Cause I'm more interested in film than music at the moment.....and I can't find a pre-existing thread of this topic I may as well ask it.
Who are your favorite film directors and why?
You don't have to write essays on it :laugh: but I'm interested in the styles and personalities of different directors and all that kind of stuff that makes certain films or director's works impact me the way they do.
I shall make my list shortly 8)
These three are always on top...
Krzysztof Kieslowski
Terrence Malick
Wong Kar-Wai
Woody Allen
Jean-Luc Godard
David Lynch
Chan-wook Park
Peter Greenaway
Federico Fellini
Takashi Miike
F.W. Murnau
Guy Maddin
Andrei Tarkovsky
I'm sure I could list more, but these are the filmmakers that I can easily say I love their entire oeuvre. I would love to write more on these, and more than likely include my favorite film from each as well.
Ironically, Alien, my next list thread was going to be Favorite Films of the 2000s So Far, I've got films on my mind too!
roughly chronologically
Charles Chaplin
Preston Sturges
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
John Ford
Alfred Hitchcock
Sidney Lumet
Mel Brooks
Francis Ford Coppola
Robert Altman
Paul Thomas Anderson
Edgar Wright
Barry Jenkins
What's notable about this otherwise totally male, English-speaking list is how many of them are also the authors of their films.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on September 10, 2017, 07:44:19 PM
Ironically, Alien, my next list thread was going to be Favorite Films of the 2000s So Far, I've got films on my mind too!
Totally out of order, just as they pop into my head:
Ratatouille
Arrival
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whiplash
Mad Max: Fury Road
Two Days, One Night
The Master
There Will Be Blood
Inherent Vice
Hot Fuzz
Moonlight
Zodiac
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(edited to add Zodiac)
Quote from: Brian on September 10, 2017, 07:52:36 PM
Edgar Wright
Edgar Wright is great, I still haven't seen Baby Driver, but I need to. And Ant-Man would've been amazing if he had stayed on it.
Dead:
John Ford
David Lean
Stanley Kubrick
Sidney Lumet
Past Their Prime:
Francis Ford Coppola (70s stuff)
Martin Scorsese (through Goodfellas)
Steven Spielberg (solid through Raiders, and a few after)
Ridley Scott (for Alien and Blade Runner alone)
Undecided:
Quentin Tarantino (sometimes great, sometimes definitely not)
Nicolas Winding Refn (like Tarantino)
Gaspar Noe (so much potential, but he hasn't delivered on it)
Derek Cianfrance (there's something there)
Outlier:
Terrence Malick (a visual and atmospheric genius, some of his films feel like random shots stitched together)
Current:
Christopher Nolan (ambition)
Darren Aronofsky (vision)
Alfonso Cuarón (visual inventiveness)
Paul Thomas Anderson (at his best, a bona fide genius)
David Fincher (as slick as Scott, but more inventive in non sci-fi settings)
Andrew Dominik (visual style and pacing mostly)
Lars von Trier (just kidding)
Many of my favorites above ^ ^ ^
Rather than repeating, I will add three (or four ;)) conspicuously missing: Terry Gilliam, Spike Jonze, Coen Bros.
Eisenstein
Hitchcock
Kubrick
David Lean
Tarkovsky
Capra
Bondarchuk
Hitchcock was known before it was usual to focus on directors instead of actors. I love the mystery and suspense. The craft and atmosphere of Eisenstein - especially 'Ivan the Terrible' as with Kubrick a great marrying of music and image.
Much the same for the soviet 'War and Peace' of Bondarchuk.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on September 10, 2017, 08:18:03 PMEdgar Wright is great, I still haven't seen Baby Driver, but I need to.
I've loved it. Loses steam towards the end but otherwise a fun, uhm, ride.
My favourites:
Peter WeirI feel a deeply personal connection to a lot of the stuff he does. Also,
Master & Commander played a huge role in me becoming a classical listener.
Stanley KubrickA monolith.
Jonathan GlazerThe modern day equivalent of the above.
Werner HerzogFascinating director, even more fascinating person. Most of his films are flawed in some way but hey, aren't we all.
John CarpenterTwo words: panavision anamorphic.
Terrence MalickIf only he did without all the terrible voiceovers.
David LynchHeineken? Fuck! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!
Quentin TarantinoThe director of two of my favourite love stories:
Jackie Brown and
Kill Bill 2.
Paul Thomas AndersonAs Todd said.
In no particular order:
Mel Brooks
Michael Curtiz
Milos Forman
Tod Browning
A few off the top of my head:
Alfred Hitchcock
Sergio Leone
Peter Weir
Ridley Scott
George Lucas
Steven Spielberg
George E. Romero
John Carpenter
M. Night Shyamalan
Coen Brothers
Francis Ford Coppola
Martin Scorcese
etc..
