See How Directors Use Slow Motion In Different Ways On Film [Video Essay]

Slow motion is used so often today that it's easy to forget that filmmakers use it as a storytelling tool beyond making action simply look cool. A new video essay dives into the art of slow motion in film by showing how various directors like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Brian De Palma and more use the tool in different ways.

Learn about how these directors use slow motion in movies after the jump.

Here's "The Art of Slow Motion" video essay from Julian Palmer and The Discarded Image:

Slow motion has become more of an overused gimmick in today's action filmmaking, but as this video essay illustrates, there are still plenty of ways the shooting style can be used to truly enhance a story. Martin Scorsese uses it to put us in the head of some of his characters in films like Casino and The Wolf of Wall Street while Brian De Palma uses it to build a sense of dread in the prom scene from Carrie.

That's not to say that slow motion and action can't still deliver more than just a cool looking shot. The purpose of slow-motion in action allows us to hone in on certain details that we otherwise might not take notice of in real time. This is especially true with films like The Matrix or the many films of John Woo. But in order to be most effective, it needs to be used sparingly, something Zack Snyder was never taught.

Thanks to Film School Rejects for bringing this to our attention.