Question:
OK, below are the results of stefmcd's poll on Greatest Director. But taking the old Hollywood words of wisdom that 'you're only as good as your last film' who would win?
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
I'm unsure about the final works from the likes of Ford, Capra, Peckinpah, Hawks, Wilder, Welles. I'd also remove the likes of the Coens, Fincher and Altman - although that may not be the majority opinion.
Kubrick and Lynch remain on the list, but the one vote only likes of Wong Kar Wai, Gilliam and (especially) Cameron grow stronger! And how could I forget that Man on The Moon is one of the cleverest and funniest films ever made. So I'm still voting for Forman! :)
Kubrick......................16 votes
Hitchcock...................16 votes
Lynch........................15 votes
Kurosawa..................11 votes
Martin Scorsese.........9 votes
Spielberg...................6 votes
Ridley Scott................6 votes
Sam Peckinpah...........4 votes
David Fincher..............4 votes
Robert Bresson..........3 votes
Bunuel.......................2 votes
John Ford...................2 votes
Milos Forman..............2 votes
George Lucas.............2 votes
Luc Besson................2 votes
John Carpenter.........2 votes
Coen bros..................2 votes
Quentin Tarantino......2 votes
Hur Jin Ho...................1 vote
Robert Rodriguez.......1 vote
Howard Hawks...........1 vote
Robert Altman.............1 vote
Paul WS Anderson......1 vote
Wong Kar Wai............1 vote
Billy Wilder.................1 vote
F F Coppola...............1 vote
Terry Gilliam..............1 vote
James Cameron........1 vote
John Waters..............1 vote
Orson Welles.............1 vote
Oliver Stone...............1 vote
Frank Capra...............1 vote
Peter Jackson
Wilder would certainly go if judged on his last film. Welles would too. For the others you'd mention, I'd have to check, but I'm certain they would all go too.
I don't think the argument for Kubrick to stay on such a list could be argued very well either. Eyes Wide Shut is a good film, but it's not a patch on his earlier work, and thusly, for me, is a weaker film. I know I shouldn't compare previous works with one another, but with an auteur like Kubrick, it's hard not too.
to be honest only taking into account their last film would decimate that list...
As for Kubrick just because it is weaker than his other films does not mean it cannot be better than anyone else's last film...
For the record I'd still choose Kubrick by a hairs breadth from Lynch and Peter Weir :) ...
Just by the Last film? P T Anderson & Peter Jackson. Magnolia and LOTR is amazing movie making.
Howard Hawks' 'Rio Lobo' is pleasant enough and wonderfully entertaining for fans of the unofficial trilogy (and coming out on DVD soon to complete the set!), but it's certainly not a masterpiece or even particularly great. I've never liked Ford's 'Seven Women' much, was very disappointed by Welles' 'F for Fake' (his only completed feature that I didn't think was outstanding) and haven't seen Hitchcock's 'Family Plot'.
I wouldn't discount Spielberg quite so readily - I still haven't seen 'Minority Report' but several writers I greatly respect have loved it and even claimed it one of his best.
Cameron and Ridley Scott - well, I don't think either of them have made a great film (or even a watchable one) since the early '80s.
I'm baffled as to how 'Man in the Moon' ranks as one of the 'cleverest, funniest films ever made' - I didn't think it even stood up to 'Larry Flynt' - but I'm willing to be enlightened. (Watching the 'Amadeus' 2-discer last week, and listening to 3 hours of Forman, has put me in the mood for rewatching his others and checking out the ones I've missed)
Anyway, I'm not going to work through the entire list - my nominations (with addition to the list)...
Brian De Palma - wouldn't have made it for 'Mission to Mars', but 'Femme Fatalle' puts him right at the top
Wong Kar-wai, no question
Hong Sang-soo - for his latest 'The Turning Gate' which I saw on the big screen last weekend, my favourite Korean film
Michael Reeves - he died shortly after finishing 'Witchfinder General'
Mike Leigh - 'All or Nothing' isn't his best (tie between 'Naked' and 'Career Girls') but it's still remarkable
Coen brothers - 'The Man Who...' is my favourite
Lynch - again, I thought his last was perhaps his very best
Only 3 of these guys were nominated in the original thread - of those I'd go for Wong...
