FilmÂmakÂer Jacob T. SwinÂney’s First and Final Frames, Part II, above, is a rare sequel that upholds the qualÂiÂty of the origÂiÂnal.
As he did in its preÂdeÂcesÂsor, SwinÂney screens the openÂing and closÂing shots of dozens of recent and iconÂic films side by side, proÂvidÂing viewÂers with a crash course in the ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal eye.
What is being comÂmuÂniÂcatÂed when the closÂing shot replicates—or inverts—the openÂing shot?
Will the openÂing shot become freightÂed with porÂtent on a secÂond viewÂing, after one has seen how the film will end?
(ShakeÂspeare would say yes.)
SwinÂney is deeply conÂverÂsant in the nonÂverÂbal lanÂguage of film, as eviÂdenced by his numerÂous comÂpiÂlaÂtions and video essays for Slate on such topÂics as the Kubrick Stare and the facial expresÂsions of emoÂtionÂalÂly revÂeÂlaÂtoÂry moments.
Most of the films he choosÂes for simulÂtaÂneÂous craÂdle-and-grave-shot replay qualÂiÂfy as art, or seriÂous attempts thereÂat. You’d nevÂer know from the forÂmalÂism of its openÂing and closÂing shots that Jim Jarmusch’s MysÂtery Train at the 1:00 mark is a comÂeÂdy.
To be fair, Clint Mansell’s uniÂverÂsalÂly applied score could cloak even AniÂmal House in a veil of wistÂful, cinÂeÂmatÂic yearnÂing.
GivÂen the comÂic senÂsiÂbilÂiÂty Swinney’s brought to such superÂcuts as a ConÂcise Video HisÂtoÂry of Teens ClimbÂing Through Each OthÂers’ WinÂdows and a Tiny HisÂtoÂry of ShrinkÂing Humans in Movies, I’m hopÂing there will be a third installÂment whereÂin he conÂsidÂers the first and final moments of comeÂdies.
Any you might recÂomÂmend for incluÂsion? (Hold the Pink FlaminÂgos, por favor…)
Films feaÂtured in First and Final Frames, Part II in order of appearÂance:
SunÂshine
SnowÂpiercer
BiuÂtiÂful
21 Grams
The PresÂtige
All is Lost
Take ShelÂter
The ImposÂsiÂble
UnitÂed 93
VanilÂla Sky
Ex MachiÂna
Inside Llewyn Davis
Dead Man
MysÂtery Train
Melvin and Howard
Fury
Full MetÂal JackÂet
A ClockÂwork Orange
Eyes Wide Shut
EraserÂhead
The EleÂphant Man
The Fall
The Thin Red Line
The New World
Road to PerdiÂtion
Snow Falling on Cedars
The Bourne UltiÂmaÂtum
The ImiÂtaÂtion Game
Flight
Hard Eight
InherÂent Vice
World War Z
Wild
The DouÂble
The MachinÂist
Born on the Fourth of July
Brideshead RevisÂitÂed
Maps to the Stars
The SkeleÂton Twins
MomÂmy
A ScanÂner DarkÂly
10 Years
Milk
Lost HighÂway
BoxÂcar Bertha
BadÂlands
Ghost Dog: The Way of the SamuÂrai
RatÂcatchÂer
Ida
Raise the Red Lantern
GatÂtaÂca
KunÂdun
BringÂing Out the Dead
A Most WantÂed Man
The CuriÂous Case of BenÂjamin ButÂton
The Social NetÂwork
Jack Goes BoatÂing
SubÂmaÂrine
Half NelÂson
EterÂnal SunÂshine of the SpotÂless Mind
Babel
DjanÂgo Unchained
True Grit
VerÂtiÂgo
OldÂboy
ApocÂaÂlypÂto
Dawn of the PlanÂet of the Apes
GladÂiÂaÂtor
Mad Max: Fury Road
World’s GreatÂest Dad
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
A MesÂmerÂizÂing SuperÂcut of the First and Final Frames of 55 Movies, Played Side by Side
Watch 7 New Video Essays on Wes Anderson’s Films: RushÂmore, The RoyÂal TenenÂbaums & More
How AkiÂra KuroÂsawa Used MoveÂment to Tell His StoÂries: A Video Essay
DisÂcovÂer the Life & Work of StanÂley Kubrick in a SweepÂing Three-Hour Video Essay
Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is an author, illusÂtraÂtor, and Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine. Her play, FawnÂbook, is now playÂing at The Brick TheÂater in New York City. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday