best modern director
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Stephan_Ramstedt — 17 years ago(June 04, 2008 05:29 AM)
Sorry to hear that CinemaJunky. But I don't understand where you want the actors to go? It seems to me that the they are walking almost all the time. The film is like a long walk, although a great beep walk.
By the way, I also prefer Jim before Wes. But I don't think that says very much of how good they are.. -
cinemajunky — 17 years ago(June 04, 2008 08:26 PM)
I want them to go anywhere as long as it's somewhere. Johnny Depp has the ability to convey deep emotions with just his eyes and so I find it incredibly disappointing that he wasn't pushed towards acting at the height of his capabilities. Instead, we're forced to swallow a very hollow one-sided character that suddenly shifts from meek accountant to savvy outlaw with no transition whatsoever. In Dead Man, his character travels across the country for a job that is no longer available, leaving everything he knows behind only to find himself in the line of fire between two lovers. Where is the howling at the moon angst that would be an understandable movement from his soft spoken gent to his scruffy sharp-shooter? There's just a distinctive lack of character development in all of the characters.
Honestly, I cannot remember much from Coffee and Cigarettes considering it was so long ago that I watched it. The only scene that stayed with me was a very awkward one where one character is begging another for a job. Looking at his cast, it surprises me that none of the acting stood out enough for me to remember anything beyond that very vague awkward scene. I just don't think Jarmusch utilizes his actors enough.
Which brings me to the point of Broken Flowers. I've enjoyed Bill Murray in just about everything he's done and yet I cannot force myself to stay with this movie long enough to figure out more than the basic plot. I don't mind if a movie is a chore to watch as long as it pulls me in somewhere - whether I'm watching it for the message or the entertainment value, the movie needs some basic draw beyond the main actor.
I find Jarmusch lacking. His stories are dreadfully dull and I can't help but think I've something better to do when trying to force myself through them. However, that's just my opinion so please don't feel the need to get defensive.
I ain't your friend, palooka.
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Mr_Cinema8 — 17 years ago(June 30, 2008 03:53 AM)
Wes Anderson doesn't hold a candle to Jarmusch. And I think the Poster was referring to modern in the chronological sense, not the philosophical one. Best American directors working today: Jarmusch, PT Anderson, The Coen Brothers, James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan. Done
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smiley_b81 — 17 years ago(September 18, 2008 02:21 PM)
Depends on how you define 'Modern'. IMO.
Best Modern Director: Orson Welles (since I think in some ways, "Citizen Kane" invented what we think of today as the modern sound film). Runners-up: Stanley Kubrick (thee modern visionary) & Elia Kazan (cuz what we see as modern film acting would be different if he wasn't there).
Best Post-Modern Director: Jean-Luc Godard (he is to cinema what Brecht is to literature).
And since Hollywood hasn't caught up to people like Godard or Fassbinder, (and I do consider Jarmusch to be Hollywood, cuz "Broken Flowers" and the very star-studded "Coffee and Cigarettes" were both made within the system), I'd say Terrence Malick is easily the best director working in America.
"I didn't know they made bastard's as sexy as you!" -
wesleyjones-1 — 16 years ago(September 17, 2009 09:40 PM)
Hi Smiley,
Just wondering, how do YOU define Modernism and Post Modernism in film?
This isn't a loaded question that I plan to pounce on once you've answered. I'm just really interested in the various ways these terms are perceived across different mediums and disciplines. -
whowhatwherewhenwhy — 14 years ago(August 15, 2011 03:42 PM)
Jarmusch isn't even in my top 30 of living directors, never mind all time.
He is interesting, I appreciate his choices and the way he sticks to his artistic instincts, but for what it's worth it doesn't translate into entertainment or introspection for me.
To each their own. -
desperateliving — 17 years ago(September 23, 2008 04:24 AM)
Jarmusch is good, I think Wes Anderson is a hard pill to swallow.
But there are hundreds of great directors still making great work Rodrigo Garcia, Paul Cox, Michael Haneke, Wong Kar-Wai, Claire Denis, Catherine Breillat, Todd Haynes, the Dardenne brothers, Ken Loach, Vincent Gallo, Mike Leigh, Gus Van Sant, Billy Ray, Richard Linklater, Michael Winterbottom, Gregg Araki, John Cameron Mitchell, Danny Boyle, etc etc.
Then there are all the Kiarostamis, Hous, Rivettes, etc that never actually play in theaters. -
TheDarkChrisKnight — 17 years ago(January 26, 2009 10:05 PM)
Wait a minute there Maverick. What about the Holy Trinity of modern-day directors. That's right, Uwe Boll, Paul WS Anderson and Michael Bay. Simply the best. Just like Rick Astley.
Why do you have that on your head? Chris Knight: Because if I wear it anywhere else it chafes. -
Writer01603 — 16 years ago(February 01, 2010 01:42 AM)
If we're talking modern, as in current time, I wouldn't put him at the top of my list of best directors, but he'd be on the list of best directors, if we're talking Modern, as in Modernist directors, he would be at the top of my list of any Modernist movement in story telling.