Top 5

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

spiritstereo — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:57:22 GMT

1. Harmony Korine (Gummo, Julien-Donkey Boy)
2. David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead)
3. Hayao Miyazaki (Totoro, Spirited Away)
4. Michel Gondry (The Science Of Sleep, Bjork videos)
5. Werner Herzog (Stroszek, Aguirre)

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

walktheearth — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:42:56 GMT

I'll be the shallow, narrow minded poster:

1. Quentin Tarantino: Resevior Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, both Kill Bills, and Death Proof!

2. Wes Anderson: Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Teenenbaums, The Life Aquatic.

3. Woody Allen (His stuff isn't as good as it used to be, but still better than most)

4. Martin Scorsese: His entire body of work is great, The Departed has capped it off recently.

5. The Coen Brothers: Unique vision, great performances, great story telling.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JimBell — Sat, 19 May 2007 19:10:05 GMT

My fav working directors are, in no particular order,

Jonathan Demme
Christopher Nolan
Peter Weir

4 and 5 --I don't know (Robert Benton? Baz Luhrman? Stephen Frears? Neil Jordon? Mike Leigh?)

PS.

Talking about “my fav directors” assumes that directors have such a large influence on film production that they can stamp each film with their signature style, which you like. Possibly—just possibly—this assumption is wrong. For one thing, in the past, Hollywood producers were assumed to have the most influence on a film. I’m not enough of a film historian to know if this is true, but it seems to be. For example, when Orson Welles submitted The Lady from Shanghai at 3 hours long, the film was summarily taken from him, turned over to a hired editor, chopped ruthlessly to its present length, and released without the director’s approval. For another thing, since the early days of cinema, many people assume that stars have the greatest effect on movies. For example, in the 40s studios advertised the chemistry between Bogie and Bacall and other on-screen duos. Nowadays, a Tom Cruise film is likely to be known as a Tom Cruise film regardless of who the director is. For yet another thing, David Mamet claims in his book on making films that the biggest influence is the editor. To be clear, as a screenwriter and director, he says that the director has a lot of influence, and in order to manifest the director’s ideas, he needs a dedicated crew. Mamet has unfailing praise for the dedication and competence of the workers on film crews. But the biggest lessons a director will learn are in the editing room. The editing room shock will influence how he shoots extra material, how he visualizes scripts—just about everything he does. You can empirically test how much influence directors have on the movies you like. List all of the top movies you’ve seen in the last five years. Then look up the director for each of them. If directors have a huge influence on the films, you should have the same directors names coming up over and over again. One hitch in this test is that if you are a savvy movie-goer, you may have decided that certain directors are brilliant and then watched their movies through biased eyes. But this is not a huge factor because your heightened expectations could just as well lead to disappointment. Until this year, I paid almost no attention to who directed a film. I listed the 5-star movies I’d seen over the last five years (58 of them), looked up the directors, and counted how many times names appeared. The results: Appeared once: 53 (August, Zwick, Campbell, Zemeckis, Michell, Haggis, Frears, Annaud, Niccol, Zwighoff, George, Eyre, Preminger, Levinson, Coppola, R. Scott, Dmytryk, Scott, LaBute, Anderson, Crowe, Spielberg, Hill, Sayles, Kasdan, Minghella, Davies, Siodmak, Shepard, Radford, Polanski, Penn, McCarthy, Jones, and so on.) Appeared twice: 1 (Christopher Nolan) Appeared three times: 1 (Jonathan Demme) My conclusion is that the director has little to do with whether the film will be a 5-star viewing experience for me. Why? Many factors affect a movie. Script is crucial. Also, the Hollywood star system can work to the good—as when Nicole Kidman gives a riveting performance as a gangster’s moll in Billy Bathgate—or to the bad—as when Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai reminds you constantly that you are watching Tom Cruise acting. Theme is often a make or break factor: for example, no matter how good Denzil Washington is in Man on Fire, and no matter how appropriately frenetic the cinematography is, I object to the theme of violence and revenge. And you can list more factors, and more factors, and more factors. The director is only one, albeit the one who is supposed to be in charge. But being “in charge” does not necessarily translate into having much influence. Let’s look briefly at a parallel example where there is a lot of rigorous research: teaching. The teacher is supposed to be in charge of students’ learning, but factor analyses reveal results such as the teacher accounts for 15% of the influence on students’ achievement. While directors may have little influence on whether I love a film, they have some influence. You can do another empirical test of this. Look up each of the directors who made your favourite movies, skim down the films they have made, and see what percentage of the films that you’ve seen you’ve liked. You have to have seen a lot of movies for this to work. When I did this (yes, it takes a long time!), I discovered that almost all the films I’ve seen by Peter Weir, I’ve liked, from Picnic at Hanging Rock to Witness to . . . So a few directors have an approach to the screenplays they select and the films they make which, over the long haul, enables you, if you’ve seen many movies, to say the person is “one of my fav directors.”

