[in progress and being revised]
The "Perfect" Sequence
I believe that there is a small subset
of the filmmaking oeuvre, a tiny portion of the total amount of
finished film that is created, that could be classified "as
perfect, or nearly so". By perfect, I mean, that it is
inspired, that it rises above whatever limitations the filmmakers may
have experienced in their lives or this project and the sequence that
results is among their best work, that achieves as it were whatever
goals they may have had for that sequence in the context of the
larger project.
A
"perfect" sequence by this definition is of limited length,
it is part of a larger film but it can usually stand on its own. If
this is part of a low budget film, then the fact that it is low
budget is made to be an asset and not a limitation, at least for the
length of the sequence, the filmmakers have transcended the issue and
having more money would not have made it any better. It might have
even made it worse. A "perfect" sequence may be found in a
film that is overall far from perfect, although usually the sequence
does make everything better, somehow. A "perfect"
sequence must be judged in context, but usually can also stand by
itself as a short film.
It is, in essence, a "peak"
filmmaking and audience experience, one that is rarely sustained
throughout the film, and may be part of a film that is overall
successful or not, in other words, both "good" and "bad"
films may have these "perfect" sequences. In the genre
of the short film, it is generally the entire short film that is
"perfect" or nearly so, several music videos by Michel
Gondry come to mind.
When
the audience first sees a "perfect" sequence they know it
because they are astounded, captivated and it makes them think that
it is possible to do good work in this far-from-perfect world.
Generally speaking, ones first
impressions of a "perfect" sequence does not change with
time. When you see that sequence again you still think that it is an
amazing piece of work. But the perception of "perfection"
is a subjective one, not an objective one. One persons' "perfect"
sequence may be another person's merely enjoyable or well-made scene.
There is no absolute perfection that is suggested here, but that it
is filtered through the perceptions of the audience, whose response
may vary.
Suggested Examples
Consider the following sequences from
films as potential "perfect" sequences. At least, they
have that affect on me. In a few cases, I am able to point you to a
version online.
-- Nightmare Before Christmas
(1993), dir by Henry Selick
The
inspired opening number of Nightmare Before Christmas which introduces us to
Jack,
the town of
Halloween, its Mayor, the female lead, and the other characters of the film.
--
Last of the Mohicans (1992), dir
by Michael Mann
The
chase through the forest sequence near the end of the film where
Hawkeye is running
to
save the life of his friend
-- The Princess Bride (1987),
dir by Rob Reiner
Few movies have even one good sword
fight, this movie has two. In the first fight, the
-- Goodfellas (1990), dir by
Martin Scorsese
The continuous steadicam shot where we
enter the Copacabana from outside, through the
kitchen, are seated and see Henny Youngman begin his act. According to the cinematographer
in the documentary below, they had 8 takes (which is not that many) and it took less than a
day to shoot.
-- Apocalypse Now (1979), dir by
Francis Coppola
The 16 minute sequence of the attack
of the village, starting with Robert Duvall signalling
the division bugler to call "charge",
through the flight of the Valkyries, the napalm attack,
and ending with the famous napalm
speech.
-- Borat (2006), dir by Larry
Charles, National Anthem of
Kasakhstan
This
is a very strange movie, with good and bad parts to it, I think. It
ends with a fake
National
Anthem of Kazhakstan, which doubles as end credits for the film. Sadly, Fox will
not permit me to post this piece. So you will have to see it another way. Some of the lyrics
are in note 1, below.
-- Gunga Din (1939), dir by
George Stevens
Considered by many to be one of the
great films of a certain era, the sequence where
Gunga Din climbs to the top of a
monument, though wounded, signals "call to arms" at
the cost of his life is pretty great,
as long as you can look beyond the issues of British
Imperialism.
They wait to ambush the unsuspecting British...
The noble and wounded Gunga Din climbs to the top of a monument to issue the bugle call "Alert! To Arms!"
The British are alerted in the nick of time ! They fall back, then the Sikhs charge !
-- Orpheus (1950), dir by Jean
Cocteau
One of the great uses of optical
printing for non-realistic purposes, the hero, Orpheus, is
taken to the afterworld by a guide who
is part of the afterworld bueaucracy through a
landscape that looks eerily like
post-WW2 europe (the film was made right after the war)
-- The Godfather (1972), dir by
Francis Coppola
The baptism sequence near the end of
the film
-- Dr. Strangelove (1964), dir
by Stanley Kubrick
This film has many "perfect"
sequences, but one in particular is "the bomb run", from
when
the B52 approaches the alternate
target through the opening of the bomb bay doors and the
dropping of the bombs. Most of this sequence is at the following URL, unfortunately do
technical problems, the last 20 seconds or so are missing, but you get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSbPqin3L6E
-- Let Forever Be (1999), The
Chemical Bros, dir by Michel Gondry
Our token short film / music video.
The fabulous sendup of video synthesis in a modern
context, all faked with sets and real
dancers. Genius can be so annoying.
A Greater Significance ?
There may be a further significance of
such sequences beyond merely being entertaining and a proof of
virtuoso skill on the part of the filmmaker. I wonder if such
sequences might not serve to encourage us, to help make better the
dreadful reality of our pointless lives and degraded civilization.
After all, it is our lot in life to see
corruption and fraud masquerading as government, theft and oppression
described as employment, obvious privilege for the elites pretending
to be a system of justice. Endless lies and self-satisfied ignorance
rewarded while poverty and misery is ignored. The undeserving
elevated and the good oppressed.
This is the world we live in and it is,
I am told, the best of all possible worlds.
Thus, the argument might go, something
that rose above the obvious failure of our society, such a thing
would be even more valuable because it would serve as an existence
proof that something was worth doing and perhaps encourage us to
believe that there was hope for making things better, as unrealistic
as those hopes may be.
But I may be investing this concept
with too much significance here, it may be nothing more than just
good filmmaking.
____________________________________
1. The lyrics of Kazakhstan National Anthem are a little hard to make out, so here is my best translation of the lyrics.
Kazakhstan greatest country in the world
All other countries are run by little girls
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium!
Other countries have inferior potassium.
Kazakhstan home of Tinshein swimming pool
Its length 30 meter and length 6 meter
Filtration system a marvel to behold
It removes 80 percent of human solid waste
Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, you very nice place!
From plains of Tarashenk to Northern Fence of Jewtown!
