The Master
Alright, I know that the popular vote here is for Skyfall, but hear me out. Skyfall looks very good but how does its cinematography contribute to the film’s overall meaning? I feel like there’s a difference between a film that just throws out a lot of cool lighting for the hell of it and a film that creates a unique look in order to match the film’s overall tone and aesthetic. It’s like the difference between a guitarist who just does as many complicated solos as possible in order to show how good he is and one who’s more interested in working with the entire band in order to craft perfectly honed songs. I feel like Skyfall does the former while The Master is a great example of the later. Also, those shots of the water in the opening scenes look frickin’ awesome.