Favorite Director?
 

Who is everyones favorite director and why?

Mine is Paul Verhoeven. He's done Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, and Hollow Man. Three of those are some of my favorite movies of all time.

I love how he shows the way people usually react to certain situations, and how he shows the graphicness of death. I know that sounds cruel, but hey.

I've been wanting to put up a similar post for a while, but never got 'round to it :)

Ma favourite director of all time is Milos Foreman, I think all his movies are masterpieces or nearly so. With such movies as Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Man on the Moon, this guy is definitely a genius filmmaker!

Of course I could never skip over Alfred Hitchkock, the king of crime, and of course Stanley Kubrick, the master of SciFi. I don't appreciate all that much directors like Stephen Spielberg and James Cameron, they use too much sfx and not enought story :D

I like Martin Scorsese (you can call him Mr. Scorsese) myself. All of his films are great, although I never quite got hie earlier films like "Mean Streets."

Ang Lee has been a recent fave, with such movies as "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" (or was it "Leaning Doggy Flying Fishy"?), "Sense and Sensibility", "Ice Storm", and "Eat Drink Man Woman".

...and who can forget Brian DePalma. The supreme master.

Yes, Total Recall was great, but he also makes a point to sneak nudity into just about every film he makes, when it's not always necessary.

I'll take Hitchcock.

If I have to pick someone who is still working, I'll go with the Coens. I'll go to any of their films regardless of what the story is.

If I include people who aren't working any longer, I'd go with Hitchcock, Frank Capra (sometimes sappy, but I like that sort of thing from time to time) and Billy Wilder.

There are other directors whose work I like. People like Sam Raimi or Barry Sonnenfeld or even Robert Zemeckis, among others

lol, I don't mind that one bit.

I'd have to go with Hitchcock as well.

I also like Steven Speilberg and Robert Zemeckis

I always want to see movies directed by:

Alfred Hitchcock
Frank Capra
Nora Ephron

There are others, but I'll have to look them up.

Steven Spielberg is definately my favorite. I've never seen a film of his that I didn't like whereas I can say with every other director there is at least one movie I didn't like.

I also want to add Brian DePalma to my list. Of course, he's sort of the poor man's Hitchcock in his directing style, but I still like him.

P.T. Anderson.

Only one of his movies is my reason: Boogie Nights. It is sheer brilliance.

P.T. is the only contemporary director that I can think of whose technique is close to classic Scorsese, who I also love.

And to the person who said they love every Spielberg movie they ever saw, go rent 1941. You'll change your tune. :)

LOL...I loved 1941 too. It's pretty weak at times, but you can see where he came up with things for future films.

I like Spielberg too. His movies are incredible.

I think Spielberg is the best director out there. His movies do always turn out to be better than any other movie in the genre.

Mine's Jess Franco

his best films were made in the 70's, all of them were dark erotic pieces (NOT PORNO!).
Check out 'Vampiros Lesbos' or 'Succubus'

Fritz Lang once said, Francos' films were the only erotic films he could sit through.

I've been getting into some Oliver Stone movies lately, after I saw Any Given Sunday I went back and watched Wall Street, Platoon, and NBK and now respect that guy more than I did before.

My new favorite is Guy Ritchie. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels was just. . . just so "cool!" Snatch matches it in coolness, but was too similar a theme.

A quote from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels which I found hilarious:

Chris Senior- "Well, I must say, it's been emotional." :D

quentin tarantino is probably my favourite director.

I just cant name one director as my favourite so Ill just list some that consistently make films that warrant a repeat viewing & more importantly inspire discussion.(In No Order here with an example of there work that took my breath away both in cinematic technique & story)