Judged by his last (only film so far) Richard Kelly for Donnie Darko
:thumbs:
Based on the last film I would go for Wong Kar Wai. I can't speak highly enough of ITMFL.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
I wouldn't discount Spielberg quite so readily - I still haven't seen 'Minority Report' but several writers I greatly respect have loved it and even claimed it one of his best.
It's a poor man's L.A. Confidential with more plot holes than anything else this year. Half baked.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Cameron and Ridley Scott - well, I don't think either of them have made a great film (or even a watchable one) since the early '80s.
Titanic. Hannibal.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
I'm baffled as to how 'Man in the Moon' ranks as one of the 'cleverest, funniest films ever made' - I didn't think it even stood up to 'Larry Flynt' - but I'm willing to be enlightened. (Watching the 'Amadeus' 2-discer last week, and listening to 3 hours of Forman, has put me in the mood for rewatching his others and checking out the ones I've missed)
I thought it was wonderful on first viewing. But subsequent viewings have put it to #3 in the list of Forman's best works. And Tony Clifton might be the funniest character ever put on film.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Brian De Palma - wouldn't have made it for 'Mission to Mars', but 'Femme Fatalle' puts him right at the top
Unlike yourself I wouldn't be so quick to judge based solely on what I've heard ;), but some of the online reviews of Femme Fatale have been downright hilarious. Even the good reviews seem to be 75% full of reservations.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Mike Leigh - 'All or Nothing' isn't his best (tie between 'Naked' and 'Career Girls') but it's still remarkable
I thought All or Nothing is perhaps the worst film he's ever made. Pure self parody, but not all that funny. Leigh is one of a handful of working filmmakers I thought would never disappoint me, but there you go (I wouldn't say it was awful or owt, but...). Half of the dialogue is lifted from his old films. Compare Spall 's talk of charging someone for nothing, to Claire Skinner saying the same thing in Life Is Sweet. Spall even repeats lines from his first major role in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, pracatically verbatim - 'It's kismet, innit'. And with Ken Loach remaking My Name is Joe already, it's a sad year for Britain's working class directing heroes.
Based on your criteria, its one of the following:
Wong's - 'ITMFL'
Bressons - 'L'Argent'
Wilder's - 'Buddy Buddy'
Personally i'd vote for ITMFL......just.
Originally posted by McD
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
is this a thread hoping to gain the unbiased votes of the members, or ones filtered by McD.. not entirely kosher now is it?? :norty: :nono: :D
films are subjective after all right? :rolleyes:
as for my vote, i would say Jackson, but that's only because i loved LOTR so much, but was it the best directed film?? after all it's not cometely his vision like say Magnolia was Anderson's, like that etc...
Oh what the heck.. as he missed out on the Oscar.. Jackson it is!! :notworthy
The mentioned Wong Kar Wai or Peter Jackson, or more likely Miyazaki Hayao.
Spielberg - For Minority Report, even if it is a 'Poor mans L.A Confidential' (which i disagree with - yes it shares plot points, but then so does 'Alien' and Bava's 'Planet Of The Vampires' - MR still has many things that seperate it from L.A.C - Though the influence is undeniably there) I found it far more enjoyable than Curtis Hansons' good, but for me, not great film.
Lucas - I don't care, say what you want - Attack Of The Clones, in particular the set pieces made me glad to be a Star Wars fan.
David Kelly - For Donnie Darko.
Peter Jackson.
Mike Judge - 'Office Space' has to be one of the most under-rated films ever.
Paul T. Anderson - 'Punch Drunk Love' is simply beautiful to watch.
Probably Mr Lynch again, unless his last film had been The Straight Story. :zzz:
A re-watch of From Hell or Lord of the Rings on DVD MIGHT change that, though.
Well Hur Jin Ho's One Fine Spring Day is certainly brilliant!
I think Zhang Yimou is a better director and although I haven't seen Happy Times or Hero yet I'm sure those 2 movies are in with a chance.
Originally posted by McD
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
And whats wrong with Spy Kids 2 like? :p
Kubrick and Lynch remain on the list, but the one vote only likes of Wong Kar Wai, Gilliam and (especially) Cameron grow stronger! And how could I forget that Man on The Moon is one of the cleverest and funniest films ever made. So I'm still voting for Forman! :)
Agreed, its an astonishingly perfect film. Jim Carey should have bagged an Oscar for this. I've only seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest as well, what else of Forman should I be checking out?
