10 Best Black-And-White Movies From The Last 25 Years

2. Following

Starkness. It's the main theme discussed so far with these black-and-white films, and with good reason. When a filmmaker decides they want their movie to focus on one specific subject (or person or storyline or emotion, etc), the go-to method is to turn off the distracting color schemes and let the content speak for itself. Chrisopher Nolan's exceptional debut, Following, proves how well it can pay off. Created much in the same vein as Kevin Smith's Clerks, Following was made on a shoestring budget, with Nolan acting as a production team. He wrote, directed, photographed, and helped edit the movie. To date, it's audiences only real chance to see what a Christopher Nolan lovechild looks like. And for the record, that lovechild is efficiently timed, sufficiently paranoid, and proficiently executed. The plot is as follows: A voyeur who uses writer's block as an excuse to spy on random strangers is called out on his rather unpleasant hobby by one of his sharply-dressed marks. This man invites our amateur voyeur to go along on a breaking-and-entering to show him what true personal intrusion looks like. Both men get their jollies from learning the most personal, intimate details of the lives of total strangers. It's exactly as creepy as it sounds. Following lays the groundwork for his future filmography, showcasing his aptitude for playing with chronology, plot structure, and shifting perspectives. If Memento is his masterpiece, Following is the rough draft he has to paint over.