Hitchcock (Shadow Of A Doubt)
Bryan Singer(Usual Suspects)
David Finchner (The Game)
Orson Welles (A Touch Of Evil)
Terence Mallick (Badlands)
Oliver Stone (Platoon)
Kubrick (The Killing)
Tarantino (Jackie Brown)
Ridley Scott (Blade Runner)
Howard Hawkes (Red River)
John Ford (The Searchers)
Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch)
Richard Brookes (In Cold Blood)
Robert Wise (Somebody Up There Likes Me)
Nic Ray (Johnny Guitar)
John Huston (The Ashphalt Jungle)
George Stevens (Giant)
Alex Proyas (Dark City)
John Frankenheimer (Seconds)
Brian De Palma (Scarface)
Coppolla (Apocalypse Now)
Martin Ritt (Hud)
Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark)
Akira Kurosawa (Yojimbo)
Luc Besson (Subway)
John Woo (A Better tommorrow etc but I dont own any of his US films because all have disappointed me profoundly)
Jean Luc Goddard (Breathless)
Caro & Juenet (City Of Lost Children)
Richard Fleischer (The Boston Strangler)
Richard Donner (The Omen)
Micheal Mann (Manhunter)
Sean Penn (Indian Runner)
Vincent Gallo (Buffallo 66)
Neil La Bute (In The Company Of Men)

I can basically watch any of these directors films and find artistic merit & above all originality with an individual style in them. There are so many more brilliant directors out their but I think Ive listed enough for now.
Great topic OG, who are some of your other favourites?

*************CONTINUED*****************
Oh my god I cant believe I didnt remember to express my love of:
Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets)
Elia Kazan (On the WaterFront)
John Sturges (The Great Escape)
as I said before there is just so many but I truly feel I could not survive without these Directors films & many others.

For detailed interviews with all the finest directors you should check out:

http://www.netwiz.net/~rdef/cineparl...neparlance.htm

Easily the best site devoted entirely to directors.

Enjoy

Personally, I think that Paul Verhoeven is overrated (Starship Troopers-what an awful movie) and Milos Forman is as well (One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest is a masterpiece though). But hey guys, whatever floats your boat.

For modern cats:

Atom Egoyan's films are poems; 'The Sweet Hereafter' alone obligates me to put him on my list. Scorsese is the greatest living director: 'Mean Streets', 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', 'After Hours', 'The Last Temptation of Christ', 'GoodFellas', 'The Age of Innocence', 'Bringing out the Dead', and almost all of his others are terrific. I love the Coen Brothers; 'Fargo' is a masterpiece. I love Oliver Stone for his fearlessness and his obliviousness to his own pretentions, and Spike Lee's films are wonderful. More recently, Darren Aronofsky has gotten my attention. I thought that Pi was good, but Requiem for a Dream has ingrained itself in my memory. It is a great film.

Others: Yasujiro Ozu, Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, Satyajit Ray, Kubrick, Antoinioni, Kurosawa, Orson Welles, Woody Allen, Wilder (of course), Renoir, i think Cocteau is sick, and of course...FELLINI AND BUNUEL.

There are so many....by the way, OG, this is the guy you met in school. nice thread, man.

BRIAN DE PALMA SUCKS!

Carrie is a great horror film. And that's all he's done that was actually good, although Scarface is a great guilty pleasure.

HE SUCKS.

Speilberg, in his heyday, was great. But stuff like 'Amistad' and 'Saving Private Ryan' are just overrated swill. 'Schindler's List' was about an hour too long. But man do I love his old stuff...Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, Jaws....good stuff!

Hey man. Nice meeting you in school today. Good to know you actually came to the site.

Verhoeven isn't a GREAT director, just my favorite. All of his movies are entertaining. I mean Hollow Man, Starship Troopers, and Total Recall are by far not GREAT movies. Most have horrible actors etc, but I like the movies because their entertaining. As I was saying to Mark in Gov today, a movie has got to be entertaining, and few GREAT movies are. Like Traffic wasn't entertaining, but Lock, Stock was.

Sam Raimi is a great director, in my opinion. He knows exactly what angels etc to do to the camera. I think hes a genious for what movies he makes. Same with Tim Burton.

Greatest Director is too hard to say, in my opinion. There are just too many.

Oh and welcome to Movie Forums Steve!

Sam Raimi is terrific. the Evil Dead series is great. and 'A Simple Plan' is one of the best flicks of its year.

I love Total Recall. There, I said it. The thing that bothered me about Hollow Man was the fact that he becomes invisible, and then all of a sudden turns into a maniac. It was like a huge change. The effects were great though.

I thought Traffic was entertaining as hell! Steven Soderbergh deserved his oscar.

Didn't expect the Total Recall part from someone like you.

Lets think about Hollow Man for a second, if you were invisible, would you or would you not abuse your power? I know I sure as hell would. I'd probably go crazy like he did. He just became a maniac because he had this surge of power no one had ever had before. Maybe I'm just trying to defend this movie anyway I can because I actually liked it!:D

I'd abuse my power most likely, but I know I would...

