i like directors who can tell a story effectively - a significant story that is at the same time entertaining - and also innovate in the way that it is told. Welles, Murnau, Eisenberg, Hitchcock, Ray, Huston, Hawks, Godard, Truffaut, Fellini, Rosellini, Bertolucci, Visconti, Herzog, Altman, Jarmusch, Tarantino, Tarkovsky, Jodorowsky and many others have been able to do this, but i think my favourite director of all would have to be Kubrick - simply because he does all of the above, and also has such range. No two of his films are very alike - at least, none of the five i've seen: Spartacus, Strangelove, 2001, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining.
who are your favourites?
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Kubrick would have been my favorite if you asked me 10 years ago; however, I'm going to fault him for Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut. Both were dull and boring, and I was convinced that style is no longer after enduring Altman's A Prairie Home Companion. Long shots, neverending panning (Altman) or pullback from closeup (Kubrick) style - it worked for them in earlier films but was dreadful to watch in their last ones.
So....these days I have to say that Quentin Tarantino is batting 1.000 for me. He's not directing anything yet that I haven't loved.
Originally posted by Iron MonkeyI'm going to be shot down here I'm sure, but I think Kubrick is way over-rated. I like some of his stuff - technically it's great - but there's a loss of humanity and emotion and connection in much of his work.
i like directors who can tell a story effectively - a significant story that is at the same time entertaining - and also innovate in the way that it is told. Welles, Murnau, Eisenberg, Hitchcock, Ray, Huston, Hawks, Godard, Truffaut, Fellini, Rosellini, Bertolucci, Visconti, Herzog, Altman, Jarmusch, Tarantino, Tarkovsky, Jodorowsky and many others have ...[text shortened]... Spartacus, Strangelove, 2001, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining.
who are your favourites?
I would give my top few favourites as:
Tarantino
Fincher
Hitchcock
Paul Thomas Anderson
The Coens
Mann
... in no particular order.
I find the devotion to directors that many have is a little misguided. It misses much of the work that writers, cinematographers, editors and many others do to bring a film to fruition.
Ridley Scott is a tremendous director. Go back and watch Alien or Bladerunner and note the attention to detail.
David Cronenberg is another favorite. He has the uncanny knack for placing his charecters in the most uncomfortable situations for the viewers to watch (Crash).
Ang Lee is also very good, especially his work while in China and his first few American films. Eat Drink Man Woman, The Ice Storm, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, more than make up for The Hulk.
i think Coppola (FF) definitely deserves a mention for Godfather 1&2, and Apocalypse Now (and others, no doubt, but these are my favourite films of his). Scorsese of course. I've never seen a Kurosawa film that was anything less than excellent. Ingmar Bergman always provides plenty of material for reflection long after the film has ended. Fincher, i think, just about rivals Kubrick in the quality and breadth of his projects. And let's not forget Guillermo del Toro - even when he makes comic-book movies, he's good. It looks like he may be directing the Hobbit movies, btw.
