Side By Side

SIDE BY SIDE

Director : Christopher Keneally

Year : 2013

Rating : Documentary

Rating : ****

'Side By Side' is a fascinating documentary about the digital revolution; how is affecting modern cinema and the way that movies are created. Narrated by Keanu Reeves and featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood, 'Side By Side' is an in depth look at the death of celluloid, the overuse of 3D and how filming on digital has actually improved filmmaking. While seeming one sided, the movie is a must see for true film fans who are just as interested in the alchemy of film production as well as the actual imagery shown on a large cinema screen.

Featuring interviews from such esteemed directors as Danny Boyle, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Richard Linklater, Martin Scorsese and Steven Soderbergh as well as dozens of cinematographers, DI lighters and editors, 'Side By Side' answers some of the burning questions asked in the movie industry today. From stereoscopy to visual effects, lighting techniques to the death of cinema itself, the documentary traces the lifespan of 35mm film from the birth of cinema itself to present day blockbusters. As well as exploring these issues, 'Side By Side' also takes an intensive look at the technology behind the cameras used on some of the biggest productions in film history; from 'Gone With The Wind' to 'The Dark Knight Rises' and the pros and cons of each.

'Side By Side' is directed by Christopher Keneally, who is best known as a post - production supervisor behind many independent features such as 'The Squid & The Whale' and '13'. This film is his first feature debut as a director and 'Side By Side' shows that he an upcoming talent to watch out for in the documentary field. Not failing to explore every asset of film production, Keneally takes us deep into the world behind the camera and shows us an in depth and personal look at the art of movie making. He clearly has a fondness for celluloid and chooses a large portion of the film to explore the birth of 35mm and the century of change, adaptation and decline that followed it. I myself am a huge fan of celluloid and I always will be. To me, the sound of a whirring projector is a magical sound and the scratches and marks on a film print only adds to it's charm, legacy and power. However, I am not a filmmaker and 'Side By Side' interviews many directors who carefully describe the advantages of using digital cameras to create their visions. As well as the directors, Reeves also interviews some of the leading cinematographers, editors and special effects artists to see how their art has changed due to the transition from 35mm to digital and these sections of the movie are just as fascinating as the interviews with the filmmakers themselves. We always hear the directors side of things, but we very rarely get to hear the stories of those who give our favourite films their aesthetics. 'Side By Side' takes it's time to show us that their input and techniques are just as, if not, more valuable in the art of film production.

'Side By Side' is a film for those who love cinema. Not the films themselves, but the making of them and the science behind the magic of movies. It doesn't contain any of the elitism, snobbery or big headedness that we may have come to expect from a documentary like this and treats it's audience as equals. It is a movie that loves movies. However, the film does end on a very bleak note, asking us whether cinema is dead or not due to the easy access we now have to film. To me, film will always mean cinema and nothing, whether it be the rise in technology or the slow disappearance of independent theatres will stop that. Even when the last one inevitably closes, I will be there to applaud the final end credits. It's just a shame that many of the directors shown in 'Side By Side' won't be.

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