SPOILERS!

...rape and murder peopele. Even that didn't bother me as much as the fact that the dude was hit over the head with a crowbar, and burned severely, and actually got back up both times.

Not only that, but after knocking him to the ground with the crowbar, one of the good guys puts it down -- I'd beat the dude senseless to make sure he was dead. Morons.

Many of you have forgotten Stanley Kubrick. He is one of the few directors that you can actually call an artist. From dark comedy of world destruction and the fate that binds the men to their mission in Dr. Strangelove to the pure dreamlike sexuallity of Eyes Wide shut. No other director has had such a string of movies that touch you emotionally and make you think. He is a perfectionist and for this his work is perfect. Nobody has a better space movie than 2001. It pits man versus machine in a world dominated by machines. Luckily man prevails in the end and begins a new state of evolution. He is by far the greatest director of all time!

I've got no problems with Mr. Kubrick. I think he made some damn good flicks, although Spartacus is overrated (kind of like Gladiator =)) and Lolita wasn't very good. He had quite a track record though, i must say. Like any 'great' director, you could see any minute of any of his films at random and immediately identify the maker.

Kubrik Sucks It!!

are you freakin kidding me??

Haha, just wanted to see your reaction.

I've only actually seen two Kubrik movies, FMJ and 2001 so I can't really say how great all of his films are, but I will admit he is a good director.

For me: Steven Soderbergh is my favorite director. Traffic is soon going to be one of my favorite all time films. sex, lies and videotape is also a top film. I love his style, his cinematography and the screenplay's he chooses. I can't wait for Ocean's Eleven.

simple question...........Tim Burton!

All of his movies has a different sensation and also feeling while his style stays the same.

his versions of batman are unbelivible.....nearly exact to the comics. And i cant wait for his new film "Planet of the Apes" in august.

Z¥GG¥

X - ZZ - X

How can you say such a thing!!!!

Z¥GG¥

X - ZZ - X

Uh, what's up with those funky characters at the end of your posts? :)

I just have to say that Kubrick is the greatest director ever and that nobody will ever top him. If you want to talk about a person who really loved his work Kubrick is at the top, and if you want to talk about the best he is still at the top. Some of you might say "there are too many directors to choose the best" which I reply with "Make a freakin decision and don't hide behind some stupid comment like that." If any of you feel that Kubrick isn't the best I would like to know why and who is better than him?

Ok Zwee, here's my pick.

The greatest director of all time is YASUJIRO OZU. I choose him because he had his own style. That's something that every great director has, but let me explain-being a Japanese director, his country was isolated from western styles until at least the 1930s. (By style I mean every aspect of cinematic language that was invented, mainly by Griffith's Birth of a Nation.) Every film ever made, with the exception of early Asian cinema (particularily the films of Ozu) has told its story on the foundations of the Griffith film. Yasujiro Ozu was a director who made films like no other, EVER. He invented his own cinematic language, and as a result his films are more like poems than films at all.

Ozu violated every visual rule laid down by western cinema. The camera never moves. THere are no tracking shots, not even small moves. The camera is often placed on the floor, or the level of a tatami mat. Dialogue scenes are shot with the characters not facing each other, so the camera can lend them their privacy. Sometimes the camera is moved from one side 180 degrees to the other, making things seem to switch from one side of the screen to the other. If you'll notice, this is never done in Western films, because it breaks the line between the audience and the story. Japanese poets sometimes use "pillow words", stray words to provide rhythm between lines. Ozu uses pillow shots to connect scenes and to allow us to consider the beauty in ordinary things. His style invites the viewer to contemplate and take part in his films, making the emotions in them magnified tenfold.

The films themselves are all wonderful. They are quiet, almost always family dramas, dealing with rites of passage and changes in everyday lives. Films are stories, ABOUT emotions. His movies are so beautiful, so tender, so loving towards their characters, that emotions flow through the audience freely. I've never met a person who has seen his "Tokyo Story" and had dry eyes afterward. All of his films are masterpieces. He never made a bad one.

If any of you have seen any of his films, you have an idea of what i'm talking about. If not, then I recommend Tokyo Story, Floating Weeds, Early Spring, Late Spring, and Autumn Afternoon.

