Top 50 Directors
Apologies for not having many reviews as of late. There hasn't been any films worth seeing in theaters lately. And I haven't gotten any new releases from Netflix in a while. So, I will try and keep everyone interested with these lists. I have covered my favorite actors and actresses, and will now move onto directors. The directors must be alive and still working. So, I had to leave off Stanley Kubrick, which is a shame. Each director must have two films under his/her name. This is an up-to-date list, so some older directors slipped a bit. As I did before, I will comment on each director and list 2/3 of their best films. After the list is complete, I will list 20 honorable mentions. Enjoy!
50. Kevin Smith
Kevin is known for his unconventional comedies that he usually co-stars in. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes and George Carlin (deceased) often appear in his films. Jay and Silent Bob is easily his best film. He combines elements/roles from all his films and it's quite hilarious, to say the least.
-Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
-Zack and Miri Make a Porno
-Clerks.
49. David Wain
David got his start on MTV's The State. The cast on that show included: Michael Ian Black, Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenny, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino and Michael Showalter. Even if you don't recognize the names listed above, you would easily recognize them if you saw them. Half of them were on Reno 911! I highly recommend Comedy Central's Stella and Cartoon Network's Children's Hospital.
-Wet Hot American Summer
-Role Models
-The Ten
48. Paul Greengrass
Paul has worked with Matt Damon three times (most notably the Bourne films). He also made the best film based on the 9/11 tragedy. Although I like Greengrass, I'm ecstatic that Tony Gilroy is on board for the fourth Bourne film.
-The Bourne Supremacy
-The Bourne Ultimatum
-United 93
47. Nicholas Stoller
He's only made two films to date, but he's already made a name for himself. He directorial debut is one of my favorite comedies. We're all expecting a third chapter starring Russell Brand, as Aldous Snow.
-Forgetting Sarah Marshall
-Get Him to the Greek
46. Guy Ritchie
We all thought Ritchie was an extremely odd choice for Sherlock Holmes, but it turned out to be a phenomenal film. The word is that another Holmes film is due for 2011, but we shall see.
-Sherlock Holmes
-Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
-Snatch.
45. Noah Baumbach
Baumbach is one of the most heralded Indie filmmakers out there. He's also written a couple scripts for Wes Anderson. Although his films are never easy to sit through, they're always worth it and leave us wanting more. His 2010 release, Greenberg, is possibly his best work.
-Greenberg
-The Squid and the Whale
-Margot at the Wedding
44. Gore Verbinski
Verbinski is best known for his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. However, my favorite Gore film is easily The Weather Man, starring Nicolas Cage. He's also made one of the best horror films of all-time in The Ring. Which was later ruined by a surprisingly awful sequel directed by Hideo Nakata (who directed the original Japanese films).
-The Weather Man
-The Ring
-The Mexican
43. Spike Lee
I still haven't seen a lot of Lee's work, but the films I have seen are tremendous, especially 25th Hour starring Edward Norton, Barry Pepper and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Almost every one of his films are set in New York City. That's what makes 25th Hour so powerful, as it was made shortly after 9/11.
-25th Hour
-Inside Man
-Summer of Sam
42. Frank Darabont
He's best known for his numerous adaptations of Stephen King novels/short stories. Including: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Mist. For those of you who get AMC, check out his new show, The Walking Dead. Great stuff!
-The Shawshank Redemption
-The Mist
-The Majestic
41. M. Night Shyamalan
If I compiled this list six years ago, M. Night would be close to the top ten. However, his last three films range from mediocre to terribly absurd. Which is too bad because Paul Giamatti is so good in Lady in the Water, and The Happening has such an interesting premise. The Last Airbender made over $100 million at the box office, but got absolutely thrashed by critics.
-The Village
-The Sixth Sense
-Signs
40. Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola is way passed his prime, but he's still one of the best ever. He released Tetro last year, and although it's nothing near The Godfather trilogy, it's still enjoyable and interesting.
-The Godfather
-The Godfather: Part II
-Apocalypse Now
39. Matt Reeves
Another filmmaker with only two films to his name. He's great friends with J.J. Abrams (Star Trek). A Cloverfield sequel is rumored for a 2012 release. I'm very interested in seeing where they pick up. Also, Let Me In is one of the best remakes ever made.
