Both historical review and argument clashing idealness between preserving tradition and embracing innovation for visually resulted achievement, another passionately-led essentiality for exploring film is exceptionally covered for easily solid engagement. (A-)

I have basically zero knowledge of how movies are made other than behind the scenes docs. I've been aware of the digital vs film debate but had no idea why it mattered. This film explains exactly why filmmakers have preferences and it shows the differences in the two. What I found most intriguing is the real vs fabricated worlds and how digital opened up possibilities. This doc is 10 years old and what I find interesting is currently people seem to be wanting practical effects vs green screens and digital actors. James Cameron seemed to take offense at this particular debate. He relies heavily on CGI and asked Reeves how often what's on screen is "real". I laughed out loud because the movie "Speed" is known for doing primarily practical effects. And personally, I think it shows. As a movie goer I prefer it. Reeves is too kind to point this out, but I would have enjoyed a more spirited debate regarding that issue. It was well done and I learned a lot. I only wish it would have dug maybe a bit deeper into the different issues. Perhaps revisit this subject now? I think opinions would be even more varied.

I love watching films and writing them, and Side by Side gives a bit of both. It's great for anyone with a love of movies that goes beyond being an audience member.

This is a necessary watch for filmmakers. It gives a sense of how cinema has evolved with the advances of digital filmmaking and where it's gonna go from there. At one point, the documentary slightly hinted at what the future of cinema would be like with streaming services, and I was so glad that it mentioned that. The art of watching movies has changed a whole lot with the help of streaming services, so having that predicted in a documentary from eight years ago was awesome!

good documentary, rich in information

This is a fantastic documentary which provides a window into the technical elements of the way an image is captured by cameras for motion pictures. Most of us are aware that there are two mediums- film, - which has been the method of application up until the last decade or two, and digital- which is trying to supplant film. It is an interesting look at the junction of art and science to create a feature film and the kind of hurdles these mediums, and the people using them have to overcome. Keanu Reeves is an excellent host and the usually drab actor seems full of energy here, asking furtive questions and giving feedback and opinion. There are a host of subjects interviewed here, from legendary filmmakers and cinematographers to producers and movie moguls. I prefer the look of film stock and will side with it, but there is no denying the strides digital cameras have made in recent years. And perhaps the greatest takeaway from this documentary is that it doesn't really matter what medium you shoot on- it is the person behind the camera that matters.

This is a documentary that every film enthusiast must watch. It will give you an understanding of the ways a feature film is shot and projected. To the unaware today most movies are shot on digital cameras as opposed to the photochemically styled film cameras of the past days. Both have their plus and minuses and in this documentary, Keanu Reeves goes about explaining the differences of the format and the opinion of most famous filmmakers on the subject. Featuring everyone from James Cameron to Martin Scorsese Side by Side is a great look at the technical aspect of cinema.

Hollywood insiders are aware of a battle that has been brewing for quite sometime now: the technology to capture the image has two camps- film and digital and each are perhaps overwhelming the other. Film is photomchemical and the method by which cinema has been created and projected for all these years (since the late 1890). Digital cameras are new on the block and because they can do everything a film camera can but with less production costs, they are vying to be the medium every director chooses. Keanu Reeves questions industry insiders from top directors and cinematographers and gets a honest non biased overview. This is a good watch for anyone interested in the technical and "behind the camera" scenes of making of film and television. The documentary is precise and educative. (A great look at the mechanisms of film production and projection)

Hollywood insiders are aware of a battle that has been brewing for quite sometime now: the technology to capture the image has two camps- film and digital and each are perhaps overwhelming the other. Film is photomchemical and the method by which cinema has been created and projected for all these years (since the late 1890). Digital cameras are new on the block and because they can do everything a film camera can but with less production costs, they are vying to be the medium every director chooses. Keanu Reeves questions industry insiders from top directors and cinematographers and gets a honest non biased overview. This is a good watch for anyone interested in the technical and "behind the camera" scenes of making of film and television. The documentary is precise and educative.

Side by Side is a fantastic documentary on the format of shooting feature films. To the unaware today most movies are shot on digital cameras as opposed to the photochemically styled film cameras of the past days. Both have their plus and minuses and in this documentary, Keanu Reeves goes about explaining the differences of the format and the opinion of most famous filmmakers on the subject. Featuring everyone from James Cameron to Martin Scorsese Side by Side is a great look at the technical aspect of cinema. (A great documentary on the way films are shot and projected)

very well made and informative

Worthwhile for those interested in a little technical film history.

Passably diverting doco about the transition from celluloid to digital. Most interesting is that in the 4 years since release it's already become a historical piece.