Not that much of a film guy myself, but if I were to mention just one name, it would undoubtedly be that of Michelangelo Antonioni. Rarely if ever have I seen films to which the tag "work of art" can be applied as unhesitatingly as to e.g. La Notte or L'Eclisse.
Quote from: Todd on September 10, 2017, 08:19:28 PM
Paul Thomas Anderson (at his best, a bona fide genius)
I don't think I have seen anything by him. An unknown name to me.
Y'all gonna get nosebleeds with all that loftiness!!
Blatty, 'The Ninth Configuration'
Quote from: 71 dB on September 11, 2017, 01:46:31 AM
I don't think I have seen anything by him. An unknown name to me.
Hard Eight
Boogie Nights
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
There Will Be Blood
The Master
Inherent Vice
I think that's his complete filmography. It is short, diverse, and great. Hard Eight is a casino story about a professional gambler learning his trade; Boogie Nights is a 3-hour epic set in the world of 70s adult films; Magnolia is an "everyone is connected" melodrama; Punch Drunk Love is a romantic comedy with Adam Sandler; There Will Be Blood is an American capitalist/western epic; The Master is another American capitalist/western epic but with religion instead of oil; Inherent Vice is a shaggy-dog it's-all-about-the-journey comedy about a stoned detective unearthing a conspiracy.
BN, TWBB, and TM are masterpieces; The Master is downright Kubrick-like. There is a new Paul Thomas Anderson film coming this Christmas with Daniel Day Lewis, supposedly his last role before retiring.
PTA is probably my favorite living director, and Boogie Nights, The Master, and Inherent Vice are some of my favorite recent movies. Lot of good stuff in the others, too, even Magnolia, which is overall a little bit too much.
Quote from: snyprrr on September 11, 2017, 06:54:51 AM
Y'all gonna get nosebleeds with all that loftiness!!
Jesús Franco
Joseph W. Sarno
Russ Meyer
Radley Metzger
Is that better? ;D
Sarge
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on September 11, 2017, 07:09:31 AM
Jesús Franco
Joseph W. Sarno
Russ Meyer
Radley Metzger
Is that better? ;D
Sarge
Duuuuude!!! You have no idea how close I was to just putting Franco down and being done with it!! ;) Enjoying Jean Rollin lately, too.
Quote from: Brian on September 11, 2017, 06:58:09 AM
Hard Eight
Boogie Nights
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
There Will Be Blood
The Master
Inherent Vice
I think that's his complete filmography. It is short, diverse, and great. Hard Eight is a casino story about a professional gambler learning his trade; Boogie Nights is a 3-hour epic set in the world of 70s adult films; Magnolia is an "everyone is connected" melodrama; Punch Drunk Love is a romantic comedy with Adam Sandler; There Will Be Blood is an American capitalist/western epic; The Master is another American capitalist/western epic but with religion instead of oil; Inherent Vice is a shaggy-dog it's-all-about-the-journey comedy about a stoned detective unearthing a conspiracy.
BN, TWBB, and TM are masterpieces; The Master is downright Kubrick-like. There is a new Paul Thomas Anderson film coming this Christmas with Daniel Day Lewis, supposedly his last role before retiring.
PTA is probably my favorite living director, and Boogie Nights, The Master, and Inherent Vice are some of my favorite recent movies. Lot of good stuff in the others, too, even Magnolia, which is overall a little bit too much.
Hard Eight is one of the great first films.
https://www.youtube.com/v/sOPB9c4t0Ok
Quote from: Brian on September 11, 2017, 06:58:09 AM
Hard Eight
Boogie Nights
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
There Will Be Blood
The Master
Inherent Vice
I think that's his complete filmography. It is short, diverse, and great. Hard Eight is a casino story about a professional gambler learning his trade; Boogie Nights is a 3-hour epic set in the world of 70s adult films; Magnolia is an "everyone is connected" melodrama; Punch Drunk Love is a romantic comedy with Adam Sandler; There Will Be Blood is an American capitalist/western epic; The Master is another American capitalist/western epic but with religion instead of oil; Inherent Vice is a shaggy-dog it's-all-about-the-journey comedy about a stoned detective unearthing a conspiracy.
BN, TWBB, and TM are masterpieces; The Master is downright Kubrick-like. There is a new Paul Thomas Anderson film coming this Christmas with Daniel Day Lewis, supposedly his last role before retiring.
PTA is probably my favorite living director, and Boogie Nights, The Master, and Inherent Vice are some of my favorite recent movies. Lot of good stuff in the others, too, even Magnolia, which is overall a little bit too much.