-Let Me In
-Cloverfield
38. Edward Zwick
Zwick's new film, Love and Other Drugs, drops later this month. It's quite different from his previous work, which usually glorifies violence. He must've loved the book. The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond are epic films.
-The Last Samurai
-Blood Diamond
-Glory
37. Cameron Crowe
Cameron has been out of the game for quite some time; 2005 to be exact. That's the only reason he isn't in the top 20. Vanilla Sky and Almost Famous were two of my 25 favorite films of the decade. Almost Famous is loosely based on his early work for Rolling Stone magazine. He also wrote the book and script for the infamous Fast Times at Ridgemount High. He does have a film set to be released next December.
-Vanilla Sky
-Almost Famous
-Jerry Maguire
36. Jake Kasdan
Kasdan has frequently done work with close friend Judd Apatow. His most recent comedy, Walk Hard, is simply amazing. He has a new film set to be released April 1st, called Bad Teacher. The promising cast is led by Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Thomas Lennon, John Michael Higgins and Molly Shannon.
-Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
-Orange County
-The TV Set
35. Roman Polanski
Roman hasn't been back in the States since 1978. He fled to France after being charged for the rape of a minor (a 13 year old....yeahhh). However, he does make a mean picture every now and then. He was pardoned last year though. The Pianist is the 2nd best WWII film ever made in my book.
-The Pianist
-Chinatown
-The Ghost Writer
34. Spike Jonze
Spike likes to play with our heads, and he's good at it. A lot of people don't realize that he does a lot of behind the scenes work with the Jackass crew. He's also done over a dozen music documentaries. Whenever he makes a film (it's rare), we all need to tune in.
-Adaptation.
-Being John Malkovich
-Where the Wild Things Are
33. Richard Kelly
Kelly will never be able to top Donnie Darko, but he continues to toy around with the time travel idea. He failed with Southland Tales, but succeeded with 2009's The Box. He will occasionally write and/or produce a film or two. I'm really looking forward to his next time travel chapter.
-Donnie Darko
-The Box
-Southland Tales
32. Ron Howard
Ron is best known for his acting career, but he's turned into one of the best directors in the business. Although I can't stand The Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons, he's still got a lot going for him. He does have a tremendous body of work.
-A Beautiful Mind
-Apollo 13
-Frost/Nixon
31. James Mangold
The three films below speak for themselves. His new film, Knight and Day, didn't do too well at the box office or with critics, but I'm certain he will bounce back. I mean, he did wrote and direct Walk the Line.
-Walk the Line
-3:10 to Yuma
-Identity
50. Kevin Smith
Kevin is known for his unconventional comedies that he usually co-stars in. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes and George Carlin (deceased) often appear in his films. Jay and Silent Bob is easily his best film. He combines elements/roles from all his films and it's quite hilarious, to say the least.
-Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
-Zack and Miri Make a Porno
-Clerks.
49. David Wain
David got his start on MTV's The State. The cast on that show included: Michael Ian Black, Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenny, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino and Michael Showalter. Even if you don't recognize the names listed above, you would easily recognize them if you saw them. Half of them were on Reno 911! I highly recommend Comedy Central's Stella and Cartoon Network's Children's Hospital.
-Wet Hot American Summer
-Role Models
-The Ten
48. Paul Greengrass
Paul has worked with Matt Damon three times (most notably the Bourne films). He also made the best film based on the 9/11 tragedy. Although I like Greengrass, I'm ecstatic that Tony Gilroy is on board for the fourth Bourne film.
-The Bourne Supremacy
-The Bourne Ultimatum
-United 93
47. Nicholas Stoller
He's only made two films to date, but he's already made a name for himself. He directorial debut is one of my favorite comedies. We're all expecting a third chapter starring Russell Brand, as Aldous Snow.
-Forgetting Sarah Marshall
-Get Him to the Greek
46. Guy Ritchie
We all thought Ritchie was an extremely odd choice for Sherlock Holmes, but it turned out to be a phenomenal film. The word is that another Holmes film is due for 2011, but we shall see.
-Sherlock Holmes
-Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
-Snatch.
45. Noah Baumbach
Baumbach is one of the most heralded Indie filmmakers out there. He's also written a couple scripts for Wes Anderson. Although his films are never easy to sit through, they're always worth it and leave us wanting more. His 2010 release, Greenberg, is possibly his best work.
