Let me start by saying that this song is absolutely awful. The rhythm is all over the place... that makes the editing a big mess :( I prefer when things just flow, seamlessly.
That aside, the video has some really nice visuals. The ending shots are truly stunning. Red Epic Monochrome was an obvious and perfect choice ;) It looks very classy.
Definitely not my personal favorite Fincher music video... but I blame Timberlake for that :P
The power of Justin Timberlake: He can spoil the sight of hot women crawling about in their underwear AND even sleek and masterful Fincher visuals — JUST WITH HIS MUSIC! WOW! What a horrible song. I might give this another viewing ... on mute ... once I'll be over the trauma.
Today I like it a little better ;) It grows on you. I just had to watch it on a bigger screen. Watched it on my TV and it looks wonderful. Next week I will love everything about it :P
Now it says "Sorry, this video is not available in you region" :P You can take it back to the previous one if you want, maybe it will start working.
And yeah, this music is not my cup of tea either. But that is also why I respect Fincher so much, he is not afraid to try different music genres. For someone who likes pop or rap (I have no idea what style is this :P ), this video is probably outstanding in every way ;)
My take is, first of all, it's good to know that Fincher doesn't think he's too big for music videos anymore.
Second, the video is a good showcase for the Red Epic monochrome's super clean image, and it serves as a way for Fincher to test the camera. This is also his first black and white music video (off the top of my head I can also remember that weird Nike commercial (("Evolution", was it?)) with the football player with weird football skin) since "Love is strong", probably.
As for the content, they seem to be going for a Rat Pack-type vibe, with the smoking and the drinking and the suits (& ties) and the whole Vegas-performance deal. There's some echoes of "Vogue" towards the end with the guys in suits jumping around, and even of "Straight up" with the changing black and white backgrounds against black and white suits. There are also the trademark faceless backup singers who are mostly profiles in shadow (nobody upstages the star(s) in a Fincher video).
And a couple observations: when I heard Fincher was doing this video, I was curious to see how he would shoot Jay-Z. The rise of hip hop came after Fincher moved on to movies, so he never got to shoot an MC doing his thing. But the weird thing is, when Jigga "gets out his seat" to spit his bars, Fincher IMMEDIATELY cuts away to the stripper-type women dancers! The hell?? Hova is one of the biggest stars in the world, and this isn't even his song, yet he takes part in the shoot and then is barely seen dropping science? Was it intentional or weren't they happy with the footage they got for some reason? (I read it was a one day shoot, and who knows how much time they had with Jay). Something to ponder.
Last of all, a couple tacky things that mark the first time I've seen them in a Fincher video: the whole "Justin conducting the musicians in the studio as they record the track" (making hand gestures at the horn section). Nowhere near as ridiculous as Lenny Kravitz conducting the orchestra in "I'll be waiting", but still. They seem to be saying "look, we cut this with real studio cats, not some cheap synths!" And last of all, the obligatory shot of an iPad (with sheet music!), which is remindful of all those sad hip hop videos from a few years ago in which the star was talking on a cell phone, as if to say "Look! I have an actual cell phone!" and which now look (even more) ridiculous.
Just some thoughts I wanted to share. Cheers everyone!
"There's some echoes of "Vogue" towards the end with the guys in suits jumping around, and even of "Straight up" with the changing black and white backgrounds against black and white suits."
Oh yes. Add to that a guy behind a mixing console shots from "Judith" ;)
"And last of all, the obligatory shot of an iPad (with sheet music!), which is remindful of all those sad hip hop videos from a few years ago in which the star was talking on a cell phone, as if to say "Look! I have an actual cell phone!" and which now look (even more) ridiculous."
Ha ha :P So true... The iPad shot feels several years out of place ;)
any idea as to who the DP was on this?
ReplyDeleteWow, this is ... not for me.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by saying that this song is absolutely awful. The rhythm is all over the place... that makes the editing a big mess :( I prefer when things just flow, seamlessly.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, the video has some really nice visuals. The ending shots are truly stunning. Red Epic Monochrome was an obvious and perfect choice ;) It looks very classy.
Definitely not my personal favorite Fincher music video... but I blame Timberlake for that :P
David Fincher, director | Timory King, producer | Reset Content, production co | Matthew Libatique, DP | Nicholas Robespierre, commissioner
ReplyDeleteI hate this song and I wish he hadn't directed a Timberlake video but it's a good video.
