MICHAEL BAY
Explosions- Whenever there is a lull in his films, Michael Bay will inexorably plug the gap not with silence or scene setting but by blowing up every object/person on screen that is not central to the plot.
Shaky-cam- Michael Bay seems to really hate the cameras on set because every time he films an action sequence he feels the need to violently strangle them, resulting in a scene that looks like a sudden and local earthquake has just hit.
Product Placement– Wherever you look in his films, advertising ends up featuring almost as prominently as such trivialities like the plot or characters. Why just make an entertaining film when you can appease your avarice-fuelled sponsors as well?
Milk the Transformers Cash Cow- With three films, millions and millions of dollars already made, and a fourth CGI soaked sequel, Transformers: Age Of Extinction, coming out this June, Michael Bay makes clear his strategy for squeezing every last penny out of this lucrative series.
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STANLEY KUBRICK
The Long Shot- Stanley Kubrick may have never made the same film twice, but his style is recognisable from a mile off. The iconic carefully framed, slow and long scenes make an appearance in all of his films.
Transgress Through Genres- Not content with simply creating one type of masterpiece, Kubrick would switch genres with each new film: from the hard-nosed sci-fi of 2001: A Space Odyssey, to the surreal black comedy of Dr. Strangelove.
Work Yourself To The Grave- Before and during the filming of Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick was reported by his family to stay up until 4am every day which they claimed to contribute to his death shortly after the film’s release.
Subversion Of Music- As notable as his cinematography, Kubrick’s love of twisting the meanings of songs means that after watching A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket you will never view ‘Ode to Joy’ or ‘Surfin’ Bird’ in the same way again… and not necessarily for the right reasons.