That's a nice introduction, thanks!
Magnolia is a film I know by name, but I don't think I have seen it. If I have seen it, it must have been forgettable.
Boogie Nights is brilliant
https://www.youtube.com/v/UtOviHnmAlE
PT Anderson is high on my list, but Kubrick is probably on top
Quote from: Brian on September 10, 2017, 07:52:36 PM
roughly chronologically
Charles Chaplin
Preston Sturges
Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
Alfred Hitchcock
Good man! But you forgot Lubitsch in this early bunch, who is the greatest of all. But I rank Sturges first as a writer.
I would put Capra in for Ford btw, a controversial decision!
Quote from: Brian on September 11, 2017, 06:58:09 AM
Hard Eight
Boogie Nights
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
There Will Be Blood
The Master
Inherent Vice
I think that's his complete filmography. It is short, diverse, and great. Hard Eight is a casino story about a professional gambler learning his trade; Boogie Nights is a 3-hour epic set in the world of 70s adult films; Magnolia is an "everyone is connected" melodrama; Punch Drunk Love is a romantic comedy with Adam Sandler; There Will Be Blood is an American capitalist/western epic; The Master is another American capitalist/western epic but with religion instead of oil; Inherent Vice is a shaggy-dog it's-all-about-the-journey comedy about a stoned detective unearthing a conspiracy.
BN, TWBB, and TM are masterpieces; The Master is downright Kubrick-like. There is a new Paul Thomas Anderson film coming this Christmas with Daniel Day Lewis, supposedly his last role before retiring.
PTA is probably my favorite living director, and Boogie Nights, The Master, and Inherent Vice are some of my favorite recent movies. Lot of good stuff in the others, too, even Magnolia, which is overall a little bit too much.
Someone said that to be a Sondheim fan is to always have your heart broken. I feel that way about PTA. Watching Magnolia on first release I thought I was watching the best film since The Godfather, maybe since Vertigo. And then ... we'll, no spoilers but the film went splat. I have never seen a movie turn to shit so suddenly.
Nothing since then has been a complete success IMO, but most have bits of genius.
Quote from: 71 dB on September 11, 2017, 11:02:08 AM
That's a nice introduction, thanks! Magnolia is a film I know by name, but I don't think I have seen it. If I have seen it, it must have been forgettable.
One thing Magnolia is not is forgettable! I don't want to say more since I don't like spoilers, but you wouldn't forget Magnolia!
I will enthusiastically second Greg for Murnau, Todd for Malick (and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner), and alien for Herzog. Hitchcock, of course. No one has mentioned Bergman - if push came to shove likely my favorite all-time for conveying inner drama no one else has the wherewithal, much less courage, to confront (Haneke and Fassbinder being the only exceptions who come to mind). Jean Vigo, absolutely, for the genius, joie and spontaneity of his few films. Götz Spielmann, Dardenne Bros, Fritz Lang, René Clair, Marcel Carné, Éric Rohmer, Cocteau, Powell & Pressburger, Dreyer Agnès Varda, and Demy have created many more sublime cinematic moments for me than most of those listed in previous posts. Kurosawa and Ozu, natch. Carl Bessai in Canada (don't miss his Lola) doesn't get an even break here - American films and directors are, generally, way overrated, in my opinion; the natural concomitant of American socio-economic dominance. And our stock in actors continues to decline - one reason why the producers of the Wire brought in so much talent from overseas. See: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/05/us-rallies-to-stop-uk-taking-hollywood-by-storm
Fritz Lang Why? M, Metropolis
Merian Cooper - The Four Feathers, King Kong, (THE ORIGINAL and the BEST! 8) ) She, War Eagles
Victor Fleming - The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, A Guy Named Joe
Orson Welles - Citizen Kane, Lady from Shanghai, Magnificent Ambersons, Macbeth, Touch of Evil, Chimes at Midnight, The Trial
John Ford - They Were Expendable, The Quiet Man and some Westerns with John Wayne ;) 8)
Akira Kurosawa - Yojimbo, The Seven Samurai, Ran
Sergei Bondarchuk - War and Peace, Waterloo, Boris Godunov
Andrei Tarkovsky - Ivan's Childhood, Andrei Rublev, Stalker, Solaris
Werner Herzog - Jeder Fuer Sich und Gott Gegen Alle: Die Geschichte von Kaspar Hauser, Aguirre, Fitzcarraldo, Rescue Dawn, Grizzly Man
Clint Eastwood - High Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, American Sniper
Brian de Palma - Sisters, Phantom of the Paradise, Obsession, Carrie, The Fury, Scarface, The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible
Steven Spielberg - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Catch Me If You Can, Saving Private Ryan
David Lynch - Dune, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive
and yes....