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JimBell — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:36:31 GMT

Well, JimBell, I'd say that after Tony Scott's recent turkey--Deja vu (ugh!)--he has lost any right to even a top ten placing (inspite of the wonderful film Spy Game).

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JimBell — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:19:13 GMT

Do any of these deserve to be in the Top Five?

Terry Zwigoff -- Ghost World; Crumb; Art School Confidential.

Terence Davies -- Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988); The Long Day Closes (1992); The Neon Bible (1995); House of Mirth

Richard Eyre -- Iris (2001); Stage Beauty (2004); Notes on a Scandal (2006).

Tony Scott -- Top Gun; Ture Romance (1993); Crimson Tide; Enemy of the State (1998); Spy Game; Man on Fire; Déjà Vu (2006); Emmma’s War (2007)

Robert Benton -- Bonnie and Clyde (1967; also screenplay); Kramer vs Kramer (1979); Nobody’s Fool; The Ice Harvest; The Human Stain.

Barry Levinson --The Natural; Rain Man; And Justice for All; Bugsy; Diner; Wag the Dog.

John Sayles -- Passion Fish (1992); The Secret of Roan Inish (1994); Sunshine State (2002) Honeydripper (07)

Stephen Frears (b. 1941, England) My Beautiful Laundrette (1985); Danerous Liaisons (1988); The Grifters (1990); The Snapper; Hero; High Fidelity (2000); Dirty Pretty Things; Mrs. Henderson Presents; The Queen.

Edward Zwick (b. 1952) Blood Diamond (also Producer); The Last Samurai; Glory; Courage Under Fire; Legends of the Fall.

Curtis Hanson -- L. A. Confidential (97); The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (92); Wonder Boys (00); In Her Shoes; Lucky You (07).

Sidney Lumet --12 Angry Men (57) Serpico (73), Murder on the Orient Express (74), Dog Day Afternoon (75), Network (76), Prince of the City (81), The Verdict (82), Running on Empty (88), Find Me Guilty (06), and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (07).

John Madden -- Proof; Shakespeare in Love; Mrs. Brown; Killshot (07) Neil Jordan -- The Crying Game; The End of the Affair; Breakfast on Pluto; The Good Thief (02); The Brave One (07)

Mike Leigh—Secrets & Lies (96); Career Girls (97); Topsy-Turvey (99); All or Nothing (02); Vera Drake (04)

Anthony Minghella (b. 1954, England) The English Patient (96); The Talented Mr. Ripley (99); Cold Moutain (03); Breaking and Entering (06). Wrote screenplay for all of these.

Atom Egoyan—Exotica; The Sweet Hereafter; etc.

Clint Eastwood—A Perfect World; Unforgiven; etc.

James Ivory -- A Room with a View (1985); Howard’s End (92); The Remains of the Day (93) Jefferson in Paris (95); The Golden Bowl (00); Le Divorce (03); The White Countess (05); City of Your Final Destination (07)

Jonathan Demme (b. 1944, NY) Melvin and Howard (80); Married to the Mob (88); Silence of the Lambs (91); Philadelphia (93); Neil Young; Heart of Gold (06, documentary).

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JimBell — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:02:01 GMT

What about Mike Nichols? He is still working--He is directing the upcoming Charlie Wilson's War re: Afghanistan. And he has directed films such as Who's Afraid of Virgian Woolf, The Graduate, Catch-22, Silkwood, Working Girl, and Primary Colors.

Jim

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

ben_ — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:26:20 GMT

Lars Von Trier
Ridley Scott
Mel Gibson
Clint Eastwood
Ron Howard

wow - i figured out how everyone made a list without double spacing. hehehe.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JScott — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:58:27 GMT

Here are my Top 5 (in no order):

Pedro Almodovar

Wong Kar-Wai

Wes Anderson

Ethan and Joel Coen (their mom taught at my college!)

