The Work of Director Michel Gondry

Gondry's most famous contribution to film is probably "bullet time", used in the Matrix movies (and you thought the Wachowski brothers came up with it first), where multiple cameras are used in an array to "freeze" the action but still have a motion shot. Whew!

But wait, there's more:

• complex use of motion control (Come Into My World)
• replicated cubism on film, in motion (Let Forever Be)
• yarn/knitted object animation (Walkie-Talkie Man)
• stuffed felt object animation (The Science of Sleep)
• expertly synced visuals with music (Star Guitar)
• choreography that matches music synesthetically (Around the World)
• looped sequence narrative (Sugar Water)
• pixelating with Legos (Fell in Love with a Girl)
• backscreen projection used overtly (The Science of Sleep)
• numerous other things I can't find the words to describe

Each of his films/shorts/videos, is chock full of interesting, glittering, eye candy. Almost nothing is computer generated (the Lego animation of the White Stripes "Fell in Love with a Girl" is a documented exception). Best of all, every visual trick directly aids the storytelling. It isn't in there just to wow.

Gondry also takes the same view of choreography as Fred Astaire and Bruce Lee did - it should not be cut up excessively or shot close up. Stellar examples of his choreography can be found in "Around the World" and his GAP ads.

As a feature director, and in many cases in his videos (most notable with Bjork), Gondry can get excellent, even flawless performances from his actors. He is a collaborator - never wanting to choke off the voices of the other people working on the film. He has said that he lets the actor follow his or her instinct first, then if it isn't good, he gently nudges them to where they need to be. It is this philosophy that fosters good acting.

Finally, as a writer, Gondry understands that the emotional journey of his characters is subservient to all the special effects, and he is able to create stories with considerable weight and depth. He almost sees the world as a child (less cynical than a child actually), and casts his stories with a sense of innocence.

2006
The Science of Sleep

2005
Dave Chappelle's Block Party

2004
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2001
Human Nature

2006
Beck - Cellphone's Dead
Cody ChesnuTT - King of the Game

2005
Kanye West with Adam Levine - Heard 'Em Say (version one)
White Stripes - The Denial Twist
Devendra Barnhart -- A Ribbon

2004
Michael Andrews and Gary Jules - Mad World (v. 2)
The Polyphonic Spree - Light & Day (movie version)
The Willowz - I Wonder
The Vines - Winning Days
The Vines - Ride

2003
Steriögram - Walkie Talkie Man
White Stripes - The Hardest Button to Button
Lacquer - Behind

2002
Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar
Kylie Minogue - Come Into My World
White Stripes - Fell in Love With a Girl
White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Noir Désir - A l'Envers à l'Endroit

2001
Radiohead - Knives Out

1999
Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be

1998
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
Wyclef Jean - Another One Bites the Dust

1997
Beck - Deadweight
Björk - Jòga
Björk - Bachelorette
Daft Punk - Around the World
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Sheryl Crow - A Change Would Do You Good
Neneh Cherry - Feel It

1996
Björk - Hyperballad
Cibo Matto - Sugar Water

1995
Björk - Army of Me
Björk - Isobel
Massive Attack - Protection
Rolling Stones - Like A Rolling Stone
Terence Trent D'Arby - She Kissed Me
Black Crowes - High Head Blues

1994
Lucas - Lucas With the Lid Off
Sinéad O'Connor - Fire On Babylon
Stina Nordenstam - Little Star

1993
Björk - Human Behaviour
Lenny Kravitz - Believe
Hothouse Flowers - This is It (Your Soul)
Rachid Taha - Voila, voila
Malcom McLaren - La main parisienne [unreleased]
IAM - Je danse la mia
Donald Fagen - Snowbound
Jean-François Coen - La tour de pise
Belinda Carlisle - Big Scary Animal
Les Négresses Vertes - Hou! Mamma Mia

1992
Inspiral Carpets - Two Worlds Collide
Thomas Dolby - Close But No Cigar
Laurent Voulzy - Paradoxal système
Oui Oui - La ville
Energy Orchard - How the West Was Won
Etienne Daho - Les voyages immobiles
Mark Curry - Blow Me Down
Les Wampas - Comme un ange (qui pleure)
Robert - Les jupes

1991
Les Objets - La normalité
Peter and the Electro Kitsch Band - Dad, laisse-moi conduire la Cad
Les Objets - Sarah

1990
Oui Oui - Ma maison

1989
The Life of Riley - Queen for a Day [unreleased]
Original MC - Tu rimes avec mon coeur
Oui Oui - Les Cailloux
Affaire Louis Trio - Il y a Ceux

1988
Jean-Luc Lahaye - Dô, l'enfant d'eau

1987
Oui Oui - Un joyeaux noel, Junior et sa voix d'or, Bolide