-Greenberg
-The Squid and the Whale
-Margot at the Wedding
44. Gore Verbinski
Verbinski is best known for his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. However, my favorite Gore film is easily The Weather Man, starring Nicolas Cage. He's also made one of the best horror films of all-time in The Ring. Which was later ruined by a surprisingly awful sequel directed by Hideo Nakata (who directed the original Japanese films).
-The Weather Man
-The Ring
-The Mexican
43. Spike Lee
I still haven't seen a lot of Lee's work, but the films I have seen are tremendous, especially 25th Hour starring Edward Norton, Barry Pepper and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Almost every one of his films are set in New York City. That's what makes 25th Hour so powerful, as it was made shortly after 9/11.
-25th Hour
-Inside Man
-Summer of Sam
42. Frank Darabont
He's best known for his numerous adaptations of Stephen King novels/short stories. Including: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Mist. For those of you who get AMC, check out his new show, The Walking Dead. Great stuff!
-The Shawshank Redemption
-The Mist
-The Majestic
41. M. Night Shyamalan
If I compiled this list six years ago, M. Night would be close to the top ten. However, his last three films range from mediocre to terribly absurd. Which is too bad because Paul Giamatti is so good in Lady in the Water, and The Happening has such an interesting premise. The Last Airbender made over $100 million at the box office, but got absolutely thrashed by critics.
-The Village
-The Sixth Sense
-Signs
40. Francis Ford Coppola
Coppola is way passed his prime, but he's still one of the best ever. He released Tetro last year, and although it's nothing near The Godfather trilogy, it's still enjoyable and interesting.
-The Godfather
-The Godfather: Part II
-Apocalypse Now
39. Matt Reeves
Another filmmaker with only two films to his name. He's great friends with J.J. Abrams (Star Trek). A Cloverfield sequel is rumored for a 2012 release. I'm very interested in seeing where they pick up. Also, Let Me In is one of the best remakes ever made.
-Let Me In
-Cloverfield
38. Edward Zwick
Zwick's new film, Love and Other Drugs, drops later this month. It's quite different from his previous work, which usually glorifies violence. He must've loved the book. The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond are epic films.
-The Last Samurai
-Blood Diamond
-Glory
37. Cameron Crowe
Cameron has been out of the game for quite some time; 2005 to be exact. That's the only reason he isn't in the top 20. Vanilla Sky and Almost Famous were two of my 25 favorite films of the decade. Almost Famous is loosely based on his early work for Rolling Stone magazine. He also wrote the book and script for the infamous Fast Times at Ridgemount High. He does have a film set to be released next December.
-Vanilla Sky
-Almost Famous
-Jerry Maguire
36. Jake Kasdan
Kasdan has frequently done work with close friend Judd Apatow. His most recent comedy, Walk Hard, is simply amazing. He has a new film set to be released April 1st, called Bad Teacher. The promising cast is led by Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Thomas Lennon, John Michael Higgins and Molly Shannon.
-Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
-Orange County
-The TV Set
35. Roman Polanski
Roman hasn't been back in the States since 1978. He fled to France after being charged for the rape of a minor (a 13 year old....yeahhh). However, he does make a mean picture every now and then. He was pardoned last year though. The Pianist is the 2nd best WWII film ever made in my book.
-The Pianist
-Chinatown
-The Ghost Writer
34. Spike Jonze
Spike likes to play with our heads, and he's good at it. A lot of people don't realize that he does a lot of behind the scenes work with the Jackass crew. He's also done over a dozen music documentaries. Whenever he makes a film (it's rare), we all need to tune in.
-Adaptation.
-Being John Malkovich
-Where the Wild Things Are
33. Richard Kelly
Kelly will never be able to top Donnie Darko, but he continues to toy around with the time travel idea. He failed with Southland Tales, but succeeded with 2009's The Box. He will occasionally write and/or produce a film or two. I'm really looking forward to his next time travel chapter.
-Donnie Darko
-The Box
-Southland Tales
32. Ron Howard
Ron is best known for his acting career, but he's turned into one of the best directors in the business. Although I can't stand The Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons, he's still got a lot going for him. He does have a tremendous body of work.
-A Beautiful Mind
-Apollo 13
-Frost/Nixon
31. James Mangold
The three films below speak for themselves. His new film, Knight and Day, didn't do too well at the box office or with critics, but I'm certain he will bounce back. I mean, he did wrote and direct Walk the Line.
-Walk the Line
-3:10 to Yuma
-Identity
Comments
Post a Comment