This summer, the renowned video essay channel, Every Frame a Painting, saw a revival with creators Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos delving deep into the art of the “sustained two-shot.” This technique captures an extended dialogue between two characters uninterrupted by cuts. Once a staple of classic Hollywood, as demonstrated by legendary directors like Polish-born Billy Wilder, its significance has diminished in today’s era of extensive filming and editing.
David Thomson notes the brilliance of Wilder’s storytelling in his insightful book, The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. Wilder’s films, such as Double Indemnity—a gripping tale of crime driven by greed— and The Lost Weekend—a candid portrayal of alcoholism—push against the grain of conventional American optimism. His characters, embroiled in personal and societal dramas, reveal layers of irony and depth that remain enlightening and engaging even today.
While known for his comedic brilliance, Wilder’s films offer humor wrapped in layers of irony. “His characters often say the opposite of what they mean,” stresses Zhou, emphasizing the presence of verbal irony, alongside dramatic irony—where the audience knows more than the characters—and situational irony, where the outcomes are both unexpected and inevitable. This complexity adds a compelling emotional depth to Wilder’s narratives, making his works timeless.
Though celebrated for dialogue, Wilder’s mastery lay equally in his visual storytelling. He believed that films should primarily convey narratives through imagery, strategically placing the camera to capture the underlying subtext. Using as few camera setups as possible, he crafted scenes rich in emotion and meaning. This approach can be seen when contrasting his original Sabrina with its lackluster 1995 remake by Sydney Pollack, revealing the genius behind Wilder’s enduring appeal.
Explore More:
- 10 Insights from Billy Wilder on Crafting Stellar Screenplays
- Understanding Film Noir: Essential Elements Illustrated
- Revisiting the Two-Shot Technique with Every Frame a Painting
- An Analysis of Scripts from The Shining, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Dark Knight
Colin Marshall, based in Seoul, writes and broadcasts about urban culture, language, and literature. He is the curator of the newsletter Books on Cities and author of The Stateless City: A Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow his thoughts on Twitter @colinmarshall and connect with him on Facebook.
