The long take might be my favorite shot in all of film. The blocking, timing, thought, and technical mastery that go into a successful one are astounding. So, when you take some of the best in history and bunch them all together, it's a film lover's dream.
Note: There are some violent images in the video above.
We all know a good movie can be an immersive experience, and perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in a good long take. In fact, some films have been made to appear as if the entire thing is one long take ("Rope" and "Birdman" are some well-known examples). The video above highlights some of the best examples in cinema.
Just because the compilation doesn't show any of the long takes in their entirety for the sake of brevity, here are two of my favorites for you to enjoy in their full glory. "Goodfellas" is a movie worth watching all on its own if you haven't seen it (and worth rewatching if you have), but the long take at the Copacabana is particularly worthwhile and is a microcosm of the entire atmosphere of the first half of the movie.
"Touch of Evil" is another amazing long take and perhaps one of the best examples of tension-building I can think of in cinema.
Do you have any favorites? Share them in the comments!