Not to take away from Stanley Kubrick, because he is indeed one of the greatest of all filmmakers.

Zwee, why is Kubrick the greatest? You never have explained it completely to me.

I will have to watch some Ozu movies in order to get what you are saying, and I admit to having a somewhat closed vision when it comes to foreign movies. As far as I can tell though Kubrick is the greatest director of all time.

Kubrick is a master at his art he takes into account every detail when it comes to portraying a scene, he uses lighting and camera movement, also all of his movies seem to involve very important and mature themes.

By detail I mean the way in which he will meticulously (spelling)plan a scene and an entire movie for that fact. I'm sure that many of you have heard of the nightmare stories of him having 50 takes during some scenes in the shining or of him being ruthless with his actors. All of this shows the amount of control he holds over his movies and without control over the movie I feel that something is lost in the way of being an artist. Also everyone knows how long he took to make Eyes Wide Shut. I feel that this movie in particular will take time to catch on as a true masterpiece much like it took time for Citizen Kane to catch on.

OK I'm going to stop myself because I sure as hell don't want to write everything I love about Stanley Kubrick and I'm sure you don't want to read it, so I'll sum up.

I differ with you steve as to what a movie should be. I think that emotion should be second to conveying a message in a movie. Or in some cases I enjoy a good dip into the psychological aspect of a movie. This is why I love Kubrick he would always tell you something through his movies.

Finally who can ignore the vision and creative thought that had to have gone into such movies as 2001, A Clockwork Orange, or Eyes Wide Shut. Often people say they want to be shown something new and exciting in a movie and these movies did.

The main reason I loved Kubrick is because he had control. He was the painter and the film was his canvass, and he never let the brush take control of his art.

Most definitely. Well worded.

2001, for me, is one of the most transcendent of all films. I can only imagine the planning and attention to detail that went into even the smallest sequences. And yes, Eyes Wide Shut was misunderstood by nearly everybody, much like Gladiator. (sorry, I had to throw that in there :D) And Dr. Strangelove has got to be the most wicked satire ever filmed.

I disagree with you about messages though. The message of a film grows FROM the emotions. Kubrick's films showed us new things and told us about society, human nature, and the like, but they did this through the emotions. If nothing else, think about it this way: the message of the first half of Full Metal Jacket wouldn't, COULDN'T have been conveyed if Private Pyle hadn't (SPOILER!) gone insane. His emotions are what Kubrick uses to get across his point. See what I'm saying?

I thought the category was "favorite" director, not "best" director.

Personally, I don't know how one can crown a "best" director anyway because we're all going to be working from different criteria to determine whose best.

Other than Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick's movies just don't do anything for me. I've not been a fan of 2001 nor A Clockwork Orange. They just aren't my thing. Nothing I heard about Eyes Wide Shut appealed to me enough to go see it. While I enjoyed The Shining well enough, I didn't see anything that was markedly better than any number of other films I've seen.

That's not to say that your opinion of the man and his work isn't valid, but it isn't anything more than an opinion. There can never be a consensus "best" director just like there can never be a consensus "best" movie. We all have our favorites based on how the directors' works make us feel. What's good for you is not necessarily good for everyone else.

I'm sorry dude but that is such a pansy answer. Stop being so ambiguous and take a stance. Also Steve do you think that Ozu is better than Kubrick or did you just throw that in there to start a conversation.

I took a stance earlier and listed my favorites and those whom I would consider the best because they make the films I like best.

I put Ozu because I think he's the greatest. Nothing else, period point blank. Of course there are orhter great directors, but he's the best in my opinion.

i think Steven Spielberg is an obvious one, so as much as i like him here are my other two favourites.
Bryan Singer
Alan Parker

i'm new by the way. hi!

Welcome Kielle!

Kubrick
Hitchcock
Woody Allen
Disney
Speilberge
Spike Lee
George Stevens
Kastans(sp)
Forman

Damn fine list mr100 I also like the fact that you put Kubrick at the top (must have done it subconsciencely)

I got beefs with 100's list, but it's all good...One question though...why no foreign?

M. Night Shyamalan :)

wells
korasowa
lean

You all talked about Kubrick far too long to have not mentioned The Shining.

I think The Shining is flawed.

