First and Final Frames In Cinema With a Side-by-Side Comparison

In many cases the difference between the first and last frame of a film can be the evolution of a great adventure, while other times it can be the bridge of similarity between a characters development. Like bookends to a journey through cinematic storytelling, the beginning and end of a film can tell so much by their side-by-side comparison. In this short video, first and last frames of a handful of films are compiled together to showcase the evolution of storytelling in cinema.

Self-proclaimed cinephiles will love these comparisons. Over 55 of the last generation's most beautiful films are set together to show the evolution of a cinematic storyline and how it often will go full circle. Many of the examples show a vast contrast when compared with one another while others, like "Gone Girl" (0:49), show only subtle differences. The overall comparison lends to the use of this contrast as an effective tool in cinema.

Whether you know the film or not, it is incredible to see the side-by-side cut of each frame. Not knowing the film fills the gap with ambiguity found in the differences between each frame, whereas knowing the film recalls the journey of the plot line as it either goes full circle or travels from point A to B. Dedicated cinephiles may recognize many of these films, but just in case, below is a time code key to what each one is. Try to guess on your own if you can.

The Tree of Life - 00:00
The Master - 00:09
Brokeback Mountain - 00:15
No Country for Old Men - 00:23
Her - 00:27
Blue Valentine - 00:30
Birdman - 00:34
Black Swan - 00:41
Gone Girl - 00:47
Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 00:53
Punch-Drunk Love - 00:59
Silver Linings Playbook - 01:06
Taxi Driver - 01:11
Shutter Island - 01:20
Children of Men - 01:27
We Need to Talk About Kevin - 01:33
Funny Games (2007) - 01:41
Fight Club - 01:47
12 Years a Slave - 01:54
There Will be Blood - 01:59
The Godfather Part II - 02:05
Shame - 02:10
Never Let Me Go - 02:17
The Road - 02:21
Hunger - 02:27
Raging Bull - 02:31
Cabaret - 02:36
Before Sunrise - 02:42
Nebraska - 02:47
Frank - 02:54
Cast Away - 03:01
Somewhere - 03:06
Melancholia - 03:11
Morvern Callar - 03:18
Take this Waltz - 03:21
Buried - 03:25
Lord of War - 03:32
Cape Fear - 03:38
12 Monkeys - 03:45
The World According to Garp - 03:50
Saving Private Ryan - 03:57
Poetry - 04:02
Solaris (1972) - 04:05
Dr. Strangelove - 04:11
The Astronaut Farmer - 04:16
The Piano - 04:21
Inception - 04:26
Boyhood - 04:31
Whiplash - 04:37
Cloud Atlas - 04:43
Under the Skin - 04:47
2001: A Space Odyssey - 04:51
Gravity - 04:57
The Searchers - 05:03
The Usual Suspects - 05:23

[via Jacob T. Swinney]