Ask a Maven

Re:Favorite Director

Dr_Gor — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:39:19 GMT

Dr_Gor:

You are more than welcome to come talk to me in 'Horror Movies 101' and ask me anything you like...

< GOR >

Oh yeah... Favorite Director ...

As I said earlier, for me it is a tie between Peter Jackson and John Carpenter .

< GOR >

Re:Favorite Director

Dr_Gor — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:31:33 GMT

Risselada:

I will try to get this up soon.

Wow. Your girlfriend must be quite excited. I wish you nothing but luck with that, Rizzo...

But seriously, folks... I would be happy to partake in such an endevour. I will be happy to share my expertice wherever it is needed... But in the meantime...

You are more than welcome to come talk to me in 'Horror Movies 101' and ask me anything you like...

< GOR >

Re:Favorite Director

Risselada — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:52:01 GMT

JimBell:
.

YUP. this list or group seems about dead. It would have been an awesome experiment if it had been set up as "ask a maven" where, as Ris says, the viewer or requester had to tell something of themselves. Brainstorm: Your favorite genre . . . The best movie you've seen this year and why . . . Your fav movie(s) of all times . . . Your specific requirements (e.g., date movie, etc.) . . .

AND the mavens would have had to say something of themselves e.g., a standard page of fav movies, recent favs, fav directors and screenwriters, reviewing philosophy, etc. Requesters could have posted to all mavens or to one maven in particular.

Although this would have been an incredible, virtual-reality-breaking experiment, I think the main benefit would have been to mavens--it would have forced them to re-examine their critical perspectives, to re-evaluate how they rated movies. What a payoff!!

That WOULD be really sweet. I guess I don't see why we still couldn't do it though. Maybe I will make a new thread where people can post just those things. I would be interested at least in seeing how different people on this site qualify those things. Please don't leave Jim, if that's what you are saying. I will try to get this up soon. I'd be very interested in your responses as a prolific reviewer as well once I do.

Re:Favorite Director

JimBell — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:50:35 GMT

Risselada:

JimBell:

It is too bad that this potentially awesome web group did not take off. IN a general sense ( I'm an outsider), the initial idea was superb--get "mavens" to recommend movies, as opposed to generic ratins. However, this innovative concep5t seems to have disintegrated. Although I do not know exactly why, it has someting to do with Bureaucracy and how the idea was pitched ot Bureaucarcy. Oh, well.

Well I think people who are looking for recommendations need to post first of all so "mavens" can help them out.

Or really, I'm not exactly sure how the "mavens" are supposed to proceed. I guess we could always wade through a person's highly rated movies list and give recommendations about that. Me personally, the best way I can recommend movie is by getting to know someone through many conversations about movies. So I think people just need to start posting more about different movies they like and are interested in.... I dunno.

YUP. this list or group seems about dead. It would have been an awesome experiment if it had been set up as "ask a maven" where, as Ris says, the viewer or requester had to tell something of themselves. Brainstorm: Your favorite genre . . . The best movie you've seen this year and why . . . Your fav movie(s) of all times . . . Your specific requirements (e.g., date movie, etc.) . . .

AND the mavens would have had to say something of themselves e.g., a standard page of fav movies, recent favs, fav directors and screenwriters, reviewing philosophy, etc. Requesters could have posted to all mavens or to one maven in particular.

Although this would have been an incredible, virtual-reality-breaking experiment, I think the main benefit would have been to mavens--it would have forced them to re-examine their critical perspectives, to re-evaluate how they rated movies. What a payoff!!

As Bob Dylan sang,

. . . fare thee well . . .

JIMBELL

Re:Favorite Director

Risselada — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:24:22 GMT

JimBell:

It is too bad that this potentially awesome web group did not take off. IN a general sense ( I'm an outsider), the initial idea was superb--get "mavens" to recommend movies, as opposed to generic ratins. However, this innovative concep5t seems to have disintegrated. Although I do not know exactly why, it has someting to do with Bureaucracy and how the idea was pitched ot Bureaucarcy. Oh, well.

