Top 10 Living American Directors
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Franz93 — 15 years ago(July 12, 2010 12:07 PM)
- Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - Even though I personally like Woody Allen's films more, these guys are more versatile in their genres and create great characters, so to me their Number 1. They're also incredibly consistent.
- Woody Allen - From like 1970-2000 this guy was almost as good as gold but ever since Celebrity he's been hit and miss so that is why he is number 2.
- Martin Scorsese - I think this guy is fantastic and has made some of the great drama's of the last half century, he has great acting and consistently makes great films, he just doesn't present the quirkiness I love from Woody and the Coens.
- Steven Spielberg - Yes a lot of the films he does are really commercial but that doesn't make them bad. Plus his least commercial films, ( i.e. Schindler's List and Catch Me if You Can) are really good. The guy also made Jaws and ET so come on.
- Clint Eastwood - Clint Eastwood is damn good director and just keeps pumping out good movie and after good movie and recently has proven how versatile by doing films like Bridges of Madison County, Mystic River and Letters from Iwo Jima.
- Christopher Nolan - Nolan is half american so he counts and he is also on a very hot streak and has yet to dissapoint, his films are very complex but are always very good, Inception is also supposed to be fantastic.
- Francis Ford Coppola - Had the rest of his career been like the 1970's, he would be #1, but after Apocalypse Now it went all down hill.
- Ron Howard - Maybe he isn't the most original director ever but look at his films over the last 15 years, not too shaby, other than the Dan Brown movies he is really consistent.
- Quentin Tarantino - Reservoir Dogs and Pulp are both classics but then he went on a dry spell until Inglorious Basterds which totally rocked my socks. But that Jackie Brown, Kill Bill (Volumes 1 and 2) and Death Proof phase made me push him to 9.
- Jason Reitman - I love all his films, even if he has only made 3, and I think he's just a movie or two away from an Oscar.
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ZildjianDFW — 15 years ago(August 10, 2010 05:21 PM)
In no particular order, other than the order I think of them
- The Coen Bros.
- Tarantino
- David Fincher
- Clint Eastwood
- Scorsese
- Darren Aronofsky
- Terrence Malick
- Spielberg
- Jim Jarmusch
- Woody Allen
There are other good ones, of course. Personally, I've always felt that Anderson and Lynch are both a tad overrated, at least in the sense that I don't just itch to see their movies, like I do certain other filmmakers. I did really enjoy "Magnolia" and "The Elephant Man", respectively, though.
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mjelliott9 — 15 years ago(August 31, 2010 03:45 AM)
- Quentin Tarantino - So many reasons to love him- weaves a story and presents a message so cleverly that even a lot of people who don't understand his films or get the point love them for other reasons- humor, smart dialogue, etc. Also probably the greatest student of film who ever lived- often pays tribute to other great directors in a way that supports his story while still presenting a product that is refreshingly original.
- Coen Bros. - Close second. No one uses stereotypes to greater effect and some of their cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. Second only to Tarantino in writing dark comedy.
- Christopher Nolan - Inception has solidified his place among the greats, and for the art-house fans- deducting points for commercial success is un-ethical. And he is half-American if there's any question about his eligibility for this.
- Paul Thomas Anderson - Innovative and interesting cinematography, provocative storytelling, excellent combination of humor and drama. What's not to love?
- David Fincher - Social commentaries on a grand scale.
- Martin Scorsese - The legend. Consensus favorite, but I personally think before "The Departed" that "Taxi Driver" was his only true masterpiece. IMHO Raging Bull, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, Casino, The Color of Money and The King of Comedy while all very good movies were lacking and the rest of his work just isn't that good.
- Clint Eastwood - Makes modern epics. Unfortunately, his films commonly feature bad secondary acting (which is the director's fault), which is why he isn't higher.
- Michael Mann - Hit and miss, but a master of crime dramas and a great actor's director. Heat, Collateral, Last of the Mohicans and the Insider are very powerful.
- David Lynch - One of the most imaginative and unique directors working today.
- Terry Gilliam - Have yet to see "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" which I've heard good things about, but Brazil, 12 Monkeys, The Fisher King and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are enough to place him slightly ahead of some other notables who've made a couple great movies among a host of mediocre ones- Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, Pi), Spielberg (Schindler's List, Jaws), Cameron (Terminator 2, Avatar), Woody Allen (Manhattan).
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Chris-332 — 15 years ago(September 12, 2010 12:09 PM)
EDIT: Didn't see the "American" part of the thread.
My picks for now. This doesn't include a filmmaker's past work, but my feelings on their current abilities (otherwise Spielberg would be first on the list). There are many directors who were once great but now past their prime, such as Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, and Ridley Scott.- Joel and Ethan Coen
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Bong 1908Joon Ho
- Martin Scorsese
- Brad Bird
- Christopher Nolan
- Darren Aronofsky
- Edgar Wright
- Quentin Tarantino
- Woody Allen (not always great, but there's usually a few diamonds in the rough each decade)
"Just look at that parking lot."
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mill1924 — 15 years ago(December 21, 2010 07:45 AM)
not all of these are living, but here is a post we did today of our favorite directors
http://cynicritics.com/2010/12/21/our-belated-list-of-favorite-movie-d irectors/ -
Leviathan_6 — 15 years ago(December 22, 2010 07:47 PM)
- Martin Scorsese
- Joel and Ethan Coen
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Quentin Tarantino
- David Lynch
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Wes Anderson
- Terrence Malick
- Michael Mann
- David Fincher
Last Seen:
Little Otik
(2000, Svankmajer) - 7.5/10
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fatpie42 — 14 years ago(October 22, 2011 04:06 PM)
Darren Aronofsky is the best name on that list. I cannot believe you put in the honourable mentions section. Black Swan, The Wrestler and The Fountain are all absolutely astoudingly brilliant movies.
Also, where the hell is Joel Coen on that list????
Personal taste I guess. The only Scorsese movie I actually liked was "The Aviator" and you've not seen that as worth mentioning. I think "Flags of our Fathers" shows that Clint Eastwood is capable of making bad films.
Asides from "Star Wars: A New Hope", what has George Lucas directed that was any good (presuming that he actually directed "Star Wars: A New Hope" seeing as he is believed to have had a great deal of help with that one)? He didn't direct Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi (check out the imdb pages), nor did he direct any of the Indiana Jones movies. Are you really trying to say that the Star Wars prequels make him worthy of even the runner up list for best American directors working today? -
LiquidWesker — 13 years ago(July 07, 2012 06:48 AM)
gosh this takes out so many great directors
- Bay
- Spielberg
- Eastwood
- Aronofsky
- Raimi
- McTiernan* Not sure he's ACTIVE?
- Coen Bros.
- Scorsese
- Tarentino
- W. Anderson
big fan of Malick, Snyder as wellsucker punch aside.
Mann would make it for Heat alone.
Tim Burton another good one
Im sure Ill come back when I remember i forgot someone but these are mine. many will cry on bay but he is a brilliant visionary in my opinion.