ReplyDeleteThe power of Justin Timberlake: He can spoil the sight of hot women crawling about in their underwear AND even sleek and masterful Fincher visuals — JUST WITH HIS MUSIC! WOW! What a horrible song. I might give this another viewing ... on mute ... once I'll be over the trauma.
ReplyDeleteToday I like it a little better ;) It grows on you. I just had to watch it on a bigger screen. Watched it on my TV and it looks wonderful. Next week I will love everything about it :P
ReplyDeletePS. Is it me or is there something wrong with this post. The video doesn't show up, it's just a blank white space.
Delete@mikez - Yeah, I'm not so sure the music will grow on me though. I suppose NIN or A Perfect Circle were more mine.
ReplyDeleteVideo error might have been a youtube problem. I found another source; hope this one shows up for everyone.
Now it says "Sorry, this video is not available in you region" :P You can take it back to the previous one if you want, maybe it will start working.
DeleteAnd yeah, this music is not my cup of tea either. But that is also why I respect Fincher so much, he is not afraid to try different music genres. For someone who likes pop or rap (I have no idea what style is this :P ), this video is probably outstanding in every way ;)
My take is, first of all, it's good to know that Fincher doesn't think he's too big for music videos anymore.
ReplyDeleteSecond, the video is a good showcase for the Red Epic monochrome's super clean image, and it serves as a way for Fincher to test the camera. This is also his first black and white music video (off the top of my head I can also remember that weird Nike commercial (("Evolution", was it?)) with the football player with weird football skin) since "Love is strong", probably.
As for the content, they seem to be going for a Rat Pack-type vibe, with the smoking and the drinking and the suits (& ties) and the whole Vegas-performance deal. There's some echoes of "Vogue" towards the end with the guys in suits jumping around, and even of "Straight up" with the changing black and white backgrounds against black and white suits. There are also the trademark faceless backup singers who are mostly profiles in shadow (nobody upstages the star(s) in a Fincher video).
And a couple observations: when I heard Fincher was doing this video, I was curious to see how he would shoot Jay-Z. The rise of hip hop came after Fincher moved on to movies, so he never got to shoot an MC doing his thing. But the weird thing is, when Jigga "gets out his seat" to spit his bars, Fincher IMMEDIATELY cuts away to the stripper-type women dancers! The hell?? Hova is one of the biggest stars in the world, and this isn't even his song, yet he takes part in the shoot and then is barely seen dropping science? Was it intentional or weren't they happy with the footage they got for some reason? (I read it was a one day shoot, and who knows how much time they had with Jay). Something to ponder.
Last of all, a couple tacky things that mark the first time I've seen them in a Fincher video: the whole "Justin conducting the musicians in the studio as they record the track" (making hand gestures at the horn section). Nowhere near as ridiculous as Lenny Kravitz conducting the orchestra in "I'll be waiting", but still. They seem to be saying "look, we cut this with real studio cats, not some cheap synths!" And last of all, the obligatory shot of an iPad (with sheet music!), which is remindful of all those sad hip hop videos from a few years ago in which the star was talking on a cell phone, as if to say "Look! I have an actual cell phone!" and which now look (even more) ridiculous.
Just some thoughts I wanted to share. Cheers everyone!
"There's some echoes of "Vogue" towards the end with the guys in suits jumping around, and even of "Straight up" with the changing black and white backgrounds against black and white suits."
DeleteOh yes. Add to that a guy behind a mixing console shots from "Judith" ;)
"And last of all, the obligatory shot of an iPad (with sheet music!), which is remindful of all those sad hip hop videos from a few years ago in which the star was talking on a cell phone, as if to say "Look! I have an actual cell phone!" and which now look (even more) ridiculous."
Ha ha :P So true... The iPad shot feels several years out of place ;)
Good sum up TH.
"Shot with 5 Epic Monochrome Epics @ 3200 ASA.
ReplyDeleteDirected by David Fincher, Director of Photography was the incredible Matthew Libatique."
Jarred Land
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?94937-Justin-Timberlake-by-David-Fincher-via-Monochrome-Epics
catchy music, classy video, wrong title --> "suit and bow tie"...
ReplyDelete