Well I think people who are looking for recommendations need to post first of all so "mavens" can help them out.

Or really, I'm not exactly sure how the "mavens" are supposed to proceed. I guess we could always wade through a person's highly rated movies list and give recommendations about that. Me personally, the best way I can recommend movie is by getting to know someone through many conversations about movies. So I think people just need to start posting more about different movies they like and are interested in.... I dunno.

Re:Favorite Director

JimBell — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:08:00 GMT

It is too bad that this potentially awesome web group did not take off. IN a general sense ( I'm an outsider), the initial idea was superb--get "mavens" to recommend movies, as opposed to generic ratins. However, this innovative concep5t seems to have disintegrated. Although I do not know exactly why, it has someting to do with Bureaucracy and how the idea was pitched ot Bureaucarcy. Oh, well.

Re:Favorite Director

chrismorrell — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:12:02 GMT

rjsprague:

JimBell:

It's a toss up between these two:

Christopher Nolan

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Prestige (2006)

Batman Begins (2005)

Memento (2000)

Insomnia (2002) (have not seen this one)

Following (1998)

Nolan is so smart--he sees the big picture so he tells the story without distracting flaws; it's like he holds the script to the same standards as a classic novel. Yet he also pays great atttention to detail.

Mike Leigh (b. 1943 England)

Secrets & Lies (96)

Career Girls (97) (Have not seen this one)

Topsy-Turvey (99)

All or Nothing (02)

Vera Drake (04)

Happy-Go-Lucky (08)

Under the influence of the wonderful Happy-Go-Lucky, I finally admit that Mike Leigh's unorthodox way of creating films works like a charm for him and for me.

Interesting choices Jim. I really enjoy Christopher Nolan's films as well. My favorite is probably The Prestige actually, I guess that's weird, but I felt that it was such an amazing film. Just as you say, it was like a great novel, a page-turner, which kept you at the edge of your seat.

You did the work for me hear Jim. Scorsese blew it for me completely with "the Departed"...("Infernal Affairs" already!?)

Can i second your choice of Mike Leigh ..head and shoulders above the rest last year alone with "Happy Go Lucky"...(you must see "Career Girls",it's akin to "Happy" ,with "mannered " but "realsitic" female characters). Suprised you dont include "Naked" .. Back to "Happy Go Lucky" ,those who dont "get" it ,well thats a relationship breaker.

Re:Favorite Director

rjsprague — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:52:41 GMT

JimBell:

It's a toss up between these two:

Christopher Nolan

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Prestige (2006)

Batman Begins (2005)

Memento (2000)

Insomnia (2002) (have not seen this one)

Following (1998)

Nolan is so smart--he sees the big picture so he tells the story without distracting flaws; it's like he holds the script to the same standards as a classic novel. Yet he also pays great atttention to detail.

Mike Leigh (b. 1943 England)

Secrets & Lies (96)

Career Girls (97) (Have not seen this one)

Topsy-Turvey (99)

All or Nothing (02)

Vera Drake (04)

Happy-Go-Lucky (08)

Under the influence of the wonderful Happy-Go-Lucky, I finally admit that Mike Leigh's unorthodox way of creating films works like a charm for him and for me.

Interesting choices Jim. I really enjoy Christopher Nolan's films as well. My favorite is probably The Prestige actually, I guess that's weird, but I felt that it was such an amazing film. Just as you say, it was like a great novel, a page-turner, which kept you at the edge of your seat.

Re:Favorite Director

JimBell — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:59:00 GMT

It's a toss up between these two:

Christopher Nolan

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Prestige (2006)

Batman Begins (2005)

Memento (2000)

Insomnia (2002) (have not seen this one)

Following (1998)

Nolan is so smart--he sees the big picture so he tells the story without distracting flaws; it's like he holds the script to the same standards as a classic novel. Yet he also pays great atttention to detail.