Alfred Hitchcock - Oh come on! ;) YOU already know why! ;)
Quote from: Todd on September 10, 2017, 08:19:28 PM
Past Their Prime:
Francis Ford Coppola (70s stuff)
Martin Scorsese (through Goodfellas)
Steven Spielberg (solid through Raiders, and a few after)
Ridley Scott (for Alien and Blade Runner alone)
[...]
Outlier:
Terrence Malick (a visual and atmospheric genius, some of his films feel like random shots stitched together)
I agree with these assessments, although none of the directors named is a favorite of mine. Malick in particular is frustrating - visual poetry wasted on banal dialogue and voice-overs.
My personal faves list hasn't changed in several years:
Bergman
Tarkovsky
Buñuel
Kubrick
Kurosawa
Kieslowski
One level down from the top tier:
Altman
Dreyer
Herzog
Wenders
Chaplin
Welles
Fellini
Jarmusch
Antonioni
Parajanov
Now I'm gonna set the cat among the pigeons by stating how overrated I think Hitchcock is. I recently re-watched
Vertigo and
North by Northwest, and was struck by how visually crude and schematic (in a connect-the-dots sort of way) they were. Still, fairly enjoyable, with good scores by Bernard Herrmann.
Stanley Kubrick
Andrei Tarkovsky
Hayao Miyazaki
above all, possibly in that order.
Then, in no particular order, those whose films I remember most are:
Woody Allen
Coen Brothers
Quentin Tarantino
Brian De Palma
David Lynch
David Cronenberg
Stephen Frears
Danny Boyle
Luis Buñuel
Pedro Almodóvar
Jacques Tati
Patrice Leconte
Luchino Visconti
Federico Fellini
Nanni Moretti
Werner Herzog
Lars von Trier
Aki Kaurismäki
Krzysztof Kieślowski
Emir Kusturica
Radu Mihăileanu
Alexandr Sokurov
Zhang Yimou (not the recent movies...)
Yasujirō Ozu
Akira Kurosawa
Takeshi Kitano
Kim Ki-duk
Peter Weir
Should have included Powell and Pressburger and Chaplin myself.
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on September 13, 2017, 02:24:13 AM
Yet again I forgot another director :o : Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Ali: Angst essen Seele auf. :'( :'( :'(
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 11, 2017, 03:00:34 PM
Now I'm gonna set the cat among the pigeons by stating how overrated I think Hitchcock is. I recently re-watched Vertigo and North by Northwest, and was struck by how visually crude and schematic (in a connect-the-dots sort of way) they were. Still, fairly enjoyable, with good scores by Bernard Herrmann.
The most consistent visual crudity across his work has to be the inevitable process shots—car interiors with film playing in the windows. But, that was driven by his obsession with controlling lighting (an essentially
visual concern) and the philosophy that you don't put a star on the screen to look otherwise than good, very good. So, yeah, for instance, either one accepts that, or not.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 11, 2017, 03:00:34 PM
I agree with these assessments, although none of the directors named is a favorite of mine. Malick in particular is frustrating - visual poetry wasted on banal dialogue and voice-overs.
My personal faves list hasn't changed in several years:
Bergman
Tarkovsky
Buñuel
Kubrick
Kurosawa
Kieslowski
One level down from the top tier:
Altman
Dreyer
Herzog
Wenders
Chaplin
Welles
Fellini
Jarmusch
Antonioni
Parajanov
Now I'm gonna set the cat among the pigeons by stating how overrated I think Hitchcock is. I recently re-watched Vertigo and North by Northwest, and was struck by how visually crude and schematic (in a connect-the-dots sort of way) they were. Still, fairly enjoyable, with good scores by Bernard Herrmann.
I love that film. But Hitchcock gets overhyped sometimes, so I can understand the sentiment. But if we are going to talk about overrated, we can't fail to mention one of the worst directors in history who gets a pass from his fans at this site - David Lynch. What dreck - almost as bad as Tarantino sometimes is (another generally overrated Director). Reading all the adulation he gets on the other thread is difficult when you think he's not particularly talented and a one-trick pony (shock value anyone?).
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:21:21 AMReading all the adulation he gets on the other thread is difficult when you think he's not particularly talented and a one-trick pony (shock value anyone?).
While I'm far from the adulating type when it comes to Lynch, I'd argue he's a
very talented artist. What I like about him the most is the fact that there's a lot of humanity under all the shock & surreal stuff he does. Have you seen
The Elephant Man or
The Straight Story, by any chance? I perfectly understand that his more unhinged work isn't for everyone and might be perceived as you described, but I usually enjoy his unique combination of dream logic and pop sensibilities. Plus, he can be quite hitchcockian when he wants (and I mean that as a compliment :)).
