Arise Sir Roger

 

The New Year's honours has brought a well deserved knighthood to the number one cinematographer Roger Deakins. This is what I said in my post of the 16th March 2018.

At last. After thirteen previous nominations for the Oscar for cinematography where he didn't win, Roger Deakins (CBE) was presented with his deserved first award for Blade Runner 2049. When I reviewed the film, I particularly mentioned the brilliance of his work.

He has won BAFTA's before (four so far), and I just wonder if his British (Devon) background did him no favours. He still lives there. As The Sunday Times reported:

Shortly after Roger Deakins was awarded the Oscar for best cinematography last Sunday, he received an email from the manager of the marina in his native Torquay, where — as the grandson of a fisherman — he keeps a small boat. “He said: ‘Congratulations on your Oscar and — by the way — the marina’s deep in snow, but your boat’s OK,’” laughs Deakins. “I wrote back: ‘The Oscar’s great but it’s even better to know my boat’s fine.’ I meant it.”

He discovered a passion for photography at art school in Bath. Having failed to get into the National Film and Television 
School, he spent a year photographing Devon life for a local archive, before successfully reapplying.
When you look at the list of his movies, you then understand that his is a wonderful story.