David Gordon Green

Honorable mentions include:

Isabel Coixet (Canadian), Chris Nolan, Tom Tykwer, Eastwood, Michael Cuesta, Lars von Trier, Michel Gondry, Amenabar, and Innaritu. And Hitchcock, cause he is always current and relevant to me. ;)

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

paul — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:08:07 GMT

Quint, did you listen to Elvis Mitchell's interview with Aronofsky on KCRW's The Treatment? You'd really like it. The podcast is free to download.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

quint — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:41:59 GMT

Saw the Fountain last weekend. I'm still digesting it I think. I'm hoping that DVD brings a director's cut because I suspect he had to make some harsh edits. But then it is so tight...

I was thinking a bit more about other directors and I came up with Guy Maddin and Cronenberg. Canada's got some choice film makers.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:13:26 GMT

great list, quint. I can't wait to see the Fountain. It's interesting that some of our favorite directors are only 2-3 films deep, i.e. gondry innaritu, david gordon green, etc.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

quint — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:17:18 GMT

Alright, how about these:

Darren Aronofsky
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Errol Morris
Michel Gondry
Wong Kar-Wai

The only new name is Aronofsky, but come on, the guys made three films that stack up pretty tall. I'd watch anything he cares to show me.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

paul — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:13:06 GMT

Along the lines of David Gordon Green's Undertow, I saw Werner Herzog's newest film, Rescue Dawn, at the Denver Film Festival. It too was strangely accessible.

I'm not sure what to make of either of these films. I liked them both. They both cover very distinct territory you'd expect from David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog. But when I'm watching a film by a director like David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog, I expect to have to work a bit. In a strange way, I was disappointed because the films asked so little of me.

It's kind of the way you'd feel if you went to see a Michael Bay movie and it turned out to be an art film.

Incidentally, I have a new director in my Top 5. Allan King blew me away in Denver. He's a Candian documentary filmmaker and if you can get your hands on any of his docs at a library (they're only for sale through allankingfilms.com), watch them. They will change what you thought film was capable of.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:22:40 GMT

just watched Undertow by David Gordon Green, and I liked it. Didn't love it like I loved George Washington and All the Real Girls. I wonder if this is his newer direction or if he wanted to make something more accessible? I don't know.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Indie — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:35:06 GMT

Hayao is a great pick (he's not on mine because I didn't think about animation when I started)... here's mine:

1. Spike Jonze- Adaptation, Being John Malkovich

2. Quentin Tarantino- Kill Bill vol.2, Grindhouse +he scripted True Romance (a fav.)

3. Guillermo Del Toro- Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy

4. Michel Gondry- Eternal Sunshine..., Science of Sleep

5. David Fincher- Fight Club, Seven

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

JScott — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:48:19 GMT

Pedro Almodovar (All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Volver)

Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away)

Wes Anderson (Royal Tenebaums)

Coen Brothers (O Brother, Big Lebowski, Fargo)

Wong Kar-Wai (The Mood for Love, 2046)

Those are my currentl top 5.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Risselada — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:41:40 GMT

Puhnner:
I really struggle with Hartley, finding more of his work pure unwatchable garbage ( girl from Monday, Book of Life, Amateur; all as if he were desperately trying to create style, but for me, failing rather miserably) than not, but then, being absolutely pleasantly surprised by Henry Fool ( maybe it was Parker Posey's ratty hair and early freewheeling skank) and No Such Thing. So I would not include him on my list. But I just checked and he has done a load of films.

Yeah he has done a lot! Actually I've never seen Girl from Monday (heard it was his absolute worst) or Book of Life. And although I think Amateur is really good, it is probably the least of the movies I've seen of his. Henry Fool and No Such Thing are probably my favorites along with The Unbelievable Truth. Check that last one out. I never really feel like he's despirately trying for style. I feel like his style must be something that just kind of comes out of him. It seems true to someone's point of view rather than something derivative. I certainly haven't seen anything else that I can easily compare it to.

Puhnner:
I know I will get smashed for writing this, but I enjoyed the hell out of A.I. anyway ( Haley should remain a sweet robot forever ), but would have much preferred to see Kubrick's film ( I cannot imagine the/a connection of style, understanding of the world, philosophy between him and Spielberg; does anyone know how that came about??? ); and seeing how A.I. forms a companion piece to 2001 and to Clockwork Orange

Here's a transcript of some stuff that Spielberg said about Kubrick that I saw on the Eyes Wide Shut DVD special features.

http://www.archiviokubrick.it/english/others/content/index.html?main=spielberg

I found the bit about Cagney especially interesting. It made me want to go out and see a Cagney movie after hearing that.