You have to be pretty damn good to be consistently overrated like Lynch, Hitchcock and Tarantino.
Quote from: Rinaldo on September 13, 2017, 05:40:41 AM
While I'm far from the adulating type when it comes to Lynch, I'd argue he's a very talented artist. What I like about him the most is the fact that there's a lot of humanity under all the shock & surreal stuff he does. Have you seen The Elephant Man or The Straight Story, by any chance? I perfectly understand that his more unhinged work isn't for everyone and might be perceived as you described, but I usually enjoy his unique combination of dream logic and pop sensibilities. Plus, he can be quite hitchcockian when he wants (and I mean that as a compliment :)).
Elephant Man is the exception - the one move he made that is generally excellent. I'll give you that. But I feel no humanity in his later works. I never feel anything for his characters, in fact quite the opposite. I usually feel they get what they deserve and wish it would happen faster! I find one thing that works against him is that his characters make stupid decisions and thus I cannot suspend disbelief when that happens. Mulholland Drive comes to mind.
Quote from: drogulus on September 13, 2017, 05:44:20 AM
You have to be pretty damn good to be consistently overrated like Lynch, Hitchcock and Tarantino.
Or really good at hyping/marketing yourself...
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:45:39 AM
Elephant Man is the exception - the one move he made that is generally excellent. I'll give you that. But I feel no humanity in his later works. I never feel anything for his characters, in fact quite the opposite. I usually feel they get what they deserve and wish it would happen faster! I find one thing that works against him is that his characters make stupid decisions and thus I cannot suspend disbelief when that happens. Mulholland Drive comes to mind.
Then you need to see
The Straight Story, which is one of the most wonderful movies ever!
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:46:26 AM
Or really good at hyping/marketing yourself...
I don't think the desire to rewatch the films of these directors over decades comes down to hype and marketing. Further, these directors I named are influential among other filmmakers to a considerable degree. I don't know what all goes into artistic merit, but I'd be willing to bet a widespread desire to revisit the films over an extended period and influence on generations of filmmakers are big factors.
Quote from: drogulus on September 13, 2017, 06:22:46 AM
I don't think the desire to rewatch the films of these directors over decades comes down to hype and marketing. Further, these directors I named are influential among other filmmakers to a considerable degree. I don't know what all goes into artistic merit, but I'd be willing to bet a widespread desire to revisit the films over an extended period and influence on generations of filmmakers are big factors.
Most people don't re-watch Lynch movies. Most people don't know his movies. He's known for the tv show. Tarentino is certainly at a different level with movies like Pulp Fiction.
Quote from: Cato on September 13, 2017, 06:02:29 AM
Then you need to see The Straight Story, which is one of the most wonderful movies ever!
Note taken.
Quote from: Cato on September 13, 2017, 06:02:29 AM
Then you need to see The Straight Story, which is one of the most wonderful movies ever!
Yes! The ending, although understated, is extremely powerful. Farnsworth's acting is so natural it feels like a documentary at times.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on September 13, 2017, 07:32:59 AM
Yes! The ending, although understated, is extremely powerful. Farnsworth's acting is so natural it feels like a documentary at times.
And not just his performance, but the entire crew of character actors are excellent!
No particular order
Ingmar Bergman
Jean-Pierre Melville
Akira Kurosawa
Charles Chaplin
Alfred Hitchcock
Francis Ford Coppola
Wes Anderson
Coen brothers
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 06:41:15 AM
Most people don't re-watch Lynch movies. Most people don't know his movies. He's known for the tv show. Tarentino is certainly at a different level with movies like Pulp Fiction.
Tarantino is more popular than Lynch. I didn't think we were talking about that, I though we were talking about people who compile lists of their favorite film directors.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:45:39 AM
Mulholland Drive comes to mind.
Lynch's best movie imo.
People DO make stupid things in their lives, vote for Trump or something else...
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:21:21 AM
But if we are going to talk about overrated, we can't fail to mention one of the worst directors in history who gets a pass from his fans at this site - David Lynch. What dreck - almost as bad as Tarantino sometimes is (another generally overrated Director). Reading all the adulation he gets on the other thread is difficult when you think he's not particularly talented and a one-trick pony (shock value anyone?).
I'm not saying I fully agree but it's nice to see a response that isn't just pious obeisance.
I find Lynch dull. Tarantino I think really is talented. Some of his movies are excellent. But the one-trick-pony charge fits what's wrong with a lot of his stuff. Certainly he's nowhere on my list of favourites.
Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on September 13, 2017, 02:24:13 AM
Yet again I forgot another director :o : Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Another director I don't I seen anything by, but often talked about and mentioned online. How do you see Fassbinder movies? Where have you seen them and how did you get exposed to them (and found out you like them)? I mean, they show Transformers movies on TV, not some obscure art films by Fassbinder
What's so special about Fassbinder[?
Quote from: 71 dB on September 13, 2017, 09:42:52 AM
Another director I don't I seen anything by, but often talked about and mentioned online. How do you see Fassbinder movies? Where have you seen them and how did you get exposed to them (and found out you like them)? I mean, they show Transformers movies on TV, not some obscure art films by Fassbinder
I've seen at least 3 on the Finnish National Broadcasting Company's TV channels.
Quote from: Ken B on September 13, 2017, 09:33:32 AM
Certainly he's nowhere on my list of favourites.
Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.
While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular,
Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque
3 Women, and
Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time.
Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.
All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.
BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where
A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).
John Sayles (Lone Star and Limbo). I have no idea what he has been doing since then.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 13, 2017, 10:30:58 AM
While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque 3 Women, and Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time. Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.
All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.
BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).
The dogs kids love to bite!
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 13, 2017, 10:30:58 AM
While Altman made a lot of films that were forgettable or just not very good, I rank him highly, partly because of his mastery of the "ensemble film" genre (which I think he more or less created), partly because some of his "non-ensemble" films are so good. In particular, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the mysterious and Bergmanesque 3 Women, and Short Cuts are among the best American films of their time. Short Cuts is particularly fascinating as an experiment in literary adaptation, especially if you know the Raymond Carver stories it's based on.
All of these films have enough layers to keep you busy with multiple viewings.
BTW, I live a few blocks from the estate where A Wedding (one of his not so good films) was shot. It's one of the old Armour family estates (of hot dog fame).
My favorite among them is
The Long Goodbye.
Quote from: Ken B on September 13, 2017, 09:33:32 AM
I'm not saying I fully agree but it's nice to see a response that isn't just pious obeisance.
I find Lynch dull. Tarantino I think really is talented. Some of his movies are excellent. But the one-trick-pony charge fits what's wrong with a lot of his stuff. Certainly he's nowhere on my list of favourites.
Neither is Altman for example, but Gosford Park is one of my favourite movies.
That one is masterful. And I love the music choices as well.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 13, 2017, 05:13:48 PM
That one is masterful. And I love the music choices as well.
Indeed. My favourite scene is the servants listening at the door while Novello performs. Magical.
Quote from: North Star on September 13, 2017, 09:46:30 AM
I've seen at least 3 on the Finnish National Broadcasting Company's TV channels.
I'm pretty lazy at monitoring which movies are shown and when so I miss a lot. Yle combined Teema and Fem so even less art movies on telly... ...TV is all sport and reality garbage these days ::)
Quote from: 71 dB on September 14, 2017, 05:25:49 AM
I'm pretty lazy at monitoring which movies are shown and when so I miss a lot. Yle combined Teema and Fem so even less art movies on telly... ...TV is all sport and reality garbage these days ::)
I know how you feel. Yle Teema's coming (and gone) movies are easily seen here (https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2017/08/19/teeman-syksyn-2017-elokuvat), though.
Bergman's Autumn Sonata was shown last Saturday, and tonight you can watch Kubrick's 'The Killing'.
Later this year there are movies by Zvjagintsev (Leviathan), Kubrick (Patsh of Glory, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey), Ford (The Searchers), Vidor (Gilda), Lang (Dr Mabuse, M), Tati, Lumet (Serpico), Fassbiner (The Marriage of Maria Braun), Melville (Le samourai), Eisenstein (October), Dardennes, (Deux jours une nuit), de Sica (La ciociara), Antonioni (L'avventura), Fellini (8½), Pasolini (Il vangelo secondo Matteo), McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Almodovar (Julieta), and others...
I don't watch films very often these days. I find my interests come and go in phases, some months I do nothing (with my spare time) but read novels, others nothing but watch films, others nothing but listen to music. The past year hasn't been much of a film season for me, I've watched some stuff with friends, but mostly crap to riff on MST3k style, and I'm not particularly enthusiastic about cinema right now, but here are some directors off the top of my head whose films have stuck with me over the years, with particular favourites noted.