I think the guy who put Kurosawa, Welles, and Lean knows what he's talking about. Respect.

The Shining had so many useless parts to it. For instance the blood coming out of the elevators was there for sheer gore and horror effect. This doesn't fit because the movie isn't a horror flick in the sense of gore, it's a psychological horror flick. There was no need for the blood. Also why does Jack go crazy, no one knows because it is never shown. I am a huge fan of Kubrick but even I can admit that this film was extremely flawed. This is not to say that I don't like it (I watched twice in a day once) but as far as it being one of Kubricks best there is no way. Jack was the man though. A lot of people say he over-acted but I don't think so.

sorry but I thought the reason he started going mad was because of isolation from the outer world.

ah, thank you Steve N. its nice to be welcome. and i thought he was mad because the hotel got into him and turned him against his family. Oh and the Steven Weber version is ten times better than the Jack Nicholson one. Steven Weber plays a much vetter Jack.

it's a five-way tie for my favorite:
tarentino
scorsese
kubrick
coppola
kevin smith

i could not narrow it down any more! those are in no particular order, by the way. also, i think with regards to the whole kubrick debate, my opinion is this: kubrick was one of those guys that made movies that were extremely deep, symbolic, and alienated a lot of movie fans that were just looking for an easy-going, fun time at the movies. they are not the type of films that you could just watch once and then completely understand. so, if you don't like him, maybe you should watch and rewatch some of his movies. they take some getting used to. also, it's kinda dumb to argue which director is the best, cause some guys push your buttons and some guys don't. you can't just say well, director a was good, but director b sucked!! because you're watching the movies through your eyes and i'm watching them through mine. i try to be open-minded, which is why i hate the stupid "(insert name of director here) SUCKS AND YOU SUCK TOO" replies. i don't get it.

OK I first of all to BrodieMan welcome. I deeply respect that you have an open mind and all but take a freakin stand on an issue. I to am also very open minded but I think it's pointless to not have a stand on an issue especially when it comes to directors. YOU can argue who the best is with style and the like.

As for Steven Webber being a better Jack than Jack: Give me a break. Steven Webber was so fake but at least Jack looked liked a crazed maniac. Webber looked like a pretty boy trying to be a bad a$$ the entire movie. Jack is a bad a$$ in the movie, there is a difference.

I thought Homer Simpson was a pretty good Jack.

"No TV and no beer makes Homer something something..."
"Go crazy?"
"DON'T MIND IF I DO!"

Hahahahaha. I love that show.

Steven Weber was tons better! i mean come on Jack Nicholson can only do that stupid snarling face so many times in one movie. As for Homer Simpson, definetly the best of the lot of them!

Just to let you know that snarling face was done toward the end to show how Jack was becoming animal like. While going deeper and deeper into his psychological journey he was becoming crazed and animal like. I loved this, especially when he is chasing Danny like the big bad wolf, or when he starts to howl like a struck animal as he dies. This only added to his great acting.

Damnitt, Zwee, SPOILER NOTICES! Maybe you won't believe me, but I havn't seen The Shining.

Dang it man, you own this site of movies and yet it seems that you havn't seen any. I can't even count the number of times you've told me to put a spoiler.

Actually, most of the times I told you to put spoilers in place, it was for others, not me. I told you four times concerning Gladiator, but yes, I have seen Gladiator. Gotta be considerate of others. I had The Sixth Sense ruined for me by someone offline. There's nothing worse than that...especially with a classic like The Shining. You can't assume everyone reading or posting will have seen these movies.

Hahaha Zweeedorf, no need to get personal.

I think Patrice Leconte is a great director...He made Monsieur Hire, Ridicule, The Girl on the Bridge, and most recently, The Widow of St. Pierre. Any of you folks seen any of this films?

If not, I recommend them all, because they're wonderful. You don't know what yuo're missing, seriously.

Zweeedorf, Jack Nicholson is good actor, but dont think he's right for Jack, shining Jack,
and i dont see why that reply needed a spoiler, it didnt tell you much. i mean isn't it common knowledge what happens? all you have to do is watch the simpsons. And if you havent seen it WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THIS SITE! sorry, i get touchy when its hot.

Ohhh but lets bring in the guy from Wings. The only way that you could possible think that he is better than Jack is if you're part of some fan club of his.

