Serious film watchers have their own set of directors that they appreciate the most. It is tough to really provide a purely objective list of the best people out there considering the fact that Hollywood has never had any dearth of good film makers. Some made good westerns, some great comedies, some excelled in film noir, some made thrillers that sent chills up your spine and a few decided to tease you with dark complicated themes. To come up with a list of best directors over the years without any personal bias towards the genre or style would indeed be Herculean. So, if I have offended any purists here, I indeed prefer to be excused.
I often wonder about the things that I enjoy, whether I am enjoying them because I really like them or because someone told me that this is something that I should enjoy. This applies to movies as well, so if you happen to spot some unconventional names that would fail to figure in popularity contests, let me inform that this review might be more biased towards modern cinema.
Before I begin this review I would like to name a few directors who missed out on this list due to a strong personal bias towards film noir, science fiction, fantasy and pop culture based cinema. Some names that are often considered to be the masters of their craft that I appreciate are Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polansky, Ridley Scott, Robert Zemeckis, Sir Richard Attenborough, Ron Howard, Alan Parker, M Night Shyamalan, Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean.
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.:David Fincher: 'Movies Are Made In The Dark'
Rules about his club forbid people from speaking about it, which is perhaps why not many talk about 'The Fight Club', which was among the greatest modern films ever made. Most popularly known for making movies that weave a string of strong compelling images, Fincher is among the best directors in Hollywood today. Not a one hit wonder, he has a lineage of good directions, among which 'Seven' and 'Panic Room' come to my mind instantly.
Best Work: The Fight Club, Seven
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.:Terry Gilliam: 'I'll Make Movies My Way'
He shares a love-hate relationship with the critics, the distributors and has arguments with everyone in his team as well. That is perhaps because not many understand the way Terry Gilliam likes to make his movies. Creator of the critically acclaimed Brazil, Terry is here because he happened to direct one of the best time travel movies ever, brilliantly. Its tough to realize a concept like time travel without many anomalies, but complemented by a brilliant screenplay, Terry Gilliam had the masterpiece, '12 Monkeys' recorded in my good books for ever.
Best Work: 12 Monkeys
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.:Christopher Nolan: 'Adamant About Obscurity'
You might argue how Nolan with just three films to his name, figures in the best modern film makers. But if you have seen and appreciated 'Memento', there wouldn't be any explaining to do. Nolan likes to tease his viewers with obscurity and desert them in an unfamiliar land with a total unconventional approach to film making. I prefer movie makers who respect the intelligence of viewers. I also respect movies that require a second or third watching to understand its different layers. Nolan fits in beautifully in my opinion.
Best Work: Memento
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.:Bryan Singer: 'The Usual Suspect'
His movies are exciting, well made and reflect a strong talented approach. Always true to his characters, whether he is directing a noir like 'The Usual Suspects', a psychological thriller like 'Apt Pupil' or a science fiction fantasy like 'X-Men/X-2' Singer belongs to the class of perfectionists, who take their own time in finalizing any work, which explains the frequency with which he makes his movies.
Best Work: The Usual Suspects, X Men-2.
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.:Quentin Tarantino: 'God Among Directors'
Adaptation and improvization while stamping his own class is one thing that makes Tarantino a god among directors. All his movies have been inspired by earlier classics and yet have a certain Tarantino effect. Born with a rare talent for story telling which is hardly found among many others in the business, Tarantino's movies are anything but conventional, non violent and predictable. If you love violence and being teased all the way, Quentin is your guy. He is by far my favorite director.
Best Work: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers
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.:Brian De Palma: 'Master of Macabre'
Attracted to blood and gore by observing his surgeon father at work, Brian De Palma extended that obsession to his work as well. It is hard to come across a Brian De Palma movie that is sans blood, violence, murder and controversy. The Master of Gore has over five decades playing the ingenious macabre stylist and over twenty gruesome, well directed movies dripping with human blood.
Best Work: Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito's Way, Mission Impossible.
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.:John Woo: 'Martin Scorcese of Asia'
Killer from the Orient with a panache for shooting the most violent action sequences in a pleasant, unhurried fashion. I haven't seen many directors attempting what John Woo manages to execute with such ease. Observe the slow motion shooting sequence in Face/Off with a pleasing music playing in the background through the eyes of a kid who has his earphones on. That is where John Woo stamps his class, no one else does it better than him. Also known for the popular 'Mexican Standoff' with two gangsters pointing guns to each others heads, which has been duplicated by lesser directors.
Best Work: The Killer, Face/Off, Broken Arrow, Mission Impossible II
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.:Steven Spielberg: 'Big Budgets Make Big Hits'
Among the most powerful film makers of all times, Speilberg believed that he could pull audiences to the theatres by transforming second string movies into blockbusters by top class craftsmanship enhanced with the best of special effects. Most of his movies thrive on this principle and are backed by heavy investments in film making. Spielberg combines a sense of imagination and the latest tools resulting in a huge product, which is usually well accepted by audiences all over.
Best Work: Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones' Series, Saving Private Ryan, E.T.
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.:James Cameron: 'Life is Sci-Fi'
Recognized for portraying the relationship between man and machine, James Cameron is also known to make big budget, mass appeal movies that heavily rely on technology. Responsible for some of the most technically fluent films ever made, Cameron is also known to have a penchant for innovative special effects.
Best Work: The Terminator Series, Rambo II, Aliens, The Abyss, Titanic.
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.:Martin Scorsese: 'The Priest Who Became God'
The Parish Priest wannabe ended up being worshipped by critics and film audiences alike. A stalwart among directors never laying his hands on the Oscar statuette for the best director is as ironic as you can take it. Scorsese excels in visually stimulated film noir, adopting an artist's approach to film making, providing utmost importance to details in every shot. Scorsese's films have inspired numerous directors who have tried to emulate him, most failing while a few like Tarantino benefitting from his expertise.
Best Work: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York.
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It is tough to please them all, but its tougher to please them none. I hope my choices do not tend towards the latter. Do Comment if possible.
--damo--