Mike Leigh (b. 1943 England)

Secrets & Lies (96)

Career Girls (97) (Have not seen this one)

Topsy-Turvey (99)

All or Nothing (02)

Vera Drake (04)

Happy-Go-Lucky (08)

Under the influence of the wonderful Happy-Go-Lucky, I finally admit that Mike Leigh's unorthodox way of creating films works like a charm for him and for me.

Re:Favorite Director

rjsprague — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:17:45 GMT

Risselada:

My favorite director(s) is the Coen brothers. Not much else to say about that, but I did make a thread in my director's group about ranking your favorite directors. I used a homemade algorithm. I'll probably be updating this thread within the next year soon with some new posts actually, for anyone who could care:

My favorite directors (by algorithm)

Yeah I remember reading through that stuff. It is really interesting.

Let's see. My favorite director... is Wes Anderson. :)

I love every one of his films, and they are all unique in their own way. I love his sense of humor. I think most people think it's too dry, or understate, but it makes me laugh and laugh. His body of work isn't as large as some directors, and he hasn't garnered much acclaim, but I still would say he is my favorite director of all time. (At least for now.)

Re:Favorite Director

Risselada — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:08:31 GMT

My favorite director(s) is the Coen brothers. Not much else to say about that, but I did make a thread in my director's group about ranking your favorite directors. I used a homemade algorithm. I'll probably be updating this thread within the next year soon with some new posts actually, for anyone who could care:

My favorite directors (by algorithm)

Re:Favorite Director

seely — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:38:42 GMT

Tough question!

Its hard for me to pick an overall best, as I tend to have favorites in every genre. Can I cheat and pick a Top 5? :-}

1. Sergio Leone

2. Quentin Tarantino

3. Wes Andersen

4. Darren Aronofsky

5. Tim Burton

I guess now that I think about it, if I were to give anyone an "overall" title, it would probably be Burton for the amount and variety of work he's done. I really enjoyed his action/horror/comic adaptations, but also some of his more "heartfelt" work like Big Fish, one of my all-time favorite films.

Re:Favorite Director

Dr_Gor — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:40:09 GMT

rjsprague:

Gor,

I didn't mean to define how you define what a great director is. I was just giving my own opinion as to what I think defines a great director.

I really admire Peter Jackson for his direction of the LOTR trilogy. It is a masterpiece. I guess I also have to recognize that the process making a films, with all of the variables (different actors, producers, budgets, crews, screenwriters, etc., etc.) it is incredibly difficult to continually be the director of really good films. So those directors who happen to accomplish such feats are either incredibly lucky (which could happen) or incredibly talented, and maybe a bit of both.

Of course personal taste in films will strongly determine your feelings, but if a certain director is able to make movies you really like over and over again, then I'd say they're probably your favorite. Doesn't that make sense?

Hey, Ryan!

I think that is what I just said... but maybe in a longer form...

Re:Favorite Director

rjsprague — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:32:08 GMT

Gor,

I didn't mean to define how you define what a great director is. I was just giving my own opinion as to what I think defines a great director.

I really admire Peter Jackson for his direction of the LOTR trilogy. It is a masterpiece. I guess I also have to recognize that the process making a films, with all of the variables (different actors, producers, budgets, crews, screenwriters, etc., etc.) it is incredibly difficult to continually be the director of really good films. So those directors who happen to accomplish such feats are either incredibly lucky (which could happen) or incredibly talented, and maybe a bit of both.

Of course personal taste in films will strongly determine your feelings, but if a certain director is able to make movies you really like over and over again, then I'd say they're probably your favorite. Doesn't that make sense?

Re:Favorite Director

Dr_Gor — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:15:00 GMT

Obviously, this entire subject of "best director" is completely subjective and based on what one considers to be a "good" or a "great" film. I chose Peter Jackson ENTIRELY based on what he did with The Lord of the Rings series even though the rest of his filmography is not very good to say the least.

