gosh this takes out so many great directors

1. Bay
2. Spielberg
3. Eastwood
4. Aronofsky
5. Raimi
6. McTiernan* Not sure he's ACTIVE?
7. Coen Bros.
8. Scorsese
9. Tarentino
10. 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.

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?

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1. Martin Scorsese
2. Joel and Ethan Coen
3. Paul Thomas Anderson
4. Quentin Tarantino
5. David Lynch
6. Francis Ford Coppola
7. Wes Anderson
8. Terrence Malick
9. Michael Mann
10. David Fincher
    Last Seen:
    Little Otik
    (2000, Svankmajer) - 7.5/10

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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/

Everyone always forgets Alexander Payne, in my opinion the most underrated director working today:
Election, About Schmidt, Sideways - whats not to love?
he also adapted these movies too

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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.

1. Joel and Ethan Coen
2. Paul Thomas Anderson
3. Bong 1908Joon Ho
4. Martin Scorsese
5. Brad Bird
6. Christopher Nolan
7. Darren Aronofsky
8. Edgar Wright
9. Quentin Tarantino
10. Woody Allen (not always great, but there's usually a few diamonds in the rough each decade)
    "Just look at that parking lot."

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Paul Thomas Anderson - Innovative and interesting cinematography, provocative storytelling, excellent combination of humor and drama. What's not to love?
5. David Fincher - Social commentaries on a grand scale.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. David Lynch - One of the most imaginative and unique directors working today.
10. 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).

OP forgot to mention Terry Gilliam.
Well, I hope we're not too messianic
Or a trifle too satanic
We love to play the blues

In no particular order, other than the order I think of them

1. The Coen Bros.
2. Tarantino
3. David Fincher
4. Clint Eastwood
5. Scorsese
6. Darren Aronofsky
7. Terrence Malick
8. Spielberg
9. Jim Jarmusch
10. 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.

Martin Scorsese
Francis Ford Coppola
Steven Spielberg
Christopher Nolan
Ridley Scott
Michael Mann
Quentin Tarantino
Tim Burton
Terrence Malick
David Fincher

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.

1. Coen brothers- Boo to your overrated statement. Well that's YOUR opinion. My opinion is no one tops their combination of brilliant storytelling, elaborate dialogue, and expert direction.
2. Terrence Malick (I agree visually is the best. No contest)
3. Martin Scorsese (our living gem as far as American cinema, his best days are behind him though)
4. Woody Allen (okay but I prefer his 70's and 80's work)
5. David Lynch (his work is bizarre and I don't know what to make of it sometimes, but he is probably the most original)
6. Steven Spielberg (Suck it you "he's so commercial so he's lame" snobs)
7. Sidney Lumet (so many great, iconic films. What a body of work)
8. Francis Ford Coppola (a legend for a reason)
9. Paul Thomas Anderson (holding it down for the younger generation especially with There Will Be Blood which showed me he was better than he's ever been)
10. Quentin Tarantino (Say what you will about him, but I enjoy every one of his films. They are like a pop medley of fun, entertainment and outrageousness. I actually love Inglourious Basterds more than his influential Pulp Fiction)
    Overrated: Harmony Korine, Kevin Smith, Gus Van Sant, and Tim Burton
    "I'm f'ing busy-or vice versa" -Dorothy Parker

Just had to add my list so here it is
(Some guys are adding British or other foreign directors to their lists
It should only be 'American' directors like Ridley Scott is NOT American. And I never get the 'living' part in these lists. An artist's work lives on even after their demise. So them not living and breathing anymore doesn't make their work any less great or important).