One wouldn't necessarily expect Keanu Reeves to be as much an expert on the art of filmmaking as folks like James Cameron, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, David Lynch, Danny Boyle, Steven Soderbergh, and Martin Scorsese, but in the documentary Side by Side, he's a very knowledgable window into the artistic and technical processes these individuals go through when making movie magic. It's a very "inside baseball" debate-covering issues and decisions mostly stemming from the choice between shooting a film digitally or on photochemical film-but for cinephiles like myself, it's a must-see for both informational and entertainment purposes. Side by Side touches on nearly every aspect of the filmmaking process, which only emphasizes what a minor miracle the whole thing is. From shooting and reviewing takes to editing and coloring, the "digital revolution" has changed what filmmakers and their crew can and can't do. For example, when shooting on film, cinematographers hold a great deal of power because takes can't be reviewed by directors until they return from the development lab the next day. While most of the filmmakers interviewed agree the process of reviewing dailies is quaint and sometimes magical, it can also be a burden because if a small mistake is made, the moment and environment can't necessarily be recaptured in order to remedy it. But is reviewing takes on a small, on-set screen indicative of the true movie-watching experience? People like Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister don't think so. This kind of intelligent discussion is at the heart of Side by Side. Each interviewee has an opinion on the matter because this is their life's work. The film does a good enough job at weighing the pros and cons of each format, though it ultimately sides pretty decisively with digital-which is the format chosen by the film's director, Christopher Kenneally, incidentally. The $64,000 question for Side by Side is whether or not its audience is too small to earn any sort of theatrical attention. I think those who like movies will like what the film says and the depth it goes to in describing the process, how its changed over time, and how its impacted some of the biggest names in the business. And one would think there'd be enough clout among its subjects to get it out there. Whatever its fate, I recommend the film without qualification. It's not a documentary that tackles a hard-hitting social issues, but it's one that's quite important to me, and I'm guessing, most of you, and no matter where you fall on the film vs. digital debate, it's essential we know exactly where the craft is heading and why. http://www.johnlikesmovies.com/side-by-side/

Elegiac love letter to celluloid, the disappearing means of producing cinema for the last century. Keanu Reeves interviews scores of famous directors and cinematographers, each of whom celebrates or critiques celluloid and the new kid on the block, digital. At the end of the day, of course, it's story and art that matter - the bigger picture.

A must see doc for all cinephiles! A true piece of documentary art

Solid documentary with well articulated arguments for both film and digital. If you like movie making, watch this documentary. :)

In the documentary "Side by Side," Keanu Reeves sets out to chronicle the history of film production and gather opinions from Hollywood's greatest directors regarding film's conversion to digital production. I have no clue why Reeves was the one to do this but the final product is very compelling. The documentary combines a historic look at the evolution of filmmaking technology with strong (and contrasting) opinions on each phase of that evolution. Reeves used all of his Hollywood connections to assemble a wide array of famous directors, cinematographers, and film editors including Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, David Fincher, Richard Linklater, Danny Boyle, David Lynch, and The Wachowski Brothers. One of my favorite segments of the documentary explores the optical printer and the old school way of creating visual effects in films like "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." I don't know how anybody ever figured out how to create film. It is remarkable. I have such an appreciation for the complexity of photochemical color timing and the new possibilities that came with digital color manipulation. You would think that every director would be in favor of the potential created by new technology but it is actual rather polarizing. Each time a director offers insight into a technical aspect of filmmaking, their comments are supported with a clip from one of their movies that demonstrates the topic. In addition to learning so much about film production, we get to revisit many amazing movies. It even digs in to the rise of 3D films. I love Joel Schumacher's commentary on the 3D fad and why it is can enhance a film but isn't always appropriate: "With Avatar, there's a reason that film is in 3D. Because it is taking you on an experience. It isn't something that was added on for money or a joke or a gimmick. It's there because it was created that way." James Cameron also has an interesting response to the criticism that movies aren't "real" anymore because of digital backgrounds and effects. Even though they are are adding things that aren't physically filmed, is it any less real than filming an evening outdoor scene in the middle of the day inside of a Hollywood soundstage with fake rain and boom mics out of the view of the camera? So much of this film is about comparison, whether it is comparing the opinions of the directors or the physical appearance of the films. It talks about the different cameras available today and shows examples of films shot with each camera. It also shows examples of recent movies that were shot on film. The content may be a little dry for those who aren't interested in film or digital technology but it creates an interesting story. It's a shame that the few swear words (including four f-words) were included in the final cut. They don't add anything to the commentary but prevent this documentary from being appropriate for all ages. "Side by Side" is worth a watch due to the amount of information that it reveals through the opinions of the people who make the movies.

A useful wee documentary about Hollywood's (and the film industry's) transition from 35 mm film to digital, a continuing and incomplete process. Lots of talking heads skillfully edited.

Famous people being ineloquent and redundant. Messily put together: cuts from any part could could be transferred anywhere else with no noticeable difference. Can't take Keanu seriously. Little context given.