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Writing, Crafting, and Rolling Joints: Paul Thomas Anderson's Close-Ups

PTA is a master of getting up close and personal.
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The extreme close-up, while abused at the hands of Guy Ritchie wannabes and high school students imitating Tarantino, is a powerful tool in the filmmaker's arsenal. When a master like Paul Thomas Anderson uses one, it's loaded with tension, focus, ideas about addiction, or a world of other possible interpretions—and it's always fun to watch. In the description of his supercut compilation, Paul Thomas Anderson's Extreme Close Ups, filmmaker Jacob T. Swinney explains, "A PTA extreme close-up usually features a very shallow depth of field, keeping just a tiny portion of the subject sharp while the rest gradually falls out of focus. While it is clear that Anderson often employs these shots as a fun way to stylistically enhance a scene, he is also able to convey meaning with a well-timed ECU."

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The supercut is Part 2 of Swinney's Paul Thomas Anderson series, which previously set its sights on the work of Quentin Tarantino. Watch Paul Thomas Anderson's Extreme Close Ups below to see some of the most intense moments of craftsmanship, drug use, and heartfelt communication from Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood, and more.

See more of Jacob T. Swinney's supercuts on Vimeo.

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