bags
Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 8545
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 05:33 PM UTC
#
Originally posted by markie:
I have not seen catch me if you can, but the other two are really very average movies. File under instantly forgetable.
Catch Me If You Can was awesome, one of my favorites last year for sheer enjoyment.
I dunno, I think Spielberg's catalog is awfully varied, and whatever genre he works in, he comes out with pretty fine films. Not all hit it just right, but the track record's impressive.
But in lists like this, they tend to go for those cutting edges or forging new ground, with little concern (or at times outright scorn) for enjoyable, entertaining movies. Hey, my faves are Smith, Coens, Alexander Payne, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson, Neil Labute, Scorsese and Todd Haynes, so I'm all on it. Just something to think about.
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 05:44 PM UTC
#
Where the f*ck is Kevin Smith.
snorting blow and feeding his big ugly face
And Neil Labute
probably deflowering a 15 year old retarded blind girl or something
PR_GMR
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 05:55 PM UTC
#
Ohhh this I gotta read! (PR's a filmmaker)
Be right back after I read through the list. :)
PR_GMR
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 06:34 PM UTC
#
O right, just read it. It's a fairly well-put together list, in my opinion.
There are many names I don't recognize, mainly Russian, east european and middle eastern filmmakers whose films are not well released in the states: Kiarostami, Tarr, Kaurismaki, Sokurov, Mhakmalbaf. So Kudos to the list-writers for really getting around to these filmmakers. Sadly, I can't remember the last time I saw a Russian film.
The Wachowski brothers don't belong in that list. I must be one of the few who think that The Matrix movies aren't the oh-so-deep masterpieces which many people very foolishly consider. Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions were dissapointing.
Terrence Malik should be lower on that list–he has only made three movies in thirty years. Give his spot to an actual working director.
Tarantino should be higher, at least on the top ten. 'Kill Bill' is magnificent, regardless of its blood and over-emphasis on style.
Scorcese should be lower. I guess I was one of the few who thought 'Gangs Of New York' was an overambitious, overlong, muddled dissapointment.
I'm glad to see Hayao Miyazaki on the list. His films (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) take Japanese animation to the next level as accomplished cinema.
I agree with whoever said Kevin Smith should be on that list. Take the Wachowski bros out and put Kevin Smith there instead. Better!
Another notable omition: Darren Aronofski (Pi, Requiem For A Dream). He should be on the list.
Also, Spike Lee should be on that list, despite his big mouth. His last film, The 25th Hour, was remarkable.
As for no. 1, I think David Lynch deserves the spot. No other filmmaker who's on that list films will mistify future audiences more than David Lynch. :cool:
igor
Joined: September 18, 2003 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 58
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 06:45 PM UTC
#
spielberg hasn't really put out any great films lately, but almost half of the people they had on that top 40 is less deserving.
as for polanski, like someone said, if you separate the person and the films that person made, he deserves to be up there.
Rhett Miller
Joined: November 15, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 17762
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 06:45 PM UTC
#
I want Stephen Frears on this list.
PR_GMR
Joined: Unknown
Posts: 0
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 06:48 PM UTC
#
Yes, Spielberg should be somewhere on that list. At least for his past work if not his most recent films.
Coppola technically should be there too.. although he's 'in decline' now. :cool:
ggw
Joined: December 16, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 14237
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:04 PM UTC
#
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
Oh come on, Polanski is a fine filmmaker. 'The Pianist' was remarkable. If you're going to discredit an artist's works by his 'crimes' or legal troubles, you might as well burn half your record collection. :cool:
Why is 'crime' in quotes? Is drugging and anally raping a 13-year old not really criminal in your opinion?
He's a fugitive. It's not like he made some 'errors in judgment' and did his time and moved on with his life. He fled to escape prosecution, so I'm not going to line his pockets so he can continue to avoid paying his dues.
If any artist in my record collection is a fugitive child molester, I'll happily burn their discs.
kurosawa-b/w
Joined: January 28, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 2399
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:08 PM UTC
#
Not a bad list though I disagree with the numbering. I was very happy to see Lynne Ramsay on there. She is a brilliant director. If you haven't seen Movern Callar, you should.
Where is David O Russell right now? Love his stuff.
And I was pretty anti-Spielberg until I saw Minority Report. That was a very good film.
Oh and I'm not knocking David Cronenberg as a director (though I'm also not a fan), but I don't understand why he's so high on the list.
bags
Joined: October 30, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 8545
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:18 PM UTC
#
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
Scorcese should be lower. I guess I was one of the few who thought 'Gangs Of New York' was an overambitious, overlong, muddled dissapointment.
So? That doesn't take away from Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver or the King of Comedy.
After Hours may be the movie I hate most in the universe, but Scorsese is still a master.
nkotb
Joined: August 15, 2001 at 05:01 AM UTC
Posts: 6500
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:24 PM UTC
#
What is the allure of Kevin Smith? I'm not criticizing here; I just genuinely don't understand why he's regarded so highly in film circles. Don't get me wrong here; Clerks was laugh-out-loud funny, and the absurdity of Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and Dogma made them enjoyable films, but I don't see where the reverance comes from. And this is from someone who gets and chuckles at every geeky comic book and movie joke he throws into his movies. Case in point, nothing cracks me up more than Bob saying "No Ticket" after tossing the angels from the train in Dogma. I just don't see where he's anywhere near deserving of being considered a great director. Any help, Bags?
Originally posted by Bagster:
Where the f*ck is Kevin Smith.
ggw
Joined: December 16, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 14237
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:27 PM UTC
#
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
In that case, go ahead and burn your Michael Jackson CDs..
What Michael Jackson CDs?
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
your Who/Pete Townsend CDs…
Cleared of possessing child pornography. Not even close to the same thing.
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
and all those CDs by bands whose members have sex with underage women.
What bands have given young girls quaaludes and then sodomized them? Gary Glitter maybe?
Mobius
Joined: March 28, 2002 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 1371
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:29 PM UTC
#
John Woo! Either an oversight or his recent Hollywood crap got him blackballed from the list but the Killer and Hard Boiled should give him a lifetime pass onto these lists.
ggw
Joined: December 16, 2001 at 06:01 AM UTC
Posts: 14237
Re: Top 40 living directors
November 14, 2003 at 07:42 PM UTC
#
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
Yeah, he was doing 'research'… yeahhhhhhhh, right.
Not only was he not convicted of child molestation, he wasn't even charged with molestation. Or even investigated for it. Apples and oranges. Actually, more like apples and staplers….
Originally posted by PR_GMR:
The laundry list of bands who take advantage of their underage groupies is too long to list.
Can't you name even one artist that was convicted (or even charged) with forcibly sodomizing a minor and then fled to escape prosecution?