David Lynch - Wild at Heart / Lost Highway / Blue Velvet / Inland Empire / Mulholland Drive / Twin Peaks (as a whole)
Stanley Kubrick - 2001 / Barry Lyndon / The Shining / Full Metal Jacket / Eyes Wide Shut
Apichatpong Weerasethakul - Syndromes and a Century
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood / The Master / Inherent Vice
Wong Kar-Wai - Chungking Express / In the Mood for Love / 2046
Hou Hsiao-Hsien - Café Lumière / first and third sections of Three Times
Edward Yang - Yi Yi
Akira Kurosawa - Yojimbo / Rashomon / Kagemusha / Throne of Blood
Kenji Mizoguchi - Ugetsu
Terry Gilliam - Brazil / 12 Monkeys / Tideland / The Zero Theorem
Tsai Ming-Liang - Rebels of the Neon God
Ingmar Bergman - Wild Strawberries / The Virgin Spring
Ethan and Joel Coen - Barton Fink / A Serious Man / Raising Arizona
Sion Sono - Love Exposure
Masaki Kobayashi - Harakiri / Kwaidan
Mike Leigh - Naked
Not the most impressive or geographically varied list, but it's somethin'.
Quote from: Crudblud on September 14, 2017, 05:48:29 AM
Stanley Kubrick - 2001 / Barry Lyndon / The Shining / Full Metal Jacket / Eyes Wide Shut
Thank you for noting these as particular favorites. On Facebook t'other day when I posted a Spielberg remark defying anyone, once they've started to watch a
Kubrick film, to push the Stop button . . . quite a few comments countered with at least three of your (and my) favorites.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 14, 2017, 08:26:20 AM
Thank you for noting these as particular favorites. On Facebook t'other day when I posted a Spielberg remark defying anyone, once they've started to watch a Kubrick film, to push the Stop button . . . quite a few comments countered with at least three of your (and my) favorites.
I mean, I can definitely understand being impatient with some Kubrick films, but I think once you get a handle on the deliberate pacing the atmosphere and visuals will carry you along for even three hours if necessary. For all his supposed austerity there's a real emotional core in a lot of his work that I think people tend to miss for whatever reason, a sense of slowness may be one of those reasons.
Quote from: Crudblud on September 14, 2017, 08:35:58 AM
I mean, I can definitely understand being impatient with some Kubrick films, but I think once you get a handle on the deliberate pacing the atmosphere and visuals will carry you along for even three hours if necessary. For all his supposed austerity there's a real emotional core in a lot of his work that I think people tend to miss for whatever reason, a sense of slowness may be one of those reasons.
A number of scenes in this or that movie, it is certainly a scene which probably any other director in the world would shoot shorter, would excise pauses, might even slash away dialogue: the scene where the team are awhile, getting out there to pull Cowboy (was it?) away to safety (and too late); the scene where the Harfords get high and have an "are we arguing?" kind of conversation between two people getting high; even the duologue in the washroom between Jack and Grady. Heck, the opening refueling footage in
Dr Strangelove. But I feel very much that this
just-shy-taffy-pulling scale for these scenes is one of his trademark successes.
Quote from: North Star on September 14, 2017, 05:46:45 AM
I know how you feel. Yle Teema's coming (and gone) movies are easily seen here (https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2017/08/19/teeman-syksyn-2017-elokuvat), though.
Bergman's Autumn Sonata was shown last Saturday, and tonight you can watch Kubrick's 'The Killing'.
Later this year there are movies by Zvjagintsev (Leviathan), Kubrick (Patsh of Glory, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey), Ford (The Searchers), Vidor (Gilda), Lang (Dr Mabuse, M), Tati, Lumet (Serpico), Fassbiner (The Marriage of Maria Braun), Melville (Le samourai), Eisenstein (October), Dardennes, (Deux jours une nuit), de Sica (La ciociara), Antonioni (L'avventura), Fellini (8½), Pasolini (Il vangelo secondo Matteo), McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Almodovar (Julieta), and others...
Thanks! Will watch the Kubrick, althou I don't like everything Kubrick that much (2001, Shining and Eyes Wide Shut are my favorites by him).
0:)
71 dB, who are some great Finnish directors? Aside from this guy! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088003/)
Quote from: Brian on September 14, 2017, 10:17:07 AM
71 dB, who are some great Finnish directors? Aside from this guy! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088003/)
A few names: Renny Harlin, Matti Kassila, Aki & Mika Kaurismäki, Edvin Laine, Aarne Tarkas.
Kubrick's
The Killing was ok, but nothing special.
Quote from: Brian on September 14, 2017, 10:17:07 AM
71 dB, who are some great Finnish directors? Aside from this guy! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2088003/)
I don't think there are great Finnish directors. ;D Renny Harlin went the same school (not the same time, he is older I am).
Quote from: North Star on September 14, 2017, 10:32:25 AM
A few names: Renny Harlin, Matti Kassila, Aki & Mika Kaurismäki, Edvin Laine, Aarne Tarkas.
