The work by South Shields’ very own Scott brothers, Tony in particular, is what led me to notice style in cinema for the first time. In short, it led me to notice that there was something unique to look out for with every filmmaker. Tony’s work was so outrageously flashy, with its striking neon colours, filtered skies, smoke-filled rooms, and particular editing beats, that it was hard not to be woken up to what a director could leave as a trademark.
That is what I now take from cinema, and take with me into every film I watch. I look for a style and a visual pattern. I want to be seduced by framing and lighting in its simplest and showiest of forms. I don’t require them to be great philosophical works, or to try my patience, I just require them to do what film was invented to do: to show me something interesting.
In every film I watch, I look out for at least one shot that’s like no other, and which may reveal to me what a love of cinema the director has.
Tony Scott’s movies were an orgy of these moments. They were addictive and compulsive viewing, because every shot had some decadent design to it, and every scene had a nakedly joyful quality, much like a street carnival or kinky burlesque. But there was also a liberalist approach to Mr Scott’s contrasting characters. His heroes were often tortured, down on their luck, but intelligent, with an inner strength. Whereas his bad guys were simply bad, brutal, and greedy to the core.
This showed Tony’s sympathy for the lost souls and wayward spirits of this world, including a merciless aversion to corruption and privilege.
Although he has inspired many other directors over the years, his work has stood out amidst his lesser copyists, mostly due to his own work being that of a soul who just loved to capture images on film.
And loved to make them as bright and colourful and as entertaining as he could.
Tony Scott’s style and fingerprint will last in cinema for years to come, entertaining armchair critics such as myself and inspiring real filmmakers forever.
May he Rest in Peace.
