: Bordwell identifies a modern stylistic shift he calls "intensified continuity." This style is characterized by faster cutting rates (shorter average shot lengths), a heavier reliance on close-ups, more extreme lens lengths, and constant, often unmotivated camera movement.
: He examines how filmmakers push the boundaries of classical storytelling through "network narratives" or subjective plots in films like Memento , JFK , and Magnolia while still adhering to core dramatic logic. The way Hollywood tells it : story and style in...
Bordwell disputes the idea that contemporary cinema is "post-classical" or fundamentally different from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. He asserts that while films have become more violent or profane, the underlying principles of , plot structure, and character motivation remain firmly rooted in the 80-year-old tradition of the studio system. Key Concepts and Themes : Bordwell identifies a modern stylistic shift he
, written by film scholar David Bordwell and published in 2006 by the University of California Press , argues that modern filmmaking since 1960 maintains a strong continuity with classical studio-era traditions despite massive industrial and technological changes. Core Argument: The Continuity of Tradition He asserts that while films have become more
The book includes close analyses of various films to demonstrate its thesis of stylistic and narrative endurance: Way Hollywood Tells It: Story and Style in Modern Movies
: While "tentpole" megapictures dominate the market, Bordwell argues they do not represent a core change in film form. He finds that mid-range pictures and independent films often sustain the same classical construction as high-budget blockbusters .