P.S. I used he and his because i forgot the dudes name. And the spoiler thing: I didn't do anything this time like Kielle said

Hey, being a fan of movies doesn't mean you have to see them all. I'm probably a lot younger than most people on this site, and as such, I tend to watch movies from my time...at least more than others. SOME people will not have seen it, and so the notice is needed. It's a precaution. It'd be pretty rude to assume everyone has seen this movie, or that movie. We all have varying levels of our fandom, and we all watch and enjoy different movies.

C'mon, spoilers notice man. It's not hard.

sorry.

NO! Never tell THE MAN that your sorry. Even if you're wrong argue it to the bone. Make up stuff if you have to so that you sound right. I mean really now the whole spoiler thing is a joke. Does it really matter with a movie like The Shining if you know how it ends, no. It is the whole movie before the end that fills you with fear.

It seems that mosty people have the same sentiments as myself. Best ever: Hitchcock
Best Living: Coen
Honorable mention: Burton

Well, not everyone agrees with you. A lot of people think of the ending of a movie as being important. Kind of rude to decide FOR them, don't you think? Spoilers notices...last time I want to say it. I'm not asking you for anything unreasonable here.

Yes you are! I shouldn't be forced to place spoiler notices for other people. Damn them I'll be "rude" if I have to I just feel that a spoiler notice is stupid. I'm not going to put any on any post that I make. I realize this is a stupid thing to fight against but damn it I have my ideals.

Man Zwee, you've always got to be difficult. If your ideas aren't inline with his, its immpossible to work with him. He'll just insult your ideas, telling you your an idiot.

I hate to get forceful, but I have no choice. Give me one good reason why you shouldn't have to post a spoiler notice. And no, "I don't want to" is not a reason. We should all show each other a common courtesy here. If you don't put them on there, I will, and I'll continue to berade you for it. It's a simple matter of respect for others...

He's an anarchist!!!

With reference to his recent posts, Maybe I'm not understanding Zweeedorf properly but I think that we should all indulge from time to time in provoking other members into heated (without getting personal) discusion and push the boundries, of which I've already felt in some quarters of this forum.

Living would easily be Marty Scorsese. Don't think he's made a 'bad' movie yet, and his best - GoodFellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, After Hours, The Last Temptation of Christ, Mean Streets, etc. - are THE best.

My all-time favorite director would be Akira Kurosawa. Again, not a misstep in his filmography, and his best works - Rashomon, The Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, High & Low, RAN - are peerless Cinema.

Too many other favorites to mention, but among them would be:
John Huston, Stanley Kubrick, Joel & Ethan Coen, Bob Altman, Hitchcock, Terry Gilliam, Truffaut, Clint Eastwood, David Lean, Werner Herzog, Ken Branagh, Sergio Leone, David Fincher, Milos Forman, Peter Weir, William Wyler, Stanley Donen, Sidney Lumet, Steven Soderbergh, Orson Welles, Terry Malick, William Wellman, Wes Anderson, and on and on and on....
[Edited by Holden Pike on 09-06-2001]

Have to say Coen Brothers, Ridley Scott(yes that's right), James Cameron, Darren Arnofsky(i think that's his name, Pi, Requiem for a Dream), M Night Shyamalan.

Holden, have you seen Akira Kurosawa's Dreams or Rhapsody in August, both self-indulgent rubbish neither coming antwhere near matching the genius of some of his previous work. Kurosawa definatley is one of the directors who obtained the status of greatness(along with Fellini, Kubrick and Godard), but, what people care to forget is that all of these directors have made bad films as their careers came to an end. I think Godard still churns out the odd documentary, but he seems to have lost his verve.

On the positive side, I like the name. Good to see a Peckinpah fan adourning these pages.

I loved just about every segment of Kuosawa's Dreams (1990), and while I wouldn't call Rhapsody in August (1991) among his best, it was very far from making my list as a 'bad' movie, and I would never call it self-indulgent rubbish. I never claimed every Kurosawa film is a masterpiece, only that he never made a 'bad' film in my estimation, and his masterpieces (which he had many) are untouchable.

Not to make excuses (because I liked his last three films), but Kurosawa was in his '80s with failing health at the end there. Did you ever see Madadayo - aka Not Yet (1993)? You may find it a better finale than Rhapsody in August. Or you may not.


