By skipping ahead in time, as well as jumping between different perspectives, filmmakers can convey a deep tale that may encompass weeks, months, years, or even decades; and often through the perspective of several people. However, there is a storytelling and editing technique which, while scarcely practiced, has proven uniquely effective in gripping viewers when it is used. Whether through editing trickery or real execution on film, this filmmaking process uses what seems to be a single extended shot or scene that’s meant to show the whole narrative in real-time.
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The technique, which has the viewer follow a character and/or unseen third-person onlooker in a continuous flow, brings a gritty and grounded sensibility to the screen. Not unlike a first-person video game, the audience feels a heightened sense of immersion by following each moment of the action in real-time, adding emotional weight to the movie. Despite its simplicity and limited scope, real-time films can be deceptively tough to craft effectively.
This is perhaps why so few filmmakers have utilized this method for their movies. Even with a rich and vast history of filmmaking, only an extremely small subset can be considered “real-time” start-to-finish. This certainly makes the few efforts that do exist all the more impactful and intriguing. In fact, there are a number of entertaining, enticing real-time movies that stand out; both old and new. Some of the most prominent examples will be highlighted here.
Run Lola Run
1998’s Run Lola Run is a frantic thriller from German filmmaker Tom Tykwer, which hit the ground running after its showing at the Venice Film Festival. While clocking in at just 80 minutes, the film brings a prolonged, amplified intensity and excitement as watchers follow makeshift action antihero Lola. She spends most of the film rushing through bustling city streets, using only her wits, willpower, and her speed—with the desperate goal of delivering a bag of cash to her boyfriend Manni.
The bagman Manni must provide a hefty sum to his ruthless crime boss Ronnie, or else be killed. The film portrays a gritty realism, chasing a scrambling Lola in real time as she seeks a way to retrieve the money. At the same time, the movie radiates a surreal, dreamlike feel throughout. Tykwer gives viewers a visual whiplash with heavy editing, jarring cuts, as well as quick flashbacks and flash-forwards. Most critically, it toys with the concept of chaos theory’s butterfly effect—by playing out different potential scenarios that affect the outcome. This gives Run Lola Run the distinction of being a rare real-time film that ironically sports multiple timelines…
Phone Booth
Phone Booth feels like a sort of claustrophobic Escape Room as much as it does a movie. Directed by the acclaimed Joel Schumacher and starring Colin Farrel as a conceit publicist, this is a psychological thriller that excels in making its audience unnerved and uncomfortable. Despite its 2002 release allowing for ample special effects and elaborate scenes, Schumacher’s film manages to be a gripping, nail-biting romp with just a few major characters and a single set piece; a New York City phone booth. Within this confined-yet-vulnerable booth stands the desperate publicist Stuart.
He finds himself trapped and terrorized by a malicious, unseen sniper, who proclaims to be aiming his lethal weapon right at him. What follows are heated discussions and head games by way of phone communication between the two men—as well as run-ins with confused onlookers. Aside from the threat of the rifle, the caller also uses Stuart’s questionable past as leverage to give him commands, so he may cave emotionally and “right his wrongs”. This includes having him call his wife to announce his infidelity.
The audience is often left squirming in their seats as the suspense and intensity continue to mount. As such, the heart-pumping showdown certainly doesn’t feel its length of 81 minutes.
Rope
Esteemed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was known for pushing the envelope with rich, unique storytelling and filmmaking techniques—adding to their atmosphere, tension, and intrigue. So it’s perhaps not surprising the “Master of Suspense” would use the real-time format for his ‘48 crime thriller Rope.. The movie, which stars John Dall and James Stewart, hones in on a pair of arrogant prep school students, Brandon and Phillip, immediately shown strangling their classmate to death. With the film’s grounded simplicity, it’s the superb performances, thoughtful writing, and tense moments that truly shine here.
The film revolves around a dinner party, which takes place at the scene of their recent crime. The men use this as an opportunity to prove both their apparent superiority and cunning. They do this by hiding the body literally under the noses of their oblivious guests; specifically inside a wooden chest that doubles as their buffet table.
Rope resembles a theatrical play in its simplicity, which makes sense given its origins as a 1929 piece by playwright Patrick Hamilton. The whole film takes place in their penthouse apartment, and even uses a detailed painting as its backdrop. Hitchcock impressively runs with shots spanning several minutes, along with many camera pans and dollys. Shots are cleverly melded together—zoom-in views of a character’s back transitioning to the next scene, for instance—to give the look of one continuous shot. While seemingly straightforward, Rope toys with concepts of moral conflict, social standing, nihilistic philosophy, and escalating suspense.
12 Angry Men
Originating as a TV play in 1954 by Reginald Rose, the aptly named 12 Angry Men quickly took on a life of its own, culminating with the 1957 classic of the same name, and paving the way for future renditions and tributes. This captivating courtroom drama by Sidney Lumet reaffirms the importance of stellar writing and dynamic acting—and there is much of both here. While the film solely takes place in a jury deliberation room, its 96-minute runtime flies by, as viewers are treated to emotionally-gripping speeches and heated debates between the 12 distinct jurors.
The fact that this high-stakes case involves the death sentence of a potential murderer committing patricide makes the deliberation all the more intense. Standing largely on the strength of great performances, 12 Angry Men also entices by exploring concepts of individuality, the art of persuasion, and the merits of the US court system. Though it also serves as a subtle warning against prejudice, classism, and groupthink.
1917
Culminating with modern classics like Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, war films have seemingly gone to the nth degree regarding epic special effects, thrilling action, and emotional moments. With few frontiers seemingly left to conquer, Sam Mendes cleverly runs with the rarely-explored art of real-time storytelling, utilizing seamless shots throughout.
Both epic and gritty, 1917 gives viewers a thrilling, and at times gut-wrenching, look at World War I as we follow British soldiers Will Schofield and Tom Blake. During their scramble to deliver a vital message to cease a doomed offensive, they’re met with everything from enemy combatants to hostile aircraft to distraught civilians. The film strikes the mark in conveying the horrors of war—pitting the audience right in the thick of the action, and immersing them with dynamic cinematography.
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