The best "working" American Filmmakers.

imageWIS · Nov 19, 2009

Originally Posted by NorCal

That's because Woody Allen is crap. Although I do remember seeing a film of his as a kid and thinking it was funny. It was some sort of goofy sci-fi type send up, the production of which had to have included several pounds of good weed.

Not even The Purple Rose of Cairo?

NorCal · Nov 19, 2009

Originally Posted by imageWIS

Not even The Purple Rose of Cairo?
Not sure that I ever saw it.

Pennglock · Nov 19, 2009

Give some love to the Pixar team.

Tokyo Slim · Nov 19, 2009

Originally Posted by Pennglock

Give some love to the Pixar team.

Is number seven on my list not enough love?

Fuuma · Nov 20, 2009

Please clarify.

Do you mean:

1) They have to be alive and have directed films recently
2) In addition to 1) their recent output must also be good.

For example I don't think Scorsese is any good anymore and wouldn't list him but he's still alive, working and his old stuff is gold.

dfagdfsh · Nov 20, 2009

michael mann

Tokyo Slim · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Please clarify.

Do you mean:

1) They have to be alive and have directed films recently

Yes. Or are currently working on films. They also have to be American.

2) In addition to 1) their recent output must also be good.

I think this much should be obvious. Both Spielberg and Scorcese are hanging around my list because of their overall body of work, not because their last movies were awesome.

Baron · Nov 20, 2009

I assumed he meant that both had to be true.

That said, I want to mention Albert Maysles (and his late brother). I saw him speak last year at the Hammer Museum and he showed a bunch of footage he'd shot of Brando in the 60's. Love his work, though he's not exactly cranking out new stuff these days.

Tokyo Slim · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Baron

I assumed he meant that both had to be true.

That said, I want to mention Albert Maysles (and his late brother). I saw him speak last year at the Hammer Museum and he showed a bunch of footage he'd shot of Brando in the 60's. Love his work, though he's not exactly cranking out new stuff these days.

Just saw Muhammad and Larry the other night.

Bhowie · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

Inspired by the "Ten movies everyone should own" thread. I got to thinking about it, and there are a LOT of great modern American film directors. I'm going to have almost as hard a time with this as I did narrowing down the above mentioned "ten" movies.

1: Darren Aronofsky. Check this out. 1998-Now. Pi, Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler. I'm riding the hot hand until he falters.

2: Terrence Malick. I'd settle for lesser movies, if he made twice as many.
3: Steven Spielberg (Though I think he's past his prime)
4: David Fincher. Honestly, Alien3 wasn't his fault. After that, Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, Benjamin Button. More than solid.
5: Quentin Tarantino. I know its a controversial choice, but despite all his flaws, of which there are admittedly many, I think he is brilliant.
6: Martin Scorcese. I don't think I have to explain this. His recent stuff has been pretty meh though. I think he's declining.
7: Brad Bird. I know, a curveball, right? Animated movies are still movies.
8: Clint Eastwood. About a quarter of the movies he's directed, I find unwatchable. Then again, he actually got a little bit of acting out of Kevin Costner. An impressive feat.
9: Steven Soderbergh: Hit and miss. When he does either, he does it to the extreme. Dude works constantly, always tries new things. Innovates. He will make movies that most people will never see, just to make them.
10: Spike Lee. Kind of the same story IMO as Soderbergh. I hate his "misses" but I love his "hits".

This seems reasonable at first glance, I would remove Aronofsky and add the Coen brothers in the list. I didnt know Mendes was a Brit.

Fuuma · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

Yes. Or are currently working on films. They also have to be American.

I think this much should be obvious. Both Spielberg and Scorcese are hanging around my list because of their overall body of work, not because their last movies were awesome.

Ok then, not feeling that inspired so I'm probably missing obvious choices

Brian De Palma
Richard Linklater
James Gray
Errol Morris
Gus Van Sant
David Mamet
Jim Jarmusch
Alan Rudolph
Spike Lee
Woody Allen

Kd88 · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Teger

michael mann

+1

dfagdfsh · Nov 20, 2009

gus van sant? seriously?

also oliver stone. you could argue he's produced a lot of crap, but spike lee hasn't made a good movie since the 80s, so...

Oldboy · Nov 20, 2009

edit: nvm

Tokyo Slim · Nov 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Teger

spike lee hasn't made a good movie since the 80s, so...

I happened to like Inside Man.

Also, When the Levees Broke, and the 25th hour.

The best "working" American Filmmakers.

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