Life of Pi Oscar 'an insult to cinematography'

Cinematographer Christopher Doyle has slammed the Oscars for awarding the cinematography gong to Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' in a blistering tirade.

The visionary – and outspoken – Australian photographer behind films like 'Hero', 'In The Mood For Love' and 'Rabbit-Proof Fence' thinks that the film's reliance on post-production and effects means it did not deserve the award.

[Related story: Life of Pi Oscars success marred by protest]

“I'm trying to work out how to say this most politely, and no offence to - I don't know him ('Life of Pi' cinematographer Claudio Miranda) personally - but what a total f**king piece of s**t,” he told the South East Asian arts website Blouin.

“I'm sure he's a wonderful guy and I'm sure he cares so much, but since 97% of the film is not under his control, what the f**k are you talking about cinematography, sorry. I have to be blunt and I don’t care, you can write it. I think it's a f**king insult to cinematography.

“That's not cinematography. That's control of the image by the powers that be, by the people that want to control the whole system because they're all accounts. You've lost cinema. This is not cinema and it's not cinematography. It's not cinematography.”

Doyle also claimed that among the American Society of Cinematographers, there was similar feeling towards the film being awarded the statue, and added that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which awards the Oscars hs 'no f**king idea what cinematography is, the lunatics have taken over the asylum'.

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