Yeah, it was cool, but I’ve never gotten off on long shots like that. I know we’re supposed to be impressed, but even the mother of all tracking shots from Goodfellas is just a technique to me. Cool, but for me, the shot of O-ren and her posse entering the restaurant was way cooler. That may be a reflection of my own vacuity, but in case you’re interested, the most extended tracking shot in history can be found in Russian Ark which came out last year.
Unlike Hitchcock’s The Rope, which looks like it’s done in one shot but cheats to get the effect, Russian Ark is one continuous shot throughout the different rooms of the Hermitage. Pretty amazing technical feat, but not all that satisfying in the end.