I'd have to go with Tarantino out of that list - whilst Jackie Brown didn't have the same in the face impact as Pulp Fiction or 'Dogs it was still directed superbly.
Originally posted by Gizmo
Agreed, its an astonishingly perfect film. Jim Carey should have bagged an Oscar for this. I've only seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest as well, what else of Forman should I be checking out?
Absolutely all of it. Here is my own order of preference (this week anyway)...
Amadeus (R1/R2)
(the two you've seen would appear here)
Valmont (R1)
Taking Off (tragically unavailable on DVD or VHS)
The People Vs Larry Flynt (R1/R2)
The Fireman's Ball (R1)
Ragtime (R2, French version is best, in widescreen)
Loves of A Blonde (R1)
Hair (R1/R2)
I'm still tempted to go for Lynch... but no, I reckon Luis Buñuel gets the nod in this poll, thanks to That Obscure Object Of Desire being my favourite of his movies that I've seen to date.
Originally posted by McD
Absolutely all of it. Here is my own order of preference (this week anyway)...
Amadeus (R1/R2)
(the two you've seen would appear here)
Valmont (R1)
Taking Off (tragically unavailable on DVD or VHS)
The People Vs Larry Flynt (R1/R2)
The Fireman's Ball (R1)
Ragtime (R2, French version is best, in widescreen)
Loves of A Blonde (R1)
Hair (R1/R2)
I shall check em out - if the c/card and her who should be obeyed will allow ;) . Amadeus first since the SE's looking nice.
Originally posted by raymondlin
Just by the Last film? P T Anderson & Peter Jackson. Magnolia and LOTR is amazing movie making.
I always feel sorry for Magnolia Anderson because he shares name and profession with someone who is responsible for Resident Evil, Soldier and Event Horizon - the 3 movies that share the number one slot of my Greatest ***** of all Times list.
...whereas I love Magnolia and - even more - Boogie Nights.
Either Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino or Douglas Sirk, in my opinion.
I'll play by the rules and go with Kubrick.
Oooh.....
/thinks
Peter Jackson
Boink!
David Lynch
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
I'm unsure about the final works from the likes of Ford, Capra, Peckinpah, Hawks, Wilder, Welles. I'd also remove the likes of the Coens, Fincher and Altman - although that may not be the majority opinion.
Kubrick and Lynch remain on the list, but the one vote only likes of Wong Kar Wai, Gilliam and (especially) Cameron grow stronger! And how could I forget that Man on The Moon is one of the cleverest and funniest films ever made. So I'm still voting for Forman! :)
Kubrick......................16 votes
Hitchcock...................16 votes
Lynch........................15 votes
Kurosawa..................11 votes
Martin Scorsese.........9 votes
Spielberg...................6 votes
Ridley Scott................6 votes
Sam Peckinpah...........4 votes
David Fincher..............4 votes
Robert Bresson..........3 votes
Bunuel.......................2 votes
John Ford...................2 votes
Milos Forman..............2 votes
George Lucas.............2 votes
Luc Besson................2 votes
John Carpenter.........2 votes
Coen bros..................2 votes
Quentin Tarantino......2 votes
Hur Jin Ho...................1 vote
Robert Rodriguez.......1 vote
Howard Hawks...........1 vote
Robert Altman.............1 vote
Paul WS Anderson......1 vote
Wong Kar Wai............1 vote
Billy Wilder.................1 vote
F F Coppola...............1 vote
Terry Gilliam..............1 vote
James Cameron........1 vote
John Waters..............1 vote
Orson Welles.............1 vote
Oliver Stone...............1 vote
Frank Capra...............1 vote
Answers:
Peter Jackson
Answers:
Wilder would certainly go if judged on his last film. Welles would too. For the others you'd mention, I'd have to check, but I'm certain they would all go too.
I don't think the argument for Kubrick to stay on such a list could be argued very well either. Eyes Wide Shut is a good film, but it's not a patch on his earlier work, and thusly, for me, is a weaker film. I know I shouldn't compare previous works with one another, but with an auteur like Kubrick, it's hard not too.
Answers:
to be honest only taking into account their last film would decimate that list...
As for Kubrick just because it is weaker than his other films does not mean it cannot be better than anyone else's last film...
For the record I'd still choose Kubrick by a hairs breadth from Lynch and Peter Weir :) ...
Answers:
Just by the Last film? P T Anderson & Peter Jackson. Magnolia and LOTR is amazing movie making.