I don't think Kubrick ever made a 'bad' film either, but we're just careening wildly into the arena of personal taste now.

For Scorsese, Kurosawa, and Kubrick, I'd stack their 'lesser' films (whichever taste dictates you throw into the mix) against most filmmaker's 'best' work. And again, when they are at their best, they're unbeatable.

That was my point.



[Edited by Holden Pike on 09-06-2001]

I understood your comments, just felt like offering my opinion, that's all. Can see what you're saying, it's all a matter of opinion. I simply can't bring my self to like films i don't like, no matter what the film. At the ned of the day I respect your views.

this ones hard but its either
Kevin Smith
Bryan Singer
Guy Ritchie
Spielberg

Ang Lee

domestic: the Cohen Brothers

foreign: Pedro Almodovar

Joel & Ethan COEN - there's no 'H' in their last name. :idea:

Kubrick is my favorite director but Killer's Kiss ate it. Anybody could beat that piece of crap. God it was so bad. Im going to go buy a digital video camera and make a better film that thing.

I'm eager to follow Sam Mendes's movie directing career...he does plays normally,but after American Beauty,the sky is the limit for him.

Zweeedorf - do you know the story behind Kubrick's making Killer's Kiss? Yes, compared to his future body of narrative films it is VERY weak, with few discernable 'Kubrickian' touches (though the fight in the manequin factory is certainly memorable). But this was Kubrick learning to make movies, hands-on and by himself.

There were no true 'Film Schools' back in the '50s, and Kubrick didn't work his way up through the Hollywood system to learn the craft. He was a natural still photographer of some acclaim who taught himself how to make and assemble documentaries (which are pretty good if you get a chance to see 'em). He did the same on-the-job self-financed training for narrative Film. Both Killer's Kiss and his first movie, Fear & Desire (1953), were no-budget learning exercises. He didn't even have sound equipment, so every noise and uttered dialogue in his first two movies was synched to that 16mm filmstock in post-dubbing. He did manage to sell it to United Artists, but it never made any money for anybody, not even as a barely B-thriller write-off.

Yet Kubrick obviously learned what he was doing. Look at the graduation of skill, confidence and talent in his very next film, The Killing (1956). Given a budget, real actors and some time, he made AMAZING strides. Considering Paths of Glory (1957), his first masterpiece, followed shortly thereafter, I'd say Kubrick squeezed every ounce of opportunity and learning he could from the limp Killer's Kiss.

It's not that Killer's Kiss isn't a bad movie, because it is - though his photographic eye is strong even there, with some good naturalistic gritty Noirish use of NYC. But to casually dismiss Killer's Kiss and boast you could easily do better misses the point. It was always meant as an exercise, not art. To even call it a 'Stanley Kubrick picture' is misleading and removes it from its context.

OK, so with today's equipment and basic filmmaking knowledge engrained in the culture, you think you could make a better movie than Killer's Kiss? Maybe you could. But is your fourth film going to equal Paths of Glory? Is your seventh going to be near the level of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb? In your eighth effort are you going to personally revolutionize movie FX and have the product stand as an enigmatic testament to your vision, remaining hotly debated for more than thirty years?

THAT's the context you have to put Killer's Kiss in. Whether or not it's a great or even watchable movie by itself is irrelevant...or at least it seems that way to me. As a document of his gestating talent as a filmmaker, it's surely worth seeing for any Kubrick fan. As a movie to be enjoyed in and of itself, why bother?

But go ahead and pick on it if'n you want. ;)

[Edited by Holden Pike on 09-27-2001]

Kevin Smith is the best without a doubt.

Kevin Smith is a great director, no doubt about it. Best, he most certainly is not. Of course, this is our favorite director thread so I won't take sides or spout meaningless words of nonsense. Let me take this oppurtunity to welcome you to MoFo isstudios. Hopefully, you'll stick around for a little while...

My favorite director(s), would have to be The Coen Brothers. Time and time again, they bring a really good story to the screen and dazzle us with comedy and a little bit of darkness. :)

here's my list:

MARTIN SCORSESE(taxi, bull, goodfellas, cape fear, king of comedy etc..)

