Dick Pope, Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer of ‘Mr. Turner’ and ‘The Illusionist,’ Dies at 77

As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for appreciating the intricacies of cinematography, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Pope. His collaboration with Mike Leigh over the course of three decades has left an indelible mark on British cinema, and his contributions to the art of storytelling through visuals will be sorely missed.

The well-known British cameraman, Richard Pope, who teamed up with director Mike Leigh throughout his career and was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the 2014 biographical film “Mr. Turner”, has sadly passed away.

On Tuesday, it was officially announced by the British Society of Cinematographers that Pope had passed away.

With immense sorrow, we announce the demise of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Dick Pope BSC. Known for his exceptional collaborative spirit, Dick was a dedicated enthusiast who held cinematography as a cherished artform. He always eagerly adopted emerging technologies and fresh concepts, yet never forgot to preserve the techniques and talents of those who paved the way before him.

Pope’s artistic collaboration with Leigh, spanning over two decades and considered his longest professional partnership, commenced with the 1990 drama “Life Is Sweet,” which was Leigh’s third feature film. Since then, Pope has been the cinematographer for every one of Leigh’s films, working together on both period pieces and contemporary working-class dramas that have captured the transformation of Britain into its post-Brexit state. In 2015, Pope was nominated for an Academy Award for best cinematography for Leigh’s “Mr. Turner,” a drama centered around the last years of painter J. M. W. Turner in the 1800s. He won the British Society of Cinematographers award for the film’s outstanding cinematography.

Through partnerships with Leigh and other British filmmakers, Pope established a reputation that propelled him to Hollywood, where he worked on various productions. During his career, he collaborated with Christopher McQuarrie on his debut shoot-em-up film “The Way of the Gun,” Barry Levinson on the satirical film “Man of the Year,” Richard Linklater on both “Me & Orson Welles” and “Bernie.” Pope received his first Oscar nomination for his work on Neil Burger’s 2006 magician thriller, “The Illusionist.” Other notable directors he worked with include Mike Newell, Edward Norton, Gurinder Chadha, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Apart from various accolades, Pope garnered the prestigious Golden Frog award thrice at the International Film Festival of Cinematography Camerimage in Poland annually. He received these honors for his contributions to a Leigh production, specifically for “Secrets & Lies” in 2006 and “Vera Drake” in 2004.

Pope was born in Bromley, Kent back in 1947. His initial foray into cinematography was in documentaries, particularly with the show “World in Action.” He transitioned to narrative television in the ’80s and received a BAFTA nomination for his work on “Porterhouse Blue.

The last film credit for him is “Hard Truths,” a new feature by Mike Leigh, featuring Marianne Jean-Baptiste. This marks Leigh’s first contemporary narrative since “Another Year” in 2010. In an interview, Leigh revealed that Pope had undergone heart surgery before filming began. The movie received positive reviews after its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival and has since been screened at the New York Film Festival and London Film Festival this month. Bleecker Street plans a limited release for awards qualification in December.

Pope is survived by his wife, Pat.

2024-10-22 23:19

Dick Pope, Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer of ‘Mr. Turner’ and ‘The Illusionist,’ Dies at 77

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