This doesn't really answe the question of where their philosophies intersect. In fact with the Cagney bit it sort of reveals how different Kubrick and Spielberg are or were. I'd like to read something about why Kubrick was interesting in Spielberg. Maybe it was just the fact that they were both so interested in movies and were two of the most powerful and grandios American directors. They were different but tied by that very specific situation that few other people could relate to.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:56:39 GMT

Well as far as your list goes, you should keep your top 5. But if you want to give honorable mentions, go ahead. Maybe you should publish a new revised list that includes honorable mentions. It sounds like this "Top 5 Directors" question is eating away at your brain!

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:23:28 GMT

I am tempted to add David Cronenberg to my list, for his exploration of parasitical driven behaviour and his exploration of human transformation...and being coop'ting ( read this book Parisite Rex; Inside the bizarrre world of nature's most dangerous creatures; it mentions Shivers and makes a fascinating speculation about parasites driving behaviour in animals and insects, etc...that are absolutely contrary to the host's survival, but essential for the parasite ).

What does everyone else think?

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:59:54 GMT

I should have mentioned these 2 during all my yammering yesterday.

David Lynch

Darren Aronofsky

David Lynch would most definitely make my top 5, Mr. Aronofsky has not done much, but what was done seemed superb to me, with a new film The Fountain ( I think?) coming out.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Moose — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 06:26:05 GMT

shouldn't somebody have mentioned Zhang Yimou somewhere in these top fives?

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:36:28 GMT

good god! you are right, sorry...I watched the commentary with the DVD and mixed that one up royally...I just saw he (Gaghan ) is directing 'Blink'!!!??? whatever for I wonder...if only Ms. Matlin will be in it.

I know I will get smashed for writing this, but I enjoyed the hell out of A.I. anyway ( Haley should remain a sweet robot forever ), but would have much preferred to see Kubrick's film ( I cannot imagine the/a connection of style, understanding of the world, philosophy between him and Spielberg; does anyone know how that came about??? ); and seeing how A.I. forms a companion piece to 2001 and to Clockwork Orange

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:21:59 GMT

I really struggle with Hartley, finding more of his work pure unwatchable garbage ( girl from Monday, Book of Life, Amateur; all as if he were desperately trying to create style, but for me, failing rather miserably) than not, but then, being absolutely pleasantly surprised by Henry Fool ( maybe it was Parker Posey's ratty hair and early freewheeling skank) and No Such Thing. So I would not include him on my list. But I just checked and he has done a load of films.

I agree with Tmoney, it may be that the list should really be about more new talent, but then I have much higher expectations of a Malick or Polanski film any day.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Risselada — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 21:06:25 GMT

Syriana wasn't directed by Clooney though.

Too bad Kubrick died. That *** should have kept on truckin.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:59:49 GMT

I am sorry I did not read your post as thoroughly as I should have, because you made some very interesting observations.

I just disagree about Scorsese, but it is simply personal, his more current subject matter just does not mean that much to me ( while on the other hand, his early works are rather profound to me ), but I have not seen his documentary work; Bob Dylan and the others which might be really good. I object to Departed in the same way I object to Traffic and Solaris and Insomnia, I know these are not the only films being remade, but I just cannot imagine why these should or would be. Infernal Affairs was a super little film ( great, no, but very enjoyable ), so what is the point of Departed? another, but alternate vision, which is really all fine, I just do not seem to enjoy them, just personal taste more than anything and not meant to diminish the remake nor the director, I just question the mistaken use of a person of creativity.

Polanski from Knife on the Water forward; ah yes, he should be included... and funny you mentioned Macbeth, because his is one of my favorite movies that I continue to watch every year along with Chinatown ( but this could be Shakespeare instead, I reread the play yearly too ). I must admit a dislike of the Pianist, but that was Brody and that hang dog, sad sack look of his that really was just off putting to me. Having read about the Warsaw ghetto, I just did not find him compelling a lead character ( there are some you can watch and others you cannot, I suppose ). I have not seen any of his recent works, both before and after Pianist.

