Side by Side

A generation after George Lucas declared that "film is dead," blockbusters such as The Dark Knight Rises continue to be shot on celluloid, although the high-tech digital-imaging that Lucas championed and field-tested in his Star Wars series now matches the image quality of analog media, so film's exit may truly be in the script. A low-key Keanu Reeves speaks to a celestial cast of directors, cinematographers, and editors (including Lucas, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, David Lynch, and Danny Boyle) on the film-vs.-video debate—an artistic/economic choice that is rife with unexpected and downright Hollywood-esque ironies. Film-load changes and lab processing created specific work rhythms on the set, with frequent actor breaks and the social ritual of beholding the "dailies" of what was previously shot. Digital-video shoots, on the other hand, can continue nonstop (one interviewee recalls a particularly graphic protest made by Robert Downey, Jr.; urine was involved). With film, the director of photography is a master of lighting, focus, and filters, while digital tools allow just about anyone to run the camera—even egocentric actors wanting the best shots of themselves. The intended audience here falls somewhere between casual movie buffs and hardcore technophiles wanting to know more about how James Cameron and Vince Pace developed their own 3D system for Avatar, but most viewers will find this to be a satisfying—if also a little wistful—look at the inevitable fadeout for film (although one angle oddly not addressed here is the environmental impact—i.e., film creates toxic waste and exerts fuel tolls in shipping and delivery that digital does not). Extras include deleted scenes and additional interviews. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)