The great German cinematographer, Michael Ballhaus passed away Tuesday evening in Berlin, at the age of 81 after a short illness. He always claimed he never liked violence. But that didn’t stop him from collaborating with Martin Scorsese on films like Goodfellas, The Departed, and Gangs of New York.
“It was Michael who really gave me back my sense of excitement in making movies,” said Martin Scorsese.
While working with Scorsese on Goodfellas, Ballhaus successfully carried out the highly complex unbroken tracking shot that showed Henry Hill entering the Copacabana club with his girlfriend Karen.
With Fassbinder, he pioneered the 360-degree tracking shot, that became one of his signature elements.
Ballhaus was nominated for Academy Awards for best cinematography on three occasions, but he never won.
Towards the end of his life, this genius, who spent his life looking through the camera and shooting some of the most complex films, gradually lost his eyesight from glaucoma.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