I agree about Nolan. I enjoyed Batman Begins immensely, but find Burton's initial vision still very compelling almost comedic. I found the original Insominia much better than the remake, but I don't enjoy Pacino, mostly because he seems now only to be yelling and gesticulating madly, and feel myself wanting to turn down the volume ( a tempest in a tea pot). But I very much enjoyed Following.

Tarintino, I simply just do not know, but your comment about the ability with actors was well put, I always appreciated how Kubrick and Hitchcock could almost completely eliminate the sense of individual person from actors they used, Paul Newman in Torn Curtain ( was it that or Topaz), Jack N. ( was tough, some of his mannerisms in the Shining really made sense for his character ), Sean Connery, Tom Cruise, etc...just become characters in the films rather than Tom and Jack the 'great' actors starring in another role.

Syrianna (sp) was super, but more for the story line, since I have read so much about the politics of globalization, Mid-East, and C.I.A. Hell, even Damon was almost good in it. I have not seen Good Night and Good Luck, but I am not much of a fan of biographical films, I much prefer the documentary...

Lars van Trier should be added.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:43:30 GMT

Yes, this topic could have been separated into numerous categories. "Current directors" is kind of broad. There are those that are current, yet not. I have to assume filmmakers like Malick, Scorcese, and Morris are on their way out, not in terms of ability, but are at the end of their careers and guys like Wes Anderson, David Gordon Green, and Spike Jonze are just getting started. Hm, maybe its almost time for a new top 5 category?

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

paul — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:13:52 GMT

This group is great.

Risselda, you say, "I don't see why it matters whether or not we think these directors will stand the test of time. If they are good and affecting enough to us right now, that's good enough to put on our top 5 of current directors."

Good point. I guess what I'm saying about "standing the test of time" has to do with the influence I believe they'll have (or won't have) on cinema. But I just realized George Lucas probably inspired more kids to make movies with Star Wars than any other director in history, which is a huge inflence. I guess the term "influence" the way I'm using it has to do with art. That kind of influence can only be gauged over time.

Puhnner, you stand by Park Chan Wook, as you should. But, man alive, when I watched Old Boy I felt like I was watching a Korean director imitating Tarantino. So, that's why I lumped them together. I'd be interested to hear more about the substance behind his Vengeance Trilogy because I know a lot of people believe it's there. I just don't see it.

Pippin, Wes Anderson is totally worth watching. I really enjoy all his flicks. I just don't think he's top five material. Unless the list is the Top 5 Young American Directors. In which case I'd say Wes Anderson, David Gordon Green, Neil LaBute, Todd Field, and Todd Solondz.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Prestolock — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:04:14 GMT

I feel like maybe I should have mentioned Kim Ki-Duk, too. The way he tells his stories without words...brilliant. And it doesn't even feel gimmicky.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

KatiesFlicks — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:57:18 GMT

I love lists.
In no particular order:

1.Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away)
2.Tom Tykwer (Heaven, Lola Rennt)
3.Pedro Almodovar (All About My Mother, Bad Education)
4.Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmit, plus he was the executive producer on The Assassination of Richard Nixon)
5.Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hallow and I loved Mars Attacks)

I am very hopeful for what else George Clooney may create, and I can't help but to put my honorable mentions of Christopher Guest (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman), Joel Coen (esp Barton Fink and Fargo), Peter Jackson, Gus Van Sant (although I didn't like Elephant all the much) and Richard Linklater (Before Sunset, Tape).

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

pippin06 — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:48:06 GMT

Maybe someday Wes Anderson will be on my list. I sheepishly admit that I haven't seen any of his films but all of them are on my "want to see" list. I also go in spurts with my film watching and am currently in a slow streak. Everything I've ever heard about his flicks though have been good. Maybe I should make a night of it.

I do agree with Paul, though, with reference to good ole' QT. His films are hit and miss just because he often lacks the marriage of style and substance, with the notable exceptions of the Kill Bill movies. I think those are more textured than they are given credit for.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:42:45 GMT

I agree Paul, with the exception of Wes. I have always found his films (even bottle rocket) to be very very serious films. Substance wise even. When analysing the characters deep desires and very real emotion, while melodramatic, represent very seriouse situations. Much have to do with family, love, rejection, death; all very substantial themes. These are covered up by a reocurring style, but I think that just makes him more of an auteur. So in short, yes he relies greatly on style, but I think much more can be gained by his films. I would say Wes is just as much substance as he is style.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Risselada — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:41:40 GMT

1. Joel and Ethan Coen

2. Jim Jarmusch

3. Hal Hartley

4. Tsai Ming-Liang

5. Terry Gilliam

Gilliam was actually hard to say because I haven't seen several of his movies. Anyone seen Tideland yet?