1. Martin Scorsese (Even if there was a King before him, now, it just has to be Marty, no living director can claim his crown)
2. Francis Ford Coppola (dreserves this spot even if he just made The Godfather I, II Aaand wait for it Apocalypse Now. Come to think of it, he should've made ONLY these three films)
3. Steven Soderbergh (Like his 'Style')
4. Joel & Ethan Coen (No one does Dark Humour like them. their films are just mesmerizing for me)
5. Orson Welles (Citizen beep Kane!! Nuff said )
6. Alfred Hitchcock (I know, I know, he was from London, England but later in his life he got a US citizenship and THAT makes any 'Greatest American Director' list incomplete without him)
7. David Fincher (This list just wasn't complete without him also)
8. Stanley Kubrick (A true visionary)
9. Steven Spielberg (If it was only up to my choice he would have only been in honourable mentions but the difference this film nerd made to Hollywood's working in the next few decades is just so important that he is definitely here on this list)
   10.Quinton Tarantino (OK, not one of the greatest in the pure 'critique' sense but he gave the cinema a totally new and never before seen direction so he just makes the list for me)
   Honourable mentions
10. Oliver Stone (So many great and epic films)
11. Michael Mann (Thrillers are Michael Mann films)
12. Tim Burton (Visually spectacular style Sometimes over substance though)
13. James Cameron (If only for 'Aliens' and 'Avatar')
14. Robert Zemeckis (Personal choice if only for my favourite trilogy ever Back To The Future)
15. George Armitage (For one of my favourite films of all time, 'Grosse Pointe Blank'. Please, Don't ask about his other work)
16. George Lucas (Not that I care but 'Star Wars' anyone?)
17. Sidney Lumet (He did make some great films)
18. Sam Raimi (Made the 'Horror' genre how we became to love it and single handedly revived the comic-book genre into the bajillion-dollar cash cow that it is today and will remain for God knows how long)
19. The Wachowskis (You know, who made that revolutionary action film in '99 )
    The Most Overrated
20. Clint Eastwood (I mean, don't get me wrong The guy's got some great films to his name but when it comes to being overrated Wow!! No one comes close. Remember, he's the guy who got a freakin' Oscar for 'Million Dollar Baby' and recently made 'Grand Torino', a 'serious' film with the WORST acting I've ever seen)
21. P T Anderson (Sorry, 'Magnolia' and 'There Will Be Blood' were very good films but he is not to be revered like he is for only these two)
22. Peter Jackson (Just see Clerks II where Randal makes fun of LOTR to get a visual presentation of the reason why he's on here. GOD!! He won an Oscar for one of those Ring movies)
    So yeah

Marty
Marty
Marty
Marty
You shoot me in a dream, you'd better wake up and apologize.

@mrpioneer7 -Kubrick would be at the top of most lists if he were alive,because the post is "Top 10 Living American Directors"
1.George Lucas
2.Steven Spielberg
3.Quinten Tarantino
4.Martin Scorsese
5.David Fincher
6.Kevin Smith
7.Clint Eastwood
8.Spike Lee
9.Judd Apatow
10.Woody Allen
"I'm Not Even Suppost To Be Here Today"
-Dante Hicks (Clerks)

everybody forgot about kubrick he is gr8
and if aljandro jodorowsky was american he would beep them up..
but thank god he is not

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It would more be a matter of
attempting
to be objective, because as you say, you can't remove your strictly personal preferences altogether when judging such matters. If I'm asked who my favourite ten directors are, I'd probably just list them based on how much I enjoy their films. If I'm asked who the ten
best
are, I'd be more considerate of the feelings of others, artistic merits, how well they work with actors and choose their casts, how much range they have with regards to genres, and so on.
Like I say, though, it's really just my own feelings on the matter; I don't think it's a "right" or "wrong" approach, per se Just my own one, and I'm content enough with it.

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Favourite is subjective, whereas best is objective. Or at least that's my feeling. For instance, just because a given director's work isn't for me, that doesn't mean I believe they're a bad director; they may simply not appeal to my personal tastes. I'd feel arrogant arguing that my personal favourites in any contextmusic, films, TV shows, games, etcare what constitutes "the best".

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