Continuity and Dialogue
These clips were interesting, because they all showcased something different. The Monty Python clip utilized still shots, specifically the same one used several times. In the context of this scene, the repeated use of the still shot adds to the comedy because it doesn't look like Sir Lancelot is moving any further until he finally arrives at the entrance. They use a very similar approach in Poltergeist, where the repeated still shot adds to the suspense and anxiety the mother feels, fearing she will not reach her child. Many of the shots in the Radiohead video are continuous shots, following the protagonist of the video as he goes on some sort of journey through the video. The shots from My Dinner With Andre come off as a pit peculiar, specifically because of the editing. In many of the shots, the characters are clearly building up to deliver dialogue, but never do. It comes off like watching a scene with the music removed. The David Lynch shots focus on the person speaking, particularly through close-up shots. However, they don't seem to be still shots, as the camera seems to move around.
Nice observations, Tim, and particularly interesting to see you applying the attributes of editing to an outside reference, Poltergeist. This shows that you're starting to retain these film tricks and might find applications for them in your own assignments. It's true that, while Lynch's scene employs a traditional shot/reverse shot pattern to create a traditional dialogue, he twists it very subtly by allowing the camera to vaguely float. This contributes to the unsettling feeling of suspense in an otherwise predictable and traditional sequence.
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