Werner Herzog is another one I thought of as well, but there are so many of his movies I haven't seen either.

I also thought about Terry Zwigoff, but still haven't seen Art School Confidential yet either.

And I almost wanted to say Aki Kaurismäki just based on The Man Without a Past. I haven't seen a single one of his other movies because they all seem to difficult to be able to find, but if most of them rival this film, he'd definitely be up there.

paul:
Terrence Mallick
Wong Kar Wai
Tsai Ming Ling
Todd Solondz
Errol Morris

I think Scorsese has run his course. It's fascinating Coppola or Ang Lee didn't make this list and there's some angst around Soderbergh. It makes me wonder if their whole "I'll make one for them and one for me" approach to the Business kills longevity.

Tarantino, Park Chan Wook, Wes Anderson, and Jim Jarmusch—and I go on the record here and now—I don't think they'll stand the test of time. Not enough substance to hold up their reliance on style.

Paul, this is a really cool list! I'm surprised someone else listed Tsai Ming-Liang.

Badlands is one of my aboslute most favorite films. And Days of Heaven is extremely good. I just saw The Thin Red Line for the second time recently and didn't find it as good as I had remembered it. Mallick is such a mysterious figure. Have you seen The New World? A friend of mine said it was the most like a film representation of a poem than any other movie he'd seen.

We've talked about Solondz elsewhere, and I hope to see more of his films.

Morris is amazing. I saw Fog of War at a really cool movie theater in St. Louis with Adam (SkyPilot). I've rented more of his movies since, some better than others. He seems to do best when focusing on one person. Have you seen his series First Person? It sounds just like this kind of thing.

As for Wong Kar Wai, the only film of his I've seen is Chungking Express. I actually saw that one with Adam (SkyPilot) and Kevin (Porcupine) at Adam's house. He rented it because it was released by Tarantino's Rolling Thunder distribution. He thought it was some kind of Chop Socky movie. It seemed to be largely a ripoff of Godard's Breathless, a movie I already don't really like. I think I heard the song California Dreamin' enough for a lifetime. What's your appeal to this guy? Maybe I need to see another one of his films.

I don't see why it matter whether or not we think these directors will stand the test of time. If they are good and affecting enough to us right now, that's good enough to put on our top 5 of current directors. I'm sure there are plenty of forgotten directors that I would have highly enjoyed if I had lived and been interested in cinema in an earlier era. Maybe I would find them irrelevent today. There may also be older directors that I like now that I wouldn't have liked back then.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:20:33 GMT

I had Malick on my list of adds too, but agree completely on the inclusion of the rest of yours.

For me, Scorsese really has done nothing since After Hours, King of Comedy, and Raging Bull...the films following these have about all the appeal that Gone with the Wind has for me, cute little mythology there, but with no substance..

but this was good; 'not enough substance to hold up their reliance on style'; I agree with the following reservations:

Of the 4 other Directors mentioned, I haven't seen anything by Wes Anderson yet, and have just seen Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengence, and Joint Security Area by Park and enjoyed the first 2 very much and the third from the extremely unique demilitarized zone perspective, but a great movie, no, but Old Boy and Sympathy aren't either are they? I just liked the view/expression of the culture?

I would like to see Jarmusch hold up, his Dead Man and even, Ghost Dog have meaning for me that goes beyond style.

Tarantino, I am not so sanguine about and think that Pulp Fiction was perhaps 'it' for him, and frankly, I don't know if I would want to watch that one again; I don't know if it would stand repeated viewings like so many other great films do. I am probably all mixed up here, but I thought he said that the characters in his films were people that he felt a person would want to 'hang' via watching them on the screen...that is a very interesting concept, but I am not sure of anyone of his characters that I would want to do that with, except Kietel's character in Pulp, but even then...

