EW's 25 greatest "active" film directors.

[RJman]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

**** I forgot Tsui Hark, Claire Denis, Fruit Chan, Kiarostami, Egoyan, Blier, Koreeda, Jia-Zhang-Ke, Ozon, Rohmer!!!

Tsui Hark? Didn't he direct a Van Damme film?

 

[Baron]

Originally Posted by Johnny Amiga

14.Todd Haynes

I forgot him. He's one of my favorites.

I'm kinda surprised nobody is mentioning David Russell. I thought Three Kings, Flirting with Disaster and I Heart Huckabees were all brilliant (in the last case a bit of a brilliant disaster, but still).

 

[RJman]

Anyone mention Todd Solondz

?

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by RJman

Anyone mention Todd Solondz

?

Happiness is quite good. BTW Tsui Hark would direct a porno starring his mother if he needed the paycheck, he's still the 90s HK director that represents this period at it's best.

 

[bc78]

I can't even fathom doing a top 25, but I'm very impressed with the other lists.

Here is my attempt at a top 10 (in no particular order):


Terrence Malick
David Cronenberg
Wong Kar Wai
Martin Scorsese
Werner Herzog
David Lynch
Quentin Tarantino
Coen Brothers
Pedro Almodovar
Paul Thomas Anderson

Lifetime achievements for Woody Allen and Jean Luc Godard too. I still watch most of their new movies but don't enjoy them nearly as much as their older work.

 

[odoreater]

I think anyone who doesn't include Spielberg on their list is full of **** and I automatically dismiss them as being pretentious.

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by odoreater

I think anyone who doesn't include Spielberg on their list is full of **** and I automatically dismiss them as being pretentious.

I honestly dislike him and explained why in the cinema thread. I included DePalma so you can't say I don't like my popular entertainment.

 

[bc78]

Originally Posted by odoreater

I think anyone who doesn't include Spielberg on their list is full of **** and I automatically dismiss them as being pretentious.
He'd be in my top 25, probably even top 15, just not in my top 10. That list is reserved for directors whose movies I see as soon as possible, no questions asked. When a new Spielberg movie comes out I usually read a few reviews first to see if it is worth my time and money.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by odoreater

I think anyone who doesn't include Spielberg on their list is full of **** and I automatically dismiss them as being pretentious.

Originally Posted by bc78

He'd be in my top 25, probably even top 15, just not in my top 10. That list is reserved for directors whose movies I see as soon as possible, no questions asked. When a new Spielberg movie comes out I usually read a few reviews first to see if it is worth my time and money.

I think that there are only a handful of modern directors who have as big an impact on WORLD cinema. Even if what he's making these days is complete crap, modern films, especially Hollywood films would not be the same. (For better or worse) I think he's also responsible for many of the negative aspects of the movie business too - I'm not just kissing his ass or anything, but unquestionably, one of the best directors ever at reaching out and engaging a wide audience. Possibly one of the most versatile directors in the history of filmmaking. He can and has made thrillers, holocaust movies, modern and period war movies, sci-fi, fantasy, historical drama, and action films with the same amount of success. That may not be serious arthouse credentials, but it really is quite amazing.

 

[bc78]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

I think that there are only a handful of modern directors who have as big an impact on WORLD cinema. Even if what he's making these days is complete crap, modern films, especially Hollywood films would not be the same. (For better or worse) I think he's also responsible for many of the negative aspects of the movie business too - I'm not just kissing his ass or anything, but unquestionably, one of the best directors ever at reaching out and engaging a wide audience. Possibly one of the most versatile directors in the history of filmmaking. He can and has made thrillers, holocaust movies, modern and period war movies, sci-fi, fantasy, historical drama, and action films with the same amount of success. That may not be serious arthouse credentials, but it really is quite amazing.

I agree with all of that.

 

[countdemoney]

No love for Jonathan Demme?

A best director oscar, directed hathaway in Rachel Getting Married (shameless pandering to SF tastes). Has made great mainstream and independent films, groundbreaking work in music videos, etc, etc.

 

[LabelKing]

M.Night Shalamyan.

 

[redcaimen]

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Ok, 25, in no particular order beside alphabetical:

Arnaud Desplechin
Bertrand Tavernier
Brian DePalma
Chen Kaige
Chris Marker
Christophe HonorÃ

Clint Eastwood
Dardenne brothers
Hayao Miyazaki
Jean-Jacques Beineix
Jean-Luc Godard
Johnnie To
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Michael Haneke
Patrice Leconte
Patrick Yau
Pedro Almodovar
Philippe Garrel
Roman Polanski
Takeshi Kitano
Aki Kaurismaki
Werner Herzog
Wong-Kar-Wai
Woody Allen
Zhang Yimou

I'm sure I forgot a shitlod of people so don't stone me.


How dare you?

STFUI!


I thought Tropic Thunder was funny. Who was the director on that?

Bong Joon-Ho and that fruit guy seem promising. I'll have to check them out.

 

[Bradford]

No Michael Bay?

Seriously though, I'm glad EW recognizes Soderbergh. I think he's definitely one of the best working today in mainstream films.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

M.Night Shalamyan.

In serious or in jest?

I actually like a couple of his movies. But I cannot take them seriously.