Favorite Director?

[pshh]

Self explanatory. To name a few my favorite have been Wes Anderson, Christopher Nolan, and Spike Jonze.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Scorsese!

[WordzandDreamz]

Spielberg. I was very close to writing M. Night Shyamalan and starting a fucking riot.

[Jessooker]

I really like Danny Boyle actually.

[gilatron5000]

I don't have one I can think of at the moment, but I wonder how many people will say Tim Burton.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

Spielberg is probably my favorite, but I love Sam Mendes, and if Revolutionary Road is as great as I think it will be, he'll probably be my favorite.

Christopher Nolan is up there, as well.

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Spielberg. I was very close to writing M. Night Shyamalan and starting a fucking riot.

lolz

Indeed it would have, haha.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I really like Danny Boyle actually.
I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.

[WordzandDreamz]

He's in my top 5. I'll let that start a riot.

[Jessooker]

I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.

I honestly don't remember it. I'll need to watch it one day.

[gilatron5000]

I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.I liked The Beach. It was fun.

[airik625]

I really like David Fincher, Quenten Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Speilberg.

[jbaseball44]

I really like Danny Boyle actually.

I am still waiting on him to make that sequel to Trainspotting.

All Time - Kubrick

Living- Fincher, Boyle, QT, Scorsese (had to name a few)

[gilatron5000]

d'oh! I just thought of a couple.

Nolan and Tarantino. Duh.

[duz_dis_matter]

Tim Burton, no doubt about it.

[fantasma]

Speilburg, Kubrick, Fincher, PT Anderson, Tarentino

[jbaseball44]

Forgot about PTA.

[airik625]

Forgot about PTA.

Yep, so did I.

[reductiondesign]

Paul Thomas Anderson
David Lynch
Stanley Kubrick
Wes Anderson
Alfred Hitchcock

[jbaseball44]

Yep, so did I. Bad us!

I don't know how i could forget about the guy who made Magnolia, Boggie Nights, Punk Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood.

we deserve to have our milk shakes drank from. (no sexual reference intended)

[reductiondesign]

And Hard Eight.

[jbaseball44]

And Hard Eight.

Love your avatar.

[reductiondesign]

Love your avatar.

If your avatar is American Psycho, I love the source material--my favorite book.

[RiCCioLi]

Jersey's finest Kevin Smith!
cant wait for his new flick with seth rogen; Zack And Miri Make A Porno (or something like that)

[jbaseball44]

If your avatar is American Psycho, I love the source material--my favorite book.

ya it is, thanks. Great book.

[reductiondesign]

Jersey's finest Kevin Smith!
cant wait for his new flick with seth rogen; Zack And Miri Make A Porno (or something like that)

God, the teaser for that looks bad; I'm fearing the worst--another Jersey Girl-caliber film, but with lots of (pointless) crude sex jokes.

[reductiondesign]

ya it is, thanks. Great book.

And here is where I'll likely stop our agreement and say terrible film.

[jbaseball44]

And here is where I'll likely stop our agreement and say terrible film.

Our agreement ends. Bale's preformance does it for me.

[pshh]

I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.

i really liked the beach too, when i first watched it when I was like 7 it gave me a scare but i re-watched it a few years back and really enjoyed it

another one to my list is kubrick i forgot how good full metal jacket was

[reductiondesign]

Our agreement ends. Bale's preformance does it for me.

His performance is spectacular, and I do enjoy the business card scene, but the satire and dark humor that make the book so compelling are completely gone in the film. It's like Mary Harron turned the story from satire into horror, and that makes me lose all interest. All my favorite scenes in the book--the "Thursday Afternoon" sequence, the U2 concert, the conversation with Tom Cruise--were cut, and Bateman is made out to be a killer and then a yuppie, not the other way around as in the novel. The film should have been a pitch-black, satirical comedy, not a cheap thriller flick.

Easily the biggest disappointment I've ever experienced watching a movie.

[jbaseball44]

I can see where you are coming from and i think part of the problem is that you love the book so much (classic movie can't like up to what the book is). I am more in love with Bales preformance then the overall film.


(last post of the night, night everyone)

[reductiondesign]

I can see where you are coming from and i think part of the problem is that you love the book so much (classic movie can't like up to what the book is). I am more in love with Bales preformance then the overall film.


(last post of the night, night everyone)

Understandable, and I know that I'm strongly in the minority when it comes to my hatred of the film.

Goodnight.

[popdisaster00]

PTA, hands down.

And sorry, but besides Big Fish, fuck Tim Burton.

[williek311]

Martin Scorsese
Quentin Tarrantino
Michael Mann

[aminorthreat55]

Paul Thomas Anderson
David Lynch
Stanley Kubrick
Wes Anderson
Alfred Hitchcock
Finally someone has a good list.

Alfred Hitchcock (by a mile)
Luis Bunuel
Francois Truffaut
Stanley Kubrick
Pedro Almodovar

[kwsqd]

how did no one mention david cronenberg?

[SkyHeldUpByStar]

Finally someone has a good list.

Alfred Hitchcock (by a mile)
Luis Bunuel
Francois Truffaut
Stanley Kubrick
Pedro Almodovar

Hooray for this! I also love his writings on surrealism.

[AShannon04]

David Fincher
Christopher Nolan
Gus Van Sant
Quentin Tarantino

I'm a bigger fan of individual movies than of directors.

[popdisaster00]

how did no one mention david cronenberg?
He's great. I think the problem is he doesn't do many mainstream movies.

[kwsqd]

He's great. I think the problem is he doesn't do many mainstream movies.
true. but he did the fly and eastern promises was big too.

[jbaseball44]

I forgot about Kurosawa and Hitchcock

[Ailite]

Peter Jackson, The Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson

[popdisaster00]

true. but he did the fly and eastern promises was big too.
Indeed. And A History Of Violence is a fantastic film. Films like Crash, Existenz, Naked Lunch, etc...you never hear of people talking about those. Sadly.

[popdisaster00]

Peter Jackson, The Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson

yes.

[Smithers]

Spielberg is probably my favorite, but I love Sam Mendes, and if Revolutionary Road is as great as I think it will be, he'll probably be my favorite.

Christopher Nolan is up there, as well.
mendes is awesome, one of my favorites.

i don't think kevin smith is a good director, but he's an outstanding writer.

but no one has mentioned Darren Aronofsky, who is probably number one in my book. his movies have all been visually spectacular. i could only dream of having such talents.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Paul Thomas Anderson
David Lynch
Stanley Kubrick
Wes Anderson
Alfred Hitchcock


exactly plus Godard

[Thomas Balkcom]

The Coen Brothers and in the past few months I've become a huge fan of Jim Jarmusch

[Adeniz19]

coen bros
fincher
kubrick
scorsese
nolan

[bowl of oranges]

Quentin Tarantino
Wes Anderson

[reductiondesign]

Darren Aronofsky would be a fantastic cinematographer; personally, I love all of his films, but I can agree that he overreaches with most of his stories (see: The Fountain). It just boils down to whether or not you enjoy his stories.

[reductiondesign]

Also, I'd like to point out that Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino are pretty bland directors who are great at writing. (But with Zack and Miri..., Smith might be headed downhill...)

Gus Van Sant is another great choice that I forgot.

Christopher Nolan is good, but I don't think he's worthy of being put on "best director" lists. Yet. I've got a feeling he'll only get better. The realism that he insisted upon in The Dark Knight (he had Warner make an actual, working, real-life motorcycle for Batman to ride) is what I think sets him apart and will make him great. I also think he gets too much credit for Memento--what most people think is so great about is the story, credit for which should be equally attributed to his brother. His best film so far is easily The Prestige.

The same goes for David Fincher, who finally discovered his perfect balance and style and story with Zodiac. I've got high hopes that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will match it in scope and style.

Directors that I expect to be incredible in ten years' time:

Anton Corbijn (Control, which was gorgeous)
Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James..., which got robbed of last year's Academy Award for best cinematography)
Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, which is severely underrated)
David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, which was the best film I've seen so far this year)

Directors that almost made my list:

Joel and Ethan Coen (if only they hadn't made Intolerable Cruelty or The Ladykillers)
Michel Gondry (had all four of his films been on par with Eternal Sunshine..., he'd be my favorite director)
Martin Scorsese (yes, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are classics; I just don't care for much else that he's done--Shine A Light, anyone? No Direction Home? I'm also one of the few people who thinks that The Departed was overrated and shouldn't have won best picture)

And in the wake of all my film criticism, I bet someone will point out that I haven't included Godard or Kurosawa or Ozu or Welles or Truffaut or Wilder in my list. It's a list of favorites, and I'm just spitting out opinions.

/rant

[Thomas Balkcom]

Also, I'd like to point out that Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino are pretty bland directors who are great at writing. (But with Zack and Miri..., Smith might be headed downhill...)

Gus Van Sant is another great choice that I forgot.

Christopher Nolan is good, but I don't think he's worthy of being put on "best director" lists. Yet. I've got a feeling he'll only get better. The realism that he insisted upon in The Dark Knight (he had Warner make an actual, working, real-life motorcycle for Batman to ride) is what I think sets him apart and will make him great. I also think he gets too much credit for Memento--what most people think is so great about is the story, credit for which should be equally attributed to his brother. His best film so far is easily The Prestige.

The same goes for David Fincher, who finally discovered his perfect balance and style and story with Zodiac. I've got high hopes that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will match it in scope and style.

Directors that I expect to be incredible in ten years' time:

Anton Corbijn (Control, which was gorgeous)
Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James..., which got robbed of last year's Academy Award for best cinematography)
Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, which is severely underrated)
David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, which was the best film I've seen so far this year)

Directors that almost made my list:

Joel and Ethan Coen (if only they hadn't made Intolerable Cruelty or The Ladykillers)
Michel Gondry (had all four of his films been on par with Eternal Sunshine..., he'd be my favorite director)
Martin Scorsese (yes, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are classics; I just don't care for much else that he's done--Shine A Light, anyone? No Direction Home? I'm also one of the few people who thinks that The Departed was overrated and shouldn't have won best picture)

And in the wake of all my film criticism, I bet someone will point out that I haven't included Godard or Kurosawa or Ozu or Welles or Truffaut or Wilder in my list. It's a list of favorites, and I'm just spitting out opinions.

/rant

I would have a hard time picking between Batman Begins and The Prestige as Nolan's best film, but I do put them both over Memento.
Also of all the movies for Scorsese to win best picture, I feel it is a giant kick in the stomach that it was for The Departed, he's easily got seven or eight much better films.

Two directors that I think will become incredible in the next ten years or so: John Hillcoat (we'll see how he handles The Road) and Charlie Kaufman, who like you said about Nolan's brother, should have at least equal credit as Gondry for Eternal Sunshine but I guess we will have to see.

[micahistheballs]

Christopher Nolan.

[reductiondesign]

I would have a hard time picking between Batman Begins and The Prestige as Nolan's best film, but I do put them both over Memento.
Also of all the movies for Scorsese to win best picture, I feel it is a giant kick in the stomach that it was for The Departed, he's easily got seven or eight much better films.

Two directors that I think will become incredible in the next ten years or so: John Hillcoat (we'll see how he handles The Road) and Charlie Kaufman, who like you said about Nolan's brother, should have at least equal credit as Gondry for Eternal Sunshine but I guess we will have to see.

Oh wow, those are two great up-and-coming directors I forgot about.

The Proposition was downright awesome, and I'm hoping The Road is just as good.

Also, depending on how Kaufman handles Synecdoche, New York, we'll see whether he's a great writer or a great writer/director.

My feelings on Scorsese getting best director for The Departed are something along the lines of, "Why the fuck didn't he already win it?"

[Thomas Balkcom]

Oh wow, those are two great up-and-coming directors I forgot about.

The Proposition was downright awesome, and I'm hoping The Road is just as good.

Also, depending on how Kaufman handles Synecdoche, New York, we'll see whether he's a great writer or a great writer/director.

My feelings on Scorsese getting best director for The Departed are something along the lines of, "Why the fuck didn't he already win it?"

In regards to Kaufman, I sincerely hope it's the latter and he becomes a great success.
I'm nervous about The Road (being a huge fan of the book), but I think it's in the right hands, with a great cast, and Nick Cave composing, it would be really hard to mess up.

[AshesAshes]

Boyle,Nolan,Andersen and Tarantino off the top of my head.

I also think Tim Burton is highly overrated and hate him.

[reductiondesign]

In regards to Kaufman, I sincerely hope it's the latter and he becomes a great success.
I'm nervous about The Road (being a huge fan of the book), but I think it's in the right hands, with a great cast, and Nick Cave composing, it would be really hard to mess up.

Nick Cave's score to The Proposition is incredible. And I'd rather see Hillcoat screw up The Road than Michael Bay or Paul W.S. Anderson.

I'm looking at your blog, and I'm really enjoying the films you pick--I love that you loved The Proposition, and it saddens me you didn't care for Primer (my favorite film; infinite replay value).

Also, you live pretty close to me--I'm in Alpharetta.

Favorite films?

[reductiondesign]

Boyle,Nolan,Andersen and Tarantino off the top of my head.

I also think Tim Burton is highly overrated and hate him.

Tim Burton has made three masterpieces (yes, masterpieces):

Big Fish (I would call this one of the best films of the past twenty years, easily)
Ed Wood
Edward Scissorhands

After that, he ranges from the mediocre (Sleepy Hollow) to the bad (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) to the awful (Planet of the Apes).

At least his stuff is always visually appealing--he's never made an ugly film.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Nick Cave's score to The Proposition is incredible. And I'd rather see Hillcoat screw up The Road than Michael Bay or Paul W.S. Anderson.

I'm looking at your blog, and I'm really enjoying the films you pick--I love that you loved The Proposition, and it saddens me you didn't care for Primer (my favorite film; infinite replay value).

Also, you live pretty close to me--I'm in Alpharetta.

Favorite films?

If you look at your wall you'll see that I mentioned that I have recently learned to love Primer, after the second and third time watching it, I found it to be incredible with so many facets to be discovered throughout, not to mention with that mind-blowing budget.

And I cringe at a Michael Bay-helmed The Road, that man needs to stop.

And I lived in Alpharetta for middle school and I just recently moved to Sandy Springs, so I live even closer.

As far as favorite films I'd have to say Punch Drunk Love, Dead Man, and Taxi Driver (for the sole reason that it is the reason I love film as much as I do). I'd like to also point out that I watched Glengarry Glen Ross for the first time the other night, and it completely blew me away so it's a definite future contender for those spots.

How about you?

[Thomas Balkcom]

Tim Burton has made three masterpieces (yes, masterpieces):

Big Fish (I would call this one of the best films of the past twenty years, easily)
Ed Wood
Edward Scissorhands

After that, he ranges from the mediocre (Sleepy Hollow) to the bad (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) to the awful (Planet of the Apes).

At least his stuff is always visually appealing--he's never made an ugly film.

couldn't have been better put, I would love to see him make another original film, but it looks like we will have to wait awhile with his recently announced projects and whatnot, I think Ed Wood is one of the most under appreciated films of the 90's.

[reductiondesign]

If you look at your wall you'll see that I mentioned that I have recently learned to love Primer, after the second and third time watching it, I found it to be incredible with so many facets to be discovered throughout, not to mention with that mind-blowing budget.

And I cringe at a Michael Bay-helmed The Road, that man needs to stop.

And I lived in Alpharetta for middle school and I just recently moved to Sandy Springs, so I live even closer.

As far as favorite films I'd have to say Punch Drunk Love, Dead Man, and Taxi Driver (for the sole reason that it is the reason I love film as much as I do). I'd like to also point out that I watched Glengarry Glen Ross for the first time the other night, and it completely blew me away so it's a definite future contender for those spots.

How about you?

My condensed favorites:

Primer
Magnolia / Hard Eight / Boogie Nights / Punch-Drunk Love / There Will Be Blood
The Royal Tenenbaums
Mulholland Dr.
Days of Heaven
Ace in the Hole
Yi Yi
Big Fish
Citizen Kane
Naked
A Clockwork Orange
Schizopolis

I'm bad at short lists.

[Thomas Balkcom]

My condensed favorites:

Primer
Magnolia / Hard Eight / Boogie Nights / Punch-Drunk Love / There Will Be Blood
The Royal Tenenbaums
Mulholland Dr.
Days of Heaven
Ace in the Hole
Yi Yi
Big Fish
Citizen Kane
Naked
A Clockwork Orange
Schizopolis

I'm bad at short lists.

As am I, I feel the same way about PT Anderson's movies, I really cannot pick between any of them but I feel as if Punch-Drunk Love is by far the most underrated of his.

[reductiondesign]

Punch-Drunk Love gets far more appreciation than Hard Eight does.

[Thomas Balkcom]

I can agree with that statement, I wish I would've been old enough to appreciate Hard Eight when it originally came out, just to see PTA grow and develop from there.

[reductiondesign]

I'm just thankful that he's got many, many years ahead of him. Years that I get to watch.

[Thomas Balkcom]

I'm just thankful that he's got many, many years ahead of him. Years that I get to watch.

Completely agree, it will be interesting to see what is new project will actually be, I've heard a bunch of rumors, but none that seem reliable. I just hope there is not another five year gap for the next film

[FondestMemory]

boyle, pta and wes anderson are my favorites making movies today.

[JHSace923]

A director who I feel is underrated for how talented he is is Peter Weir. What he did with The Truman Show was extraordinary.

[notoaststereo]

I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.i enjoyed it.

[notoaststereo]

1. Stanley Kubrick
2. Paul Thomas Anderson
3. David Fincher
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Martin Scorsese


i hope Charlie Kaufman does a good job with S,NY hes an amazing writer.

[mattTLTT]

the coen brothers are amazing, wes anderson is great, and spike jonze is great.

[FOBcareemo]

Tim Burton and Spike Lee are terribly overrated.



Truth.

[reductiondesign]

Tim Burton and Spike Lee are terribly overrated.



Truth.

They have Big Fish and Do the Right Thing to their credit, respectively, and considering both of those films are near-perfect, I don't think it's possible for them to be overrated. They are both hit-or-miss, but in no way overrated.

/opinion

[Smithers]

Also, I'd like to point out that Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino are pretty bland directors who are great at writing. (But with Zack and Miri..., Smith might be headed downhill...)

Gus Van Sant is another great choice that I forgot.

Christopher Nolan is good, but I don't think he's worthy of being put on "best director" lists. Yet. I've got a feeling he'll only get better. The realism that he insisted upon in The Dark Knight (he had Warner make an actual, working, real-life motorcycle for Batman to ride) is what I think sets him apart and will make him great. I also think he gets too much credit for Memento--what most people think is so great about is the story, credit for which should be equally attributed to his brother. His best film so far is easily The Prestige.

The same goes for David Fincher, who finally discovered his perfect balance and style and story with Zodiac. I've got high hopes that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will match it in scope and style.

Directors that I expect to be incredible in ten years' time:

Anton Corbijn (Control, which was gorgeous)
Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James..., which got robbed of last year's Academy Award for best cinematography)
Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, which is severely underrated)
David Gordon Green (Snow Angels, which was the best film I've seen so far this year)

Directors that almost made my list:

Joel and Ethan Coen (if only they hadn't made Intolerable Cruelty or The Ladykillers)
Michel Gondry (had all four of his films been on par with Eternal Sunshine..., he'd be my favorite director)
Martin Scorsese (yes, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are classics; I just don't care for much else that he's done--Shine A Light, anyone? No Direction Home? I'm also one of the few people who thinks that The Departed was overrated and shouldn't have won best picture)

And in the wake of all my film criticism, I bet someone will point out that I haven't included Godard or Kurosawa or Ozu or Welles or Truffaut or Wilder in my list. It's a list of favorites, and I'm just spitting out opinions.

/rant

i disagree on Memento. the premise of the movie was outstanding, the story itself was pretty good, but the way Nolan created it was what was so brilliant. to be honest, i think the most credit should go to the editor, who got robbed of the oscar that year.

also, i liked Intolerable Cruelty. it was just like all of the Coen's comedies: o brother, hudsucker, arizona, lebowski, etc. they have a knack for characters and character development. whenever
an actor works for them, they turn in outstanding performances: goodman as walter, mcdormand as marge, cage as H.I. that's one of the most important parts of directing, just as much as the frame itself.

[reductiondesign]

i disagree on Memento. the premise of the movie was outstanding, the story itself was pretty good, but the way Nolan created it was what was so brilliant. to be honest, i think the most credit should go to the editor, who got robbed of the oscar that year.

also, i liked Intolerable Cruelty. it was just like all of the Coen's comedies: o brother, hudsucker, arizona, lebowski, etc. they have a knack for characters and character development. whenever
an actor works for them, they turn in outstanding performances: goodman as walter, mcdormand as marge, cage as H.I. that's one of the most important parts of directing, just as much as the frame itself.

A brilliant post. Thank you.

I'll agree that the credit for Memento's structure should go to the editor--but I don't think it's as incredible as many make it out to be.

Also, an actor's performance, unfortunately, doesn't determine the quality of a film. By that logic, Norbit would be an astonishing picture; Eddie Murphy is a phenomenal actor. Right? No; Norbit is still awful.

And I shudder to think of holding Intolerable Cruelty to the same level as The Big Lebowski or O Brother...

[June_Bug]

I think I'm the only person who really liked The Beach.

Meh, it was ok but was nothing to right home about.

Somewhere between these Lucas, Spielberg ,Mann, Scorsese. They've put out some amazing movies to me.

[Kerplunk_23]

Tim Burton,John Waters,Quentin Tarrantino,Kevin Smith,Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorcese.

[jwelborn]

David Cronenberg, as you can tell by my avatar.
Woody Allen
P.T. Anderson


Recently i've really been enjoying Joe Swanberg's films.

[Neo Cassady]

Kevin Smith
Alfred Hitchcock
Sam Mendes
Tim Burton

[Ravenna]

Two of my favorites whom haven't been named yet:

Terrence Malick
Billy Wilder

[WordzandDreamz]

While I personally agree with you, Terrence isn't for everyone.

[Ravenna]

Well if we were talking about filmmakers for 'everyone', I would name dudes like Michael Bay and Gore Verbinski.

[Mitch]

P.T. Anderson.

[a speedo model]

Christopher Nolan, David Fincher and Danny Boyle. Brilliant men.

[caroline che]

Tarantino is the shit.

[Hamlet]

Right now, Michael Mann. Heat is the best crime film of the 1990s, and Collateral just looks beautiful.

[eMart]

Two of my favorites whom haven't been named yet:

Terrence Malick
Billy Wilder
I just came in here to post Billy Wilder as well as Stanley Kubrick, Fritz Lang, Scorsese, and Spielberg.

[Smithers]

A brilliant post. Thank you.

I'll agree that the credit for Memento's structure should go to the editor--but I don't think it's as incredible as many make it out to be.

Also, an actor's performance, unfortunately, doesn't determine the quality of a film. By that logic, Norbit would be an astonishing picture; Eddie Murphy is a phenomenal actor. Right? No; Norbit is still awful.

And I shudder to think of holding Intolerable Cruelty to the same level as The Big Lebowski or O Brother...

i actually consider Memento my favorite film ever, but it unfortunately has no real replay value. nothing like my other top 5: requiem for a dream, the pianist, road to perdition, and the boondock saints, which by the way was a very well directed movie and it's a shame the guy hasn't made anything more since.

i didn't particularly mean the actor's ability determines the quality of the film, i meant more of the director can enhance the quality of the actor. i don't really consider nicholas cage or john goodman great actors, but their performances in the coen's movies were outstanding.

[FondestMemory]

i actually consider Memento my favorite film ever, but it unfortunately has no real replay value. nothing like my other top 5: requiem for a dream, the pianist, road to perdition, and the boondock saints, which by the way was a very well directed movie and it's a shame the guy hasn't made anything more since.

i didn't particularly mean the actor's ability determines the quality of the film, i meant more of the director can enhance the quality of the actor. i don't really consider nicholas cage or john goodman great actors, but their performances in the coen's movies were outstanding.

have you ever seen the documentary 'overnight'? if you haven't, watch it. you'll see why troy duffy never directed another movie after boondock saints.

and i disagree about memento's replay value. i still watch that movie all the time and love it with each viewing.

[Chris Fallon]

Paul Thomas Anderson is probably my favorite, but I like too many to name (basically all the ones you'd expect).

[Crosswind Ghost]

David Fincher
Stanley Kubrick
Danny Boyle
Quentin Tarantino
Christopher Nolan
Cameron Crowe

[HogarthHughes]

Most of my favorites have already been mentioned but here they are:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Christopher Nolan
Coen Brothers
David Fincher
Martin Scorsese
Wes Anderson

I also think Edgar Wright is amazing. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are brilliant.

Edit: Can't believe I left out Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Shame on me.

[DickfaceChillah]

Paul Thomas Anderson
Stanley Kubrick
Martin Scorsese
Larry Clark
Andrei Tarkovsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky
David Lynch
Judd Apatow
David Gordon Green
John Carpenter
Kevin Smith
Dario Argento
Frank Darabont
Coen Brothers
SOMETIMES Ridley Scott, sometimes not.

[EchoPark]

Frank Darabont
Terrence Malick
Robert Rodriguez
Paul Thomas Anderson
Tony Scott
Martin Scorcese
John McTiernan
Guillermo Del Toro
Randall Wallace
Mel Gibson

[justletgo]

Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher

[doyouhas?]

Michel Gondry
Wes Anderson
David Fincher
Spike Jonze

[Ailite]

Quentin Tarantino
Sergio Leone
The Coen Brothers
David Fincher
Sam Mendes
Christopher Nolan
Joe Wright
Paul Thomas Anderson
Wes Anderson
Peter Jackson
James Mangold
Andrew Stanton
Robert Zemeckis
Tim Burton (Solely for Big Fish)
Gus Van Sant
Stanley Kubrick
Alfred Hitchcock
Martin Scorsese
Bahz Lurrhman

[Kid B]

Wes Anderson just for Rushmore and Darjeeling. I haven't seen his other stuff.

[Ailite]

Wes Anderson just for Rushmore and Darjeeling. I haven't seen his other stuff.
He hasn't made a bad movie, check the others out.

[EchoPark]

mendes is awesome, one of my favorites.

i don't think kevin smith is a good director, but he's an outstanding writer.

but no one has mentioned Darren Aronofsky, who is probably number one in my book. his movies have all been visually spectacular. i could only dream of having such talents.


Damn completely skipped my mind,great call.

This guy is only 38

[capnhook54]

The Coens

[EchoPark]

The work of Paul Thomas Anderson:

Hard Eight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Eight_%28film%29) (also known as Sydney) (1996)
Boogie Nights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Nights) (1997)
Magnolia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29) (1999)
Punch-Drunk Love (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Drunk_Love) (2002)
There Will Be Blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Will_Be_Blood) (2007)

[Thomas Balkcom]

The work of Paul Thomas Anderson:
Hard Eight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Eight_%28film%29) (also known as Sydney) (1996)
Boogie Nights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Nights) (1997)
Magnolia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_%28film%29) (1999)
Punch-Drunk Love (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Drunk_Love) (2002)
There Will Be Blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Will_Be_Blood) (2007)

Let's hope there isn't another five year gap between There Will Be Blood and his next

[EchoPark]

Let's hope there isn't another five year gap between There Will Be Blood and his next

Amen brother.

[skellorock]

Tim Burton
Sam Raimi
Stephen Spielberg(mostly his late 70's-early 90's stuff)
Coen's
Robert Zemeckis (his early stuff anyways)
Guillermo Del Toro
Robert Rodriguez
Joe Johnston(he's the poor man's Spielberg, but I love his stuff)
Chris Nolan (yeah, he's still kinda new, but c'mon)
Peter Jackson (great horror/comedy director, oh yeah, and he also directed the LOTR trilogy)
Harold Ramis(Groundhog Day, The Ice Harvest, the dude's a comic genius)

and I don't care what anyone says, yes he's made some bad movies, but Michael Bay in recent years has done some good movies, I mean Transformers was great, and the Island proved to me that he could make a film w/some substance, but more than anything, I love the cinematography in his movies, which is odd, cause I typically have a distaste for alot of modern(mtv type) camera work and editing, i feel too much it takes away from story telling, having some boundries is healthy, for instance w/digital, I'm not against blue screen movies, but I found 300 to be nothing but style, it was like watching someone else play a video game.

However, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was incredible, I love the 1930's, and the old adventure serials and pulp mags, to me that was movie magic, and I really wanna see somthing else from Kerry Conran

Liev Schreiber is someone else I wanna see more from, I really liked Everything is Illuminated, he's got a good eye, and with a little work on his storytelling he can do some really cool stuff i think.

Matthew Ryan Hoge, the United States of Leland was a really compelling movie, one of the few indie/art house films that I really liked, its not a crowd pleaser but I didnt find it self-indulgent and full of itself like so many other awful indie films i've seen

I'm not ripping on anyone that loves arthouse cinema, but it just doesnt do it for me most of the time, hollywood produces alot of crap, and the indie world produces just as much, and sometimes more

[EchoPark]

Zack Snyder pretty much came out of nowhere with Dawn of The Dead and 300. Also wrote the screenplay for the latter.

I had never heard of this guy and he really blew me away with 300.

[drudo182]

Favorites with my favorite movie of theirs in (). This is what came up immediately but I know there's more.

P.T. Anderson (Boogie Nights)
Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York)
Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams)
David Fincher (Zodiac)
Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Christopher Nolan (The Prestige)
Steven Spielberg (A.I.)
Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain)
Gus Van Sant (Elephant)
Steven Soderbergh (Traffic)

[doyouhas?]

Favorites with my favorite movie of theirs in (). This is what came up immediately but I know there's more.

P.T. Anderson (Boogie Nights)
Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York)
Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams)
David Fincher (Zodiac)
Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Christopher Nolan (The Prestige)
Steven Spielberg (A.I.)
Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain)
Gus Van Sant (Elephant)
Steven Soderbergh (Traffic)


glad im not the only person who thinks this is his best movie.

[drudo182]

glad im not the only person who thinks this is his best movie.

Oh yeah. Easily my favorite of his.

The Prestige > Dark Knight > Memento > Batman Begins > Insomnia > Following

[EchoPark]

Favorites with my favorite movie of theirs in (). This is what came up immediately but I know there's more.

P.T. Anderson (Boogie Nights)
Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York)
Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams)
David Fincher (Zodiac)
Wes Anderson (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)
Christopher Nolan (The Prestige)
Steven Spielberg (A.I.)
Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain)
Gus Van Sant (Elephant)-Very Underrated movie.Great 2 minute intro shot where the camera follows the kid as he walks into the school.
Steven Soderbergh (Traffic)


I'd agree with all of those selections except Spielberg where I feel his best movie is Schindler's List.

[doyouhas?]

Wes Anderson just for Rushmore and Darjeeling. I haven't seen his other stuff.

life aquatic and royal tenenbaums are definitely his best two, you need to check them out.

[doyouhas?]

Oh yeah. Easily my favorite of his.

The Prestige > Dark Knight > Memento > Batman Begins > Insomnia > Following

ive never seen Memento, ive tried to rent it like 3 or 4 times and its always checked out. maybe next time ill have more luck.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Tim Burton
Sam Raimi
Stephen Spielberg(mostly his late 70's-early 90's stuff)
Coen's
Robert Zemeckis (his early stuff anyways)
Guillermo Del Toro
Robert Rodriguez
Joe Johnston(he's the poor man's Spielberg, but I love his stuff)
Chris Nolan (yeah, he's still kinda new, but c'mon)
Peter Jackson (great horror/comedy director, oh yeah, and he also directed the LOTR trilogy)
Harold Ramis(Groundhog Day, The Ice Harvest, the dude's a comic genius)

and I don't care what anyone says, yes he's made some bad movies, but Michael Bay in recent years has done some good movies, I mean Transformers was great, and the Island proved to me that he could make a film w/some substance, but more than anything, I love the cinematography in his movies, which is odd, cause I typically have a distaste for alot of modern(mtv type) camera work and editing, i feel too much it takes away from story telling, having some boundries is healthy, for instance w/digital, I'm not against blue screen movies, but I found 300 to be nothing but style, it was like watching someone else play a video game.

However, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was incredible, I love the 1930's, and the old adventure serials and pulp mags, to me that was movie magic, and I really wanna see somthing else from Kerry Conran

Liev Schreiber is someone else I wanna see more from, I really liked Everything is Illuminated, he's got a good eye, and with a little work on his storytelling he can do some really cool stuff i think.

Matthew Ryan Hoge, the United States of Leland was a really compelling movie, one of the few indie/art house films that I really liked, its not a crowd pleaser but I didnt find it self-indulgent and full of itself like so many other awful indie films i've seen

I'm not ripping on anyone that loves arthouse cinema, but it just doesnt do it for me most of the time, hollywood produces alot of crap, and the indie world produces just as much, and sometimes more

Everything is Illuminated is a fantastic film

[drudo182]

I'd agree with all of those selections except Spielberg where I feel his best movie is Schindler's List.

Schindler's List will probably always be his masterpiece but I just loved A.I.

Minority Report, Saving Private Ryan, and Munich would probably be my next picks. I guess E.T. as well as The Color Purple. Lots of good ones.

[drudo182]

ive never seen Memento, ive tried to rent it like 3 or 4 times and its always checked out. maybe next time ill have more luck.

Yeah, get on that. It's awesome.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Oh yeah. Easily my favorite of his.

The Prestige > Dark Knight > Memento > Batman Begins > Insomnia > Following

Pretty much perfect although I would probably switch up Memento and Batman Begins but I'd definitely be on the fence about it, yours is probably better.

ive never seen Memento, ive tried to rent it like 3 or 4 times and its always checked out. maybe next time ill have more luck.

I hope you do have luck, out of all of my DVDs it is the one I loan out the most.

[Thomas Balkcom]

For Spielberg I'd have a terrible time deciding between A. I. and Munich

[alaskan]

For Spielberg I'd have a terrible time deciding between A. I. and Munich

munich ftw

[drudo182]

Munich is wonderful. I love Bana in that.

[WordzandDreamz]

I own every Spielberg movie. He's the only person who has made more than 5 movies that I can say that about.

[Chemical Love]

Clint Eastwood, Scorsese, Tarantino, Spielberg

[WordzandDreamz]

Check my last comment, I own every Crowe movie and he's made 6. The point I was getting at still stands, however.

[drudo182]

I own a lot of Spielberg but am missing a few of his older titles. I've really been wanting to watch The Terminal again. I was one of the few that actually enjoyed that one quite a bit.

I really hope he gets Lincoln going soon.

[drudo182]

Check my last comment, I own every Crowe movie and he's made 6. The point I was getting at still stands, however.

Did you like Elizabethtown? I loved it. Any movie that features so much Ryan Adams already has me on board.

[ForlrnPerplxity]

I own a lot of Spielberg but am missing a few of his older titles. I've really been wanting to watch The Terminal again. I was one of the few that actually enjoyed that one quite a bit.

I really hope he gets Lincoln going soon.
I can't wait for Lincoln and Interstellar.

[drudo182]

I can't wait for Lincoln and Interstellar.

Interstellar sounds awesome and Jonathan Nolan wrote it. Bonus.

[WordzandDreamz]

Did you like Elizabethtown? I loved it. Any movie that features so much Ryan Adams already has me on board.

Yeah, I did enjoy it. I feel it didn't fully live up to his normal standards, but a pretty good movie from Mr. Crowe is better than some people's best.

[drudo182]

Yeah, I did enjoy it. I feel it didn't fully live up to his normal standards, but a pretty good movie from Mr. Crowe is better than some people's best.

For the most part. I thought Vanilla Sky was average on every level pretty much. Not a bad film but not great.

[Bob Payne]

Alfonso Cuaron
David Fincher
Terrence Malick
Ingmar Bergman
Sidney Lumet
Stanly Kubrick
Mike Nichols

[TragicTricia]

Stephen Speilberg
Martin Scorcese
Tim Burton
M Night Shyamalan

[drudo182]

I thought about putting Kubrick on mine as well. The Shining is still my favorite of his.

[MIKEY_HORROR]

Tarantino #1
followed by Kubrick

[TragicTricia]

Nick Cassavetes

[MIKEY_HORROR]

oh, and from what I have seen..I like Edgar Wright as well

[Bob Payne]

Nick Cassavetes

nice edit

[drudo182]

I give Rob Zombie props for making three of the worst movies ever.

[TragicTricia]

nice edit
Thanks sorry i was reading a steven king novel and i mistook it

[MIKEY_HORROR]

anyone here like:

Takashi Miike or Dario Argento?

th0se are 2 that I have really been enjoying lately.

[jbaseball44]

anyone here like:

Takashi Miike or Dario Argento?

th0se are 2 that I have really been enjoying lately.
I have always meant to check out Miike, i have been told he is like the Japanese Tarintino, any truth to that? Argento is great.

[chokeychicken]

darren a (requiem for a dream, the fountain, PI)

[PDon11]

Quentin Tarantino
Fernando Meireilles
Akira Kurosawa
Michael Haneke
David Fincher
Milos Forman
Sergio Leone
The Cohen Brothers
Guy Ritchie (his first two overshadow his crap afterwards)
John Woo

[MIKEY_HORROR]

told he is like the Japanese Tarintino, any truth to that?

Yeah I could kinda get the comparison.

When you check him out you should start with audition. Its awesome. dead or alive and ichi the killer are both pretty good to. Ichi is pretty sick though haha

And he has some crazy japanese spaghetti western coming out here in November.

[jbaseball44]

Yeah I could kinda get the comparison.

When you check him out you should start with audition. Its awesome. dead or alive and ichi the killer are both pretty good to. Ichi is pretty sick though haha

And he has some crazy japanese spaghetti western coming out here in November.
I have had audition on my computer for a long time and never watched it, this weekend perhaps.

[Indoor Living]

Nolan. W. Anderson. Scorsese. D. Boyle.

[Indoor Living]

Ben Affleck. Ha!

[muffinstylings]

I'd probably have to go with David Cronenberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Danny Boyle and John Carpenter

[FstFtsVsFences]

Wes Anderson for me.

[headclub]

David Fincher (mainly because Fight Club and Seven are amazingly high in my top 10 movies of all time)

[-Aaron-]

Godard
Kubrick
Bergman
Almodovar
Okamoto
Fellini
Malick


Cauron & Schnabel could become two of my favorites if they continue to make great films.

[pinklipgloss]

Alfred Hitchcock
Wes Anderson
PT Anderson
Takashi Miike
Takeshi Kitano
Wong Kar Wai
John Waters

[Thomas Balkcom]

Godard
Kubrick
Bergman
Almodovar
Okamoto
Fellini
Malick


Cauron & Schnabel could become two of my favorites if they continue to make great films.

Great list, good seeing Almodovar getting some love

[pshh]

bump, Aronofsky is definitely now on my top directors list.

[Thomas Balkcom]

bump, Aronofsky is definitely now on my top directors list.

a much needed bump

[josepablo32]

I really like David Fincher, Quenten Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Speilberg.
i'll leave out michael mann over there, and david fincher will definitely be in first place

[andrewshungry]

definitely PTA

then Spielberg