STAN KUBRICK (2001, shining, barry lyndon, clockwork orange)

PT ANDERSON (magnolia)

MIKE FIGGIS (loss of sexual innocence, leaving las vegas)

JOEL COEN (fargo, big lebowski, miller's crossing)

TIM BURTON (ed scissorhands, beetlejuice, batman)

ALFRED HITCHCOCK (rear window, vertigo, the 39 steps)

FRANCIS VEBER (the dinner game)

ROBERTO BENIGNI (the monster, la vita bella)

CAMERON CROWE (say anything, jerry maguire, almost famous)

FRANCOIS TRUFFAUT(farenheit 451, the woman next door, two english girls)

and

JEAN-PIERRE JEUNET (recent hit amelie, the city of lost children and delicatessen)

these are all my favorite directors!

1. Byran Singer
2. Steven Soderbergh
3. Stanly Kubrick
4. Tony Scott
5. The cohen Brothers
6. Steven SPeilberg
7. Ang Lee (so ive only seen CTHD but it was really really well directed.)
8. The Farrely Brothers
9. John Ford
10. Scorsece

I think kevin smith is a great writer, great actor, and his movies are great, but they are horribly directed.

Amen Mecuridius. While Kevin Smith can certainly write great dialogue his use of the camera and direction of actors is woeful. Get somebody to direct your scripts Kevin.

As to my favourite directors. Milos Forman and Sidney Lumet. Both underrated guys who are masters of their craft.

Watch 12 Angry Men by Sidney Lumet. A lesson in how to turn a stage play into cinematic genius. The tension never lets up. The audience can even feel the humidity of the room. Even though I know the outcome it doesn't stop me from enjoying the masterclass in acting and especially directing that goes on in that movie. Watch Dog Day Afternoon. Dog Day Afternoon is one of the greatest examples of acting that you'll ever see. Actors just prosper under Lumet's influence. There isn't a shot of that movie that I'd cut.

Any other year Dog Day Afternoon would have won best picture, best director and best actor at the Oscars but it was beaten by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Milos Forman and Jack Nicholson. Deservedly so? Too close to call. It never ceases to amaze me how foreign directors can be so successful in Hollywood. It stretches as far back as Michael Curtiz, the Casablanca director, to Ang Lee today. Their English is limited but they're able to convey their ideas with a camera. Forman is the greatest of all foreign directors. He has won two Oscars, another for Amadeus, and yet he's often forgotten when people list best directors today. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is an inspiring movie, wonderfully cast. And no film has ever conveyed the power of music as lovingly as Amadeus. Forman took risks by casting two unknowns as the leads but they embody their parts so well. It helps that both F.Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce have failed to capitalise on the film's success. The film is often forgotten but it stands up so well today. Mozart's music is embedded so well with the pictures, I dare say the spoilt boor would have loved it. Forman also directed the underrated gems The People vs Larry Flynt and Man on the Moon. He has a gift for making ordinary people seem so special.

Mentions also to Martin Scorsese who I'm sure has already been mentioned in this post.

And to Paul Thomas Anderson who is the most interesting director to have arrived in the 90s.

Wes Anderson( Bottle Rocket, Rushmore...)

Kubrick
Luhrmann
Ritchie
Lean
Beningi

and to an extent

Speilberg

Spielburg or Tarantino

Kevin Smith? His movies r cool as, but they're by no means masterpieces.


Peace,

altman
 

My favorite director is Robert Altman. He has chosen a wide range of subject matter and has always had an interesting spin on the material. His movies are very smart and I am rarely disappointed...i also love the layering effect of his films.

His latest pic, Gosford Park, won a bunch of awards yesterday...his best work usually comes from murder mysteries and that is what Gosford Park is. I can't wait to see it when it comes out at the end of the month.

My favorite director outside of the US is Wong Kar Wai--his films are like poetry.

Wes Anderson is by far my favorite director. It used to be Tim Burton, but Planet of The Apes was REALLY BAD. Wes Anderson directed Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Royal Tennenbaums. I love all of these movies, but The Royal Tennenbaums is the best of the three. Anderson has such a unique, idiosyncratic visual style, and writes some amazing dialog (along with Owen Wilson). Favorite lines:

"Tell that stupid Mick he just made my To-Do list for today." (Max Fisher)

"Kids don't like it when their parents get divorced." (Herman Blume)

"That is the last time you stick a knife in me!" (Royal Tennebaum)