American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 51

Unit photography by Kapong “Shi” Komporiphan. Photos and frame grabs courtesy of Radius-TWC.

Much of the movie’s dreamlike
pull stems from its deliberate pacing,
eerie imagery and dynamic musical score
(by Cliff Martinez). “Minimal dialogue
and the use of silence or music automatically forces the audience to pay more
attention,” Refn contends. “I’ve made
three films that have very little dialogue;
the idea is that sound and music become
much more active storytelling elements.
If dialogue is logic, sound and music
penetrate purely to the heart.”
Refn’s dedication of the film to
avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro
Jodorowsky further reflects his intent,
and he cites Richard Kern’s sadomasochistic short film The Evil
Cameraman (1990) as another influence.
“The Evil Cameraman is both terrifying
and erotic, because it’s about a man tying
up women in his apartment, and it’s set
to a soundtrack of very strange music and
sounds,” Refn observes. “It’s a fetish
construction, very raw and real, but it’s
also like a dream because what happens
is so uncomfortable, bizarre and weird
that it brings many subliminal images
into the viewer’s mind.”
Refn says Only God Forgives intentionally reflects “the language of hypnotism,” a sensation he likens to Bangkok
itself. “Everything in the movie is slowed
down, and we were living that feeling
while shooting in Bangkok. The heat is
really intense there because the humidity
is so high; it feels like you’re in some kind
of strange underwater world. It’s very
intoxicating and weird.”
Helping to capture that atmosphere was cinematographer Larry
Smith, BSC, who began his collaboration with Refn on the feature Fear X
(2003). Since then, the two have
reteamed on the telefilm Miss Marple:
Nemesis and the feature Bronson (AC Oct.
’09). Refn notes that Smith’s skill set was
ideal for Only God Forgives, which
involved budgetary constraints and locations that presented logistical challenges.
“Larry is a very fast cameraman, and he’s
also very good at using practicals —
that’s one of his great strengths,” he
attests. “Many of the locations in
Bangkok had no windows, so we really

Opposite page: Julian
(Ryan Gosling) uses a
Thai boxing club as a
front for a drugsmuggling operation.
This page, top to
bottom: Remorseless
police supervisor
Chang (Vithaya
Pansringarm)
prepares to mete out
a punishment;
Gordon (Gordon
Brown, left) and Billy
(Tom Burke) observe
a kickboxing bout;
Crystal (Kristin Scott
Thomas) arrives
at her hotel after
Billy’s death.

www.theasc.com

September 2013

51



http://www.theasc.com

American Cinematographer - September 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - September 2013

Contents
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 1
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 2
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - Contents
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 4
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 5
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 6
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 7
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 8
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 9
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 10
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 11
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 12
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 13
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 14
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 15
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 16
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 17
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 18
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 19
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 20
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 21
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 22
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 23
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 24
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 25
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 26
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 27
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 28
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 29
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 30
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 31
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 32
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 33
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 34
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 35
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 36
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 37
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 38
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 39
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 40
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K1
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K2
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K3
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K4
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K5
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K6
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K7
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K8
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K9
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K10
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K11
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - K12
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 41
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 42
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 43
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 44
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 45
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 46
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 47
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 48
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 49
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 50
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 51
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 52
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 53
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 54
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 55
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 56
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 57
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 58
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 59
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 60
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 61
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 62
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 63
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 64
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 65
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 66
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 67
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 68
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 69
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 70
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 71
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 72
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 73
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 74
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 75
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 76
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 77
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 78
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 79
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 80
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 81
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 82
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 83
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 84
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 85
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 86
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 87
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 88
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 89
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 90
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 91
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 92
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 93
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 94
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 95
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 96
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 97
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 98
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 99
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 100
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 101
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 102
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 103
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 104
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 105
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 106
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 107
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 108
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 109
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 110
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 111
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 112
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 113
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 114
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 115
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 116
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 117
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 118
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 119
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - 120
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - September 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com