But, if I were to pick a favorite director based on CONSISTENTLY putting out "good" or "great" films, that honor would have to go to John Carpenter... in a close tie with George Romero. I have yet to see a movie by EITHER of those directors that I DIDN'T like! I think Carpenter has the edge because he directed MORE movies that were at least as good as anything Romero ever did. Halloween was nothing short of a masterpiece and always ranks near the top of any of my "favorite movie" lists.

For myself, I automatically disqualify such "art-house" directors as Bergman and Truffeau and even Kurasawa (and, yes, I HAVE seen films by each of these directors but they are not quite my cup of tea... I perhaps enjoy the violence of Kurasawa the best but foriegn movies like this are just not my thing...)

So that leaves Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. Both of these gentlemen have directed some true masterpieces that will live forever but both have directed some real stinkers as well. Spielberg directed JAWS which is one of the BEST movies ever made and, his very first movie, DUEL was another great one. But, he also directed Artificial Intelligence: AI , Jurassic Park , Hook and ET !

Clint Eastwood directed himself in some of the BEST movies ever put on film including ; High Plains Drifter , The Eiger Sanction , The Outlaw Josey Wales , The Gauntlet , Sudden Impact and UNFORGIVEN ! But, he also directed Space Cowboys , The Bridges of Maddison County , Honkytonk Man and Bronco Billy !

SO, based on the criteria of CONSISTANTLY putting out "good" or "great" movies, that leaves only Carpenter and Romero for me. I choose Carpenter based mostly on sheer volume and the fact that some of his best ones were at least as good as anything by Romero.

HORROR RULES !

< GOR >

Re:Favorite Director

tadiv — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:58:56 GMT

rjsprague:

You have quite a list there Tom, and they have all made great films. I guess we have to ask, "Which director has consistently created great films?". Some directors are involved in a great film, while others are able to make otherwise boring films truly amazing.

I honestly am having a really tough time with this one as well. But simply getting all of these names out here helps as well.

I will get back to this thread soon and give a real answer to my tough question. ^.^

Yea -- while I think Marc Forster has consistently made some fantastic films, at this stage of his career, how can he hold up next to Bergman, Kurosawa, Truffaut, or even Eastwood or Spielberg? He has a good start, but he's going to have to keep creating great films if he is to stand among these greats for the long term...

Tom

Re:Favorite Director

rjsprague — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:40:08 GMT

tadiv:

tadiv:

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

Tough question. Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Mira Nair, Kevin MacDonald, Stephen Daldry, Steven Spielberg, Marc Forster, and Ciint Eastwood - not in any particular order - and I'm sure I'm leaving a few off... Why - They are all great story tellers!

I know I did not really answer the question, but that's like asking "What is your favorite film? - oh, only pick one!!"

Okay -- if I had to pick only one, Marc Forester (though I have not yet seen the Bond movie he directed) - because his storytelling gets me deep inside.

Tom

I knew I forgot some - Ingmar Bergman comes to mind right away... As I look over my Highly Rated list, I see right away names like Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, Terry Gilliam, Ridley Scott, Cameron Crowe, François Truffaut, Lasse Hallström, Carol Reed, Orson Welles, Ken Burns, Peter Weir, Akira Kurosawa, and yes, there are even more (I'm only up to page 7 of my Highly Rated list)...

Tom

You have quite a list there Tom, and they have all made great films. I guess we have to ask, "Which director has consistently created great films?". Some directors are involved in a great film, while others are able to make otherwise boring films truly amazing.

I honestly am having a really tough time with this one as well. But simply getting all of these names out here helps as well.

I will get back to this thread soon and give a real answer to my tough question. ^.^

Re:Favorite Director

tadiv — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:43:37 GMT

tadiv:

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

Tough question. Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Mira Nair, Kevin MacDonald, Stephen Daldry, Steven Spielberg, Marc Forster, and Ciint Eastwood - not in any particular order - and I'm sure I'm leaving a few off... Why - They are all great story tellers!

