Why all the canted angles?
canted right
I genuinely can’t wrap my head around it. They appear during scenes of conflict along with scenes of tranquility. They’re used for wide establishing shots and close-ups during conversations. There is seemingly no rhyme nor reason to when such angles are employed and no consistent cue that the cinematography is attempting to give viewers.
canted left
Throughout the seven parts of the John Adams mini-series, I could think of no reason for these decisions other than as an arbitrary method of giving the series a different visual style than most historical dramas. To what end, I’m not sure about either. To stand out? To appear more modern? As compelling as the politics of John Adams and company’s days were, I found myself spending far too much time trying to decipher why the camera was situated the way it was, instead of contemplating the ideals and practicalities of establishing a new nation. Arbitrary can be the only way to describe these shots that plague an otherwise gorgeous production.