Answers:
Howard Hawks' 'Rio Lobo' is pleasant enough and wonderfully entertaining for fans of the unofficial trilogy (and coming out on DVD soon to complete the set!), but it's certainly not a masterpiece or even particularly great. I've never liked Ford's 'Seven Women' much, was very disappointed by Welles' 'F for Fake' (his only completed feature that I didn't think was outstanding) and haven't seen Hitchcock's 'Family Plot'.
I wouldn't discount Spielberg quite so readily - I still haven't seen 'Minority Report' but several writers I greatly respect have loved it and even claimed it one of his best.
Cameron and Ridley Scott - well, I don't think either of them have made a great film (or even a watchable one) since the early '80s.
I'm baffled as to how 'Man in the Moon' ranks as one of the 'cleverest, funniest films ever made' - I didn't think it even stood up to 'Larry Flynt' - but I'm willing to be enlightened. (Watching the 'Amadeus' 2-discer last week, and listening to 3 hours of Forman, has put me in the mood for rewatching his others and checking out the ones I've missed)
Anyway, I'm not going to work through the entire list - my nominations (with addition to the list)...
Brian De Palma - wouldn't have made it for 'Mission to Mars', but 'Femme Fatalle' puts him right at the top
Wong Kar-wai, no question
Hong Sang-soo - for his latest 'The Turning Gate' which I saw on the big screen last weekend, my favourite Korean film
Michael Reeves - he died shortly after finishing 'Witchfinder General'
Mike Leigh - 'All or Nothing' isn't his best (tie between 'Naked' and 'Career Girls') but it's still remarkable
Coen brothers - 'The Man Who...' is my favourite
Lynch - again, I thought his last was perhaps his very best
Only 3 of these guys were nominated in the original thread - of those I'd go for Wong...
Answers:
Judged by his last (only film so far) Richard Kelly for Donnie Darko
:thumbs:
Answers:
Based on the last film I would go for Wong Kar Wai. I can't speak highly enough of ITMFL.
Answers:
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
I wouldn't discount Spielberg quite so readily - I still haven't seen 'Minority Report' but several writers I greatly respect have loved it and even claimed it one of his best.
It's a poor man's L.A. Confidential with more plot holes than anything else this year. Half baked.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Cameron and Ridley Scott - well, I don't think either of them have made a great film (or even a watchable one) since the early '80s.
Titanic. Hannibal.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
I'm baffled as to how 'Man in the Moon' ranks as one of the 'cleverest, funniest films ever made' - I didn't think it even stood up to 'Larry Flynt' - but I'm willing to be enlightened. (Watching the 'Amadeus' 2-discer last week, and listening to 3 hours of Forman, has put me in the mood for rewatching his others and checking out the ones I've missed)
I thought it was wonderful on first viewing. But subsequent viewings have put it to #3 in the list of Forman's best works. And Tony Clifton might be the funniest character ever put on film.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Brian De Palma - wouldn't have made it for 'Mission to Mars', but 'Femme Fatalle' puts him right at the top
Unlike yourself I wouldn't be so quick to judge based solely on what I've heard ;), but some of the online reviews of Femme Fatale have been downright hilarious. Even the good reviews seem to be 75% full of reservations.
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Mike Leigh - 'All or Nothing' isn't his best (tie between 'Naked' and 'Career Girls') but it's still remarkable
I thought All or Nothing is perhaps the worst film he's ever made. Pure self parody, but not all that funny. Leigh is one of a handful of working filmmakers I thought would never disappoint me, but there you go (I wouldn't say it was awful or owt, but...). Half of the dialogue is lifted from his old films. Compare Spall 's talk of charging someone for nothing, to Claire Skinner saying the same thing in Life Is Sweet. Spall even repeats lines from his first major role in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, pracatically verbatim - 'It's kismet, innit'. And with Ken Loach remaking My Name is Joe already, it's a sad year for Britain's working class directing heroes.
Answers:
Based on your criteria, its one of the following:
Wong's - 'ITMFL'
Bressons - 'L'Argent'
Wilder's - 'Buddy Buddy'
Personally i'd vote for ITMFL......just.
Answers:
Originally posted by McD
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
is this a thread hoping to gain the unbiased votes of the members, or ones filtered by McD.. not entirely kosher now is it?? :norty: :nono: :D
films are subjective after all right? :rolleyes:
as for my vote, i would say Jackson, but that's only because i loved LOTR so much, but was it the best directed film?? after all it's not cometely his vision like say Magnolia was Anderson's, like that etc...