I've seen several of Aki Kaurismäki's movies (specifically
Ariel, Leningrad Cowboys Go America, The Man without a Past, and
Vie de Boheme). I liked or loved all of them.
I don't think he's a
great director (and who cares, really?). But he's an enjoyable, quirky director who does things his own way, similar to his friend Jim Jarmusch.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 14, 2017, 01:16:02 PM
I've seen several of Aki Kaurismäki's movies (specifically Ariel, Leningrad Cowboys Go America, The Man without a Past, and Vie de Boheme). I liked or loved all of them.
I don't think he's a great director (and who cares, really?). But he's an enjoyable, quirky director who does things his own way, similar to his friend Jim Jarmusch.
Yeah, I don't think there is a truly 'great' Finnish director. Or they're all busy directing orchestras..
Quote from: 71 dB on September 14, 2017, 11:32:55 AM
Kubrick's The Killing was ok, but nothing special.
That is probably fair, on the whole.
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on September 14, 2017, 04:01:30 PM
Anyone here like Harmony Korine's films? ;D
Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy and Spring Breakers are unsettling films you'll never forget, actually it's impossible to forget a korine film when you've seen it :laugh:
One of my favorite film critics, Mike D'Angelo, went to film school with Harmony Korine and once said (in the comments here (https://thedissolve.com/reviews/1152-birdman/)):
"I don't really have any good Harmony stories, sorry. We didn't hang out or anything. He was just the kid in my screenwriting class who would show up with pages that began "IRIS IN: On the anus of a goat." Same attention-getting, pseudo-provocative nonsense he's still doing today."
Well I have no goat-anus guys on my list. Mine is pretty conventional, and I would say someone cannot be a favorite on the basis of one or two movies, it takes more.
Lubitsch
Sturges
Hitchcock
Kurosawa
Hawks
Wilder
Huston
Coppola *
* with qualms
Like Brian's list: mostly guys with their hands on the script, what the Cahiers (mistakenly) called the auteurs.
(I think conventional wisdom a few decades ago was Hitch, Kurosawa, Bergman, Lubitsch, Ford.)
(http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bz-XNXMCQAAswW8.jpg)
(http://cdn2.natalie.mu/media/eiga/1511/1130/movie_historical_masterpiece/extra/news_header_top_movie_historical_masterpiece_20151219_12.jpg)
(http://img.picturequotes.com/2/247/246607/you-must-put-the-odor-of-the-human-body-into-images-describe-for-me-the-implacable-the-egoistic-the-quote-1.jpg)
(http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/blog_post/primary_image/scanners/sansho-the-bailiff/primary_EB19530101EDITOR40827002AR.jpg)
(https://andrewsidea.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/sansho13.png)
(http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-i-can-make-fried-tofu-boiled-tofu-stuffed-tofu-cutlets-and-other-fancy-stuff-that-s-yasujiro-ozu-65-95-86.jpg)
(http://www.a2pcinema.com/ozu-san/films/captures/latespring/9.jpg)
(https://s4.scoopwhoop.com/anj/ray/290810216.png)
(http://rarefilm.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Charulata-Satyajit-Ray-1964-3.jpg)
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/3e/3c/50/3e3c5004232ad8798e8d9eaf33ae3b98.jpg)
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/15/4b/f6/154bf6c5276babbd39a3794c9df46eef--unknown-pleasures-cinematography.jpg)
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/dc/28/45/dc2845bc3d0a6ef6b1cfa783f5539982.jpg)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZgiDSswlM8/Vz08xDRU0FI/AAAAAAAAG_k/yh4VDnYHYV082WcB0yWyzFUB9lixlj1JwCLcB/s1600/Ordet%2B18.jpg)
(http://www.visualyarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Michael-Haneke-Quote.png)
(http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-23020-860_poster_16x9-abcd-23020.jpg)
(https://quotefancy.com/media/wallpaper/3840x2160/2303183-Ingmar-Bergman-Quote-I-make-all-my-decisions-on-intuition-But-then.jpg)
(http://www.dvdclassik.com/upload/images/critique-la-nuit-des-forains-bergman23.jpg)
Quote from: Ken B on September 15, 2017, 10:30:50 AM
Hawks
Wilder
Oh, dang, these are great picks. About Hawks - I recently saw "Only Angels Have Wings" - largely very good (with some fun cameos, great to see Jim Rockford's dad as a kid) but a little soapy with the love story. The same critic I just quoted about goat anii also wrote this, which is too hyperbolish (to me the romance feels like it walked in from a different script) but a worthy read:
https://film.avclub.com/could-only-angels-have-wings-be-the-greatest-hollywood-1798187308
Quote from: Ken B on September 15, 2017, 10