Roger Deakins Retrospective

4th February 2016

Sicario cinematographer Roger Deakins is one of cinema’s most decorated technical professionals, having racked up an absolutely incredible body of work in a career spanning decades. With a career total of 123 awards nominations and an incredible 74 wins, no-one doubts the Brit’s genius, but he has, incredibly, never won an Oscar, despite being nominated 12 times. However, career-best work in SICARIO, Denis Villeneuve’s latest, available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital platforms from February 1^st, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment, could well change all that…

Sicario (2015)

Twelfth time’s the charm? With breathtaking cinematography (reportedly inspired by the photography of Alex Webb) making Mexico a living, breathing character in Denis Villeneuve’s brilliant drugs thriller, the smart money is on the Academy making up for its past mistakes and giving Deakins his moment in the LA sun.

Blade Runner Reboot (TBC)

With shooting now due to start this summer, we simply cannot wait to see what Deakins brings to the table in this long-awaited sequel known as much for its bleak futurescapes as for its story of replicant-hunting gumshoes.

Skyfall (2012)

Bond movies are often thrilling, escapist and brilliantly bombastic but they’re rarely considered beautiful. Deakins’ tenure on Skyfall changed all that, however, with everything from Silva’s evacuated city through to the Highlands of Scotland rendered stunning thanks to his artful eye.

The Coen Brothers (ongoing)

Deakins has been bringing his talent to the Coens’ output for years now, having delivered the goods not only to the forthcoming Hail, Caesar!, but also The Ladykillers, Intolerable Cruelty, True Grit, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy and Barton Fink to give you the highlights.

No Country For Old Men (2007)

If Sicario is Deakins’ Touch Of Evil then No Country For Old Men is his High Noon. Both are taut thrillers with drugs providing the sting in the tail and stylistically both are incredible, but Deakins doesn’t present the same canvas twice, despite the border town grime and punishment that links the two.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

It’s strange to think that comparatively few people saw Deakins’ work in Frank Darabont’s peerless classic the first time around but, in a salute to the power of home entertainment, The Shawshank Redemption has gone on to become a bona fide classic, regularly topping Best Film Ever lists and adored across the globe.

Air America (1990)

When not forging a career-long partnership with the Coens, Deakins was cutting his teeth elsewhere and Air America is an early example of why the gigs just keep coming. Sure, the film itself might not have gone down in the annals of movie history but, consistent with every film in this list, the cinematography is top notch.

Personal Services (1987)

Julie Walters as a suburban brothel madam might not sound like the sort of thing where you walk away praising the technical aspects of the film but this stands up to this day as an early sign that Deakins knows what he’s doing.

Sid & Nancy (1986)

A visceral, tragic love story, this early Gary Oldman starrer tells the story of Sex Pistol Sid Vicious and his doomed affair with Nancy Spungen. In so doing it also gave Deakins plenty to work with as punk Britain – snot, sweat and all – veritably pops from the screen.

Nineteen Eighty Four (1984)

As he preps for the Blade Runner sequel, it’s interesting to note that one of Deakin’s earlier outings was with another dystopian thriller, namely the seminal adaptation of George Orwell’s classic. John Hurt and Richard Burton bring the thesping, Deakin brings his impressive touch.

Sicario is available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital platforms from February 1^st, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

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