5 Films With Phenomenal Editing!

The Oscar nominations are out and with it the nominations for the best edited films of the year, including Anora (Sean Baker), The Brutalist (Dávid Jancsó), Conclave (Nick Emerson), Emilia Pérez (Juliette Welfling), and Wicked (Myron Kerstein). Editing is the unsung hero of every successful film. It is said that a good editor is one who makes the editing unnoticeable – each shot flows to the next in such a way that the audience doesn’t even notice the cuts. Great editing comes when it is utilized to elevate the story to new heights – building tension, demonstrating themes, or simply pushing the bounds of filmmaking in a new and interesting way. Here are five other must-see films that exemplify such qualities!

1. Memento (2000)

Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a masterclass in non-linear editing. It seamlessly weaves together two timelines. One is shot in color, moving backwards, meaning that, within the world of the film, each subsequent scene precedes the one that came before it. The other moves forward like a traditional film and is shot in black and white. The result is an intricate puzzle keeping the audience consistently engaged. Editor Dody Dorn’s precise cutting ensures that each scene is perfectly placed to maintain suspense and coherence in what could easily be a confusing narrative. (Stream on Prime Video, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, and PLEX)

2. Baby Driver (2017)

Edgar Wright's Baby Driver is a film where editing and music work in perfect harmony. Editor Paul Machliss synchronizes each action scene, especially the car chases, to the rhythm of the film’s eclectic soundtrack. This pulsating editing creates an exhilarating experience where the visuals feel like an extension of the music, while simultaneously enhancing the sense of urgency and driving the film’s momentum (no pun intended). (Stream on Netflix)

3. Whiplash (2014)

In Whiplash, editor Tom Cross elevates the film’s intensity through sharp, rapid cuts that mimic the frenetic energy of jazz drumming. He does not simply cut on beats but makes the editing swing like a jazz song, adding a spontaneity that reflects the core themes of the film. Cuts are also used in conversations to demonstrate relationships between characters, such as when an emerging rift between a couple is followed by a pull back to a master shot that keenly emphasizes the distance between them. (Stream on Netflix)

4. Oppenheimer (2023)

Another Christopher Nolan entry, Oppenheimer infuses an intricate and character-driven historical drama with editing that plays out almost like a long montage, maintaining engagement in what could easily otherwise be a boring narrative. Thanks to editor Jennifer Lame, the film masterfully jumps between multiple timelines — showing the rise of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the atomic bomb’s development, and the subsequent moral fallout – in a way that never feels obtrusive but instead innovatively flawless. (Stream on Prime Video)

5. Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho might just be the most groundbreaking film in terms of editing, executed by George Tomasini. The rapid cuts in the iconic shower scene — over 50 shots in less than a minute — create an illusion of graphic violence but in actuality not showing much. Furthermore, long takes, a staple of Hitchcock’s films, are often cut abruptly before something is revealed, adding weight to the cut and keeping the audience in a state of confusion that mirrors the mindsets of the characters. (Available on VOD/Digital)

Each of these five films uses editing as a crucial tool to enhance its narrative, not only serving the story but elevating it to new heights, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.