There's a bit of a trend taking place in the film industry at the moment, and there's a good chance that you may have noticed it without quite noticing what the trend actually is. Well, I'll tell you! The film industry seems to be loving the anamorphic lens at the moment, and particularly lenses that are vintage from around the world, rehoused and modernised for the present cinema camera. Anamorphics are known for being incredibly expensive lenses, and historically have sparsely been used as a result. The rehousing of vintage Soviet lenses has been something taking place for a while now, but only just making waves among filmmakers that want that anamorphic look alongside the softness of vintage glass. These vintage lenses don't produce the same level as sharpness as modern ones, they hold a bit more character to them over trying to be as high detail as possible in comparison to today's anamorphics. For shows that want to capture that atmosphere, it's a perfect reason to pull out these lenses and go wild with creativity.
If you recently saw the television miniseries Shogun, you'd have noticed this practice as well. The beauty in the cinematography that came with incredibly dim lighting and very earthly tones. How the image essentially warps around its subject in some mystical manner. Truly perfect for building unique worlds in which they're more sensitive in the character design and narrative. Personally, I love these lenses. I love the depth they offer and the incredibly cinematic, filmic look they provide, and I'm really happy to see the film industry return an interest in the vintage side of lenses, pushing beyond the idea of visual quality in sharpness and contrast, but instead focusing on ways to visually connect a story to its audience. Well, Fallout's the next big thing to follow in this direction, using the same types of lenses. And I think it really worked in its favour. I was surprised at how beautifully crafted its world was as a result of the lens choices. And it stands out massively as a hit among many failures to bring a video game world into the masses as something supposedly a little more serious.
Fallout was something I had no confidence in, I admit. But it ended up heavily surprising me for the best. I found it a really engaging first season and introduction to its world, met with a rather powerful and unexpected cast. This post may feature the odd spoiler, though I will refrain from posting major plot points, rather summarising elements of the general narrative to give an idea. Though I have no doubts you've all watched this already and I'm the one behind!
Fallout
One positive of Fallout's television introduction is how it doesn't deviate too much from the idea of the video games. A nuclear war unfolds and leaves humanity reduced to roaming the nuclear wasteland centuries later, while generations are formed within select nuclear vaults deep underground that aim to protect humanity in such an event. This dystopian idea reigns in from the capitalistic interests of corporations that sell people the idea of safety in the event of war, while also conducting their own odd experiments on people within the vaults. A strange idea but one that works in giving the world a little more context and curiosity to it as it shows the chaos of this past and present world is one that is deeply rooted in an ideology that is both philosophical and rather primitive. What would people do if confined to underground vaults for generations while certain conditions manufactured from above create challenges? Would their societies adapt or collapse? Even outside into the nuclear wasteland that remains, there is no safety. Survivors of all sorts remain and search the lands of goods, competing with violence and bottle caps as currency.
Within this wasteland isn't just the threat of other humans, but the radiated evolutions of insects that have grown into something much larger and more threatening. Meaning every area is one of attempted survival. With this story, a vault dweller's life turns upside-down as her vault is raided and her father, the Overseer is kidnapped. The political sphere of vaults encourages the idea that the outside world is one not worth venturing into, that it would surely be met with certain death. Our protagonist defies these odds and, well, much like the game decides to venture above the surface in search of her father, to rescue him and bring him back home to the safety of the vault. If you have played the Fallout games, you'd know they're met with plenty of atmosphere, a game in which there is humour, action, unique characters, and a lot of reliance on the 40s - 60s style of America, the nuclear era. Mixed with blends of futurism that creates a really fun style.
The television show manages to beautifully recreate these elements, even going a little more beyond to produce something a bit more adult in comparison. A little more nudity which isn't present in the games, a little more gore which is certainly present in the games but to a lesser degree. Though it shows this world with plenty of humourous elements which I think work in the sense that it creates a nuclear world that doesn't really have any seriousness to it left, the idea that everything is just nonsensical at this point. It makes Fallout a show riddled with charisma that blends nicely with the visuals of the aforementioned anamorphic lenses, as well as grain of being shot on 35mm film stock. A strong decision to make in this era of television, but a great choice in my opinion. A fundamental in again conveying that atmosphere of the time period and world that is within the games. Staying true to itself without straying far from what matters.
And much of Fallout's success also stems from the great choice of casting it holds. Walton Goggins is a phenomenal actor that boasts incredible range, serving to begin with as the show's antagonist. A man that once had great success pre-war in the film industry, and now roams the wasteland as a ghoulish cowboy that holds no care for those around him whatsoever. His motivations are unknown at first, but his character development becomes something incredibly engaging that ultimately has you pushing for his success. I loved this about the first season, the idea that he's someone that serves as a threat to our protagonist, someone will ill-intent, though in actuality as the story progresses, we learn as to why and can find a way to sympathise with his character. If you don't know much about Walton Goggins, I highly recommend watching Justified. Though he isn't the only solid performance here, I loved seeing both Moisés Arias and Johnny Pemberton again! Arias from The Kings of Summer (once recommended to me by the great @vincentnijman), and Pemberton from the great comedy series Superstore.
Set design seems to be a mixture of incredibly beautiful features met with some signs of cheapness at moments. Where you can clearly see the lack of attention and effort in areas that are really to be used for short periods of time rather than for numerous scenes. It's to be expected, but not all that noticeable at first. I didn't mind it, and I found the rest of the set design to be really beautiful. Especially in the colours of the world and interiors. The strong filter over everything that conveys the nuclear wasteland, as well as the dimly-lit interiors of vaults that are seemingly cold and metallic. I really liked how a lot of the interiors were done, and it was mostly in the exteriors that things started to feel a little more cheaper. A clear intent from sets being built rather than existing spaces utilised. But that's how it goes for a show that is trying to convey the idea of a nuclear wasteland in which everything is reduced to rustic metals and debris.
Some elements of the show certainly have a little more cheapness to them, in particular the props. I noticed that some of the power armour suits and the weapons have a very fake look to them, not looking real at all but looking more like a combination of cardboard and plastic glued together. I do hope this improves with the next season, as I found the weapons and armour to look a little off-putting at times. When really they should be given some of the highest detail with how often we see them within the scenes. But that's about it for my issues with the show, the first season was pretty strong and took a while to get into its main narrative as it contributed to world building and introducing characters. I think it all worked out nicely. But I am curious as to whether the quality will be maintained going forward or not.