Soderbergh with all his refilming, at least in Traffic and Solaris, already very great works, I would boot him off just for that alone, but I find Schizopolis a rather amazing work, perhaps then, it will just be a 'one off' work, with the remainder accounting for little, but I want him to do something great.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

paul — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:06:47 GMT

Terrence Mallick
Wong Kar Wai
Tsai Ming Ling
Todd Solondz
Errol Morris

I think Scorsese has run his course. It's fascinating Coppola or Ang Lee didn't make this list and there's some angst around Soderbergh. It makes me wonder if their whole "I'll make one for them and one for me" approach to the Business kills longevity.

Tarantino, Park Chan Wook, Wes Anderson, and Jim Jarmusch—and I go on the record here and now—I don't think they'll stand the test of time. Not enough substance to hold up their reliance on style.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:16:04 GMT

Very good list. I just saw The New World last week I think and I was completely blown away. And I agree with the Soderberg Comment. He can be hot or cold.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Puhnner — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:38:30 GMT

I see these having a particular, specific, and recognizable vision that incorporates their own culture and understanding of it.

Takashi Miike; Audition, Gozu, Sabu

Guillermo del Toro; Hellboy The Devil's Backbone

Park Chan-wook; Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Wong Kar Wai; 2046, Fallen Angels

Jim Jarmusch; Dead Man, Down by Law, Broken Flowers

Terrence Malick; The Thin Red Line, The New World, Badlands

I would like to add Steven Soderbergh if only for Schizopolis and the Limey, but then there is the remake of Solaris (??? WTF! why?) and Traffic ( ??? WTF! why?) and Ocean's Eleven (??? why?)

I think there are plenty more, but these are some not mentioned

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

wonga — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:38:07 GMT

my 2 cents and 5 directors...

alexander payne
joel and ethan coen
wes anderson
tim burton
sofia coppola

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

SkyPilot — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:46:17 GMT

1. Martin Scorsese (The Departed is his latest film that will remain in the canon for at least as long as Western world crime film is watched)

2. Roman Polanski (at least three of his films have a primal power: Chinatown, Macbeth, The Pianist)

3. Christopher Nolan (finally someone got Batman right. And let's not forget Memento or Insomnia, which I maintain is superior to the original version.)

4. Quentin Tarantino (stupendous taste in actors, and unmatched flair for getting good performances out of consistently disappointing performers; I just wish he'd work more!)

5. George Clooney (I think he's developing into a very distinctive presence behind the camera; this choice is part wishful thinking. )

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:37:42 GMT

yes to P.T. Anderson. he is very much due for a new film.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Prestolock — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:05:37 GMT

I'll go with:

P.T. Anderson
Tom Tykwer (although his new one looks really strange)
Michel Gondry
Wes Anderson
Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Moose — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 22:18:06 GMT

I guess that's fair. I suppose I composed my list more on the collection of their greatest accomplishments versus their average successes. I tend not to watch movies that I don't expect to be good. Just imagine it says Jonze instead of Lee if you prefer.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:54:00 GMT

yeah but wouldn't you say that spike lee is a hit or miss? I've only seen his so called "hits" but I havent heard good things about lots of his films. (including the infamous She Hate Me). And I saw the departed, Moose, and it was entertaining at best.

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

Moose — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:45:25 GMT

no order

Eastwood
Scorsese (sorry Tmoney)
Wes Anderson
Spike Lee
Almodovar

Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

pippin06 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:54:53 GMT

I like lists. They order the addled mind.

Top 5 *current* directors for me represent those directors that are draws for me - I hear their names, and I run to see their movies. No particular order.

1. Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins)
2. M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs...though I hear the latest one was awful, and I was scared away and didn't see it, so he may fall off the list, at least of the top 5).
3. Stephen Spielberg (He may be cliche, but I don't think there's a single movie of his I haven't seen other than Munich. And Sugarland Express).
4. Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, X-Men 1&2)
5. Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Crouching Tiger)

Three honorable mentionable directors that could also make my top 5 include Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich), Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) and Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind). It was a hard choice.

NEW Group, Top 5 current directors.

tmoney — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 13:07:02 GMT

I've been wanting to start this group for quite some time! There are so many possibilities. Favorite films, genres, comedies, directors, child actors, EVERYTHING!!! WOOOHOOO!

I'll start this off with a discussion of TOP 5 current directors. (By current, I mean still making films.)
In no particular order:

1. Wes Anderson (Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic)
2. David Gordon Green (All the Real Girls, George Washington)
3. Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine, Science of Sleep)
4. Alejandro González Iñárritu (Ammores Perros, 21 Grams)
5. Errol Morris (Thin Blue Line, Fog of War)