just one continuous shot front to back.

Nope. There's even a visible cut in the film, maybe 3/4th of the way through.

Russian Ark and Timecode, though, are both single-take films.

[poppa Q]

I think Rope's longest shot is 13 minutes.

[Brand-new-123]

Nope. There's even a visible cut in the film, maybe 3/4th of the way through.

Russian Ark and Timecode, though, are both single-take films.

Ok yeah, I just looked that up. My teacher gave me the wrong information on it then. Still, it had some long shots especially for the time and equipment used. There are actually visible cuts every 20 minutes or so when they had to change reels. The film was still masterfully shot though.

[williek311]

Ufss5ot_vGE

[Throwback]

Ufss5ot_vGE
Amazing scene.

[Prestonxsmith]

No one has mentioned fucking Taxi Driver? Best tracking shot in history. Also, Wes Anderson also a bunch of great ones.

[Thomas Balkcom]

No one has mentioned fucking Taxi Driver? Best tracking shot in history. Also, Wes Anderson also a bunch of great ones.

wouldn't call it the best in history but it is amazing

[thursday727]

Boogie Nights is such an amazing movie.

[Thomas Balkcom]

http://trueslant.com/mikeharvkey/2009/11/30/the-10-best-long-tracking-shots-ever-filmed/

a lot of the ones already mentioned plus one that I forgot from Weekend.

[a speedo model]

Has the scene between the lead character and the priest in Hunger been mentioned?

[Bob Payne]

Has the scene between the lead character and the priest in Hunger been mentioned?

not a tracking shot, and I wouldn't call that shot particularly dynamic, anyway.

[I am Mick]

I'm a big fan of Gus Van Sant's Gerry because of the long shots through out the movie. Also, the opening of The Player is pretty impressive.

I honestly can't believe somebody liked Gerry. Worst movie I've ever seen...hands down.

[Genuma]

Henry V has an amazing shot after the big battle and they are carrying all the wounded.

[Prestonxsmith]

Taxi Driver has an amazing one at the end.

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

While not a good movie by any means, there is actually a good one in the movie Waiting

[Thomas Balkcom]

No one has mentioned fucking Taxi Driver? Best tracking shot in history. Also, Wes Anderson also a bunch of great ones.

Taxi Driver has an amazing one at the end.

....

[Prestonxsmith]

....
Holy shit ahha. No idea I had posted in this thread already.