Oh what the heck.. as he missed out on the Oscar.. Jackson it is!! :notworthy
Answers:
The mentioned Wong Kar Wai or Peter Jackson, or more likely Miyazaki Hayao.
Answers:
Spielberg - For Minority Report, even if it is a 'Poor mans L.A Confidential' (which i disagree with - yes it shares plot points, but then so does 'Alien' and Bava's 'Planet Of The Vampires' - MR still has many things that seperate it from L.A.C - Though the influence is undeniably there) I found it far more enjoyable than Curtis Hansons' good, but for me, not great film.
Lucas - I don't care, say what you want - Attack Of The Clones, in particular the set pieces made me glad to be a Star Wars fan.
David Kelly - For Donnie Darko.
Peter Jackson.
Mike Judge - 'Office Space' has to be one of the most under-rated films ever.
Paul T. Anderson - 'Punch Drunk Love' is simply beautiful to watch.
Answers:
Probably Mr Lynch again, unless his last film had been The Straight Story. :zzz:
A re-watch of From Hell or Lord of the Rings on DVD MIGHT change that, though.
Answers:
Well Hur Jin Ho's One Fine Spring Day is certainly brilliant!
I think Zhang Yimou is a better director and although I haven't seen Happy Times or Hero yet I'm sure those 2 movies are in with a chance.
Answers:
Originally posted by McD
We can say sayonara right now to the likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Spielberg, Scott, Lucas, Carpenter, Besson, Coppola, Waters, Anderson (ho ho), Stone, Rodriguez.
And whats wrong with Spy Kids 2 like? :p
Kubrick and Lynch remain on the list, but the one vote only likes of Wong Kar Wai, Gilliam and (especially) Cameron grow stronger! And how could I forget that Man on The Moon is one of the cleverest and funniest films ever made. So I'm still voting for Forman! :)
Agreed, its an astonishingly perfect film. Jim Carey should have bagged an Oscar for this. I've only seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest as well, what else of Forman should I be checking out?
I'd have to go with Tarantino out of that list - whilst Jackie Brown didn't have the same in the face impact as Pulp Fiction or 'Dogs it was still directed superbly.
Answers:
Originally posted by Gizmo
Agreed, its an astonishingly perfect film. Jim Carey should have bagged an Oscar for this. I've only seen One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest as well, what else of Forman should I be checking out?
Absolutely all of it. Here is my own order of preference (this week anyway)...
Amadeus (R1/R2)
(the two you've seen would appear here)
Valmont (R1)
Taking Off (tragically unavailable on DVD or VHS)
The People Vs Larry Flynt (R1/R2)
The Fireman's Ball (R1)
Ragtime (R2, French version is best, in widescreen)
Loves of A Blonde (R1)
Hair (R1/R2)
Answers:
I'm still tempted to go for Lynch... but no, I reckon Luis Buñuel gets the nod in this poll, thanks to That Obscure Object Of Desire being my favourite of his movies that I've seen to date.
Answers:
Originally posted by McD
Absolutely all of it. Here is my own order of preference (this week anyway)...
Amadeus (R1/R2)
(the two you've seen would appear here)
Valmont (R1)
Taking Off (tragically unavailable on DVD or VHS)
The People Vs Larry Flynt (R1/R2)
The Fireman's Ball (R1)
Ragtime (R2, French version is best, in widescreen)
Loves of A Blonde (R1)
Hair (R1/R2)
I shall check em out - if the c/card and her who should be obeyed will allow ;) . Amadeus first since the SE's looking nice.
Answers:
Originally posted by raymondlin
Just by the Last film? P T Anderson & Peter Jackson. Magnolia and LOTR is amazing movie making.
I always feel sorry for Magnolia Anderson because he shares name and profession with someone who is responsible for Resident Evil, Soldier and Event Horizon - the 3 movies that share the number one slot of my Greatest ***** of all Times list.
...whereas I love Magnolia and - even more - Boogie Nights.
Answers:
Either Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino or Douglas Sirk, in my opinion.
I'll play by the rules and go with Kubrick.
Answers:
Oooh.....
/thinks
Peter Jackson
Boink!
Answers:
David Lynch
1 2