I know I did not really answer the question, but that's like asking "What is your favorite film? - oh, only pick one!!"

Okay -- if I had to pick only one, Marc Forester (though I have not yet seen the Bond movie he directed) - because his storytelling gets me deep inside.

Tom

I knew I forgot some - Ingmar Bergman comes to mind right away... As I look over my Highly Rated list, I see right away names like Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, Terry Gilliam, Ridley Scott, Cameron Crowe, François Truffaut, Lasse Hallström, Carol Reed, Orson Welles, Ken Burns, Peter Weir, Akira Kurosawa, and yes, there are even more (I'm only up to page 7 of my Highly Rated list)...

Tom

Re:Favorite Director

tadiv — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:18:13 GMT

tadiv:

"...for example: Jurassic Park"?

[rant deleted]

Sorry -- I had written a rant about the selection of Jurassic Park - but that's not really fair, is it... Maybe Schildler's List would have been a less controversial example of the work of a great director.

Tom

P.S. I wonder - did you shoose to write "I like the movies" for a specific reason, or is that just what you wrote?

Okay - I'm just wondering here -- can anyone tell us why I wrote the P.S. question?

Tom

Re:Favorite Director

tadiv — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:14:05 GMT

haku-cho:

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

What is with Steven SPIELBERG. He is a great director. I like the movies. For example: Jurassic Park

"...for example: Jurassic Park"?

[rant deleted]

Sorry -- I had written a rant about the selection of Jurassic Park - but that's not really fair, is it... Maybe Schildler's List would have been a less controversial example of the work of a great director.

Tom

P.S. I wonder - did you shoose to write "I like the movies" for a specific reason, or is that just what you wrote?

Re:Favorite Director

haku-cho — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:00:42 GMT

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

What is with Steven SPIELBERG. He is a great director. I like the movies. For example: Jurassic Park

Re:Favorite Director

msparker32 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:01:45 GMT

My favorite director is Tim Burton. You never know what kind of movie he's going to put out, but it's always going to be entertaining. His movies usually have a "dark" nature to them. Some samples: Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorshands, Sweeney Tood. I always enjoy his work!

Re:Favorite Director

Dr_Gor — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:45:54 GMT

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

I have a list as well... Sergio Leone , Clint Eastwwod , Sam Peckinpah , Walter Hill , Lucio Fulci , Dario Argento , Joe D'Amato , Rugero Deodato , George Romero , Wes Craven , Tobe Hooper , EDWARD D. WOOD, JR. , Todd Browning , John Carpenter... there are more...

But, if I had to pick a SINGLE FAVORITE Director, that honor would have to go to Peter Jackson (!) simply based on what he did with the Lord Of The Rings trilogy! Actually, none of his other movies were all that great. Some of the early ones were ripe with over-the-top-gore but, all in all, they were not very good movies! And his King Kong remake was a poor substitute for the original.... BUT, for a brave young director to tackle the LOTR the way he did just instantly propelled him to Number 1 in my book...

< GOR >

Re:Favorite Director

tadiv — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:18:07 GMT

rjsprague:

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.

Tough question. Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Mira Nair, Kevin MacDonald, Stephen Daldry, Steven Spielberg, Marc Forster, and Clint Eastwood - not in any particular order - and I'm sure I'm leaving a few off... Why - They are all great story tellers!

I know I did not really answer the question, but that's like asking "What is your favorite film? - oh, only pick one!!"

Okay -- if I had to pick only one, Marc Forester (though I have not yet seen the Bond movie he directed) - because his storytelling gets me deep inside.

Tom

Favorite Director

rjsprague — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:10:32 GMT

If you had to choose ONE director (I know, kind of silly) as your favorite. Who would it be, and feel free to offer an explanation? Also include some films you feel represent the reason for you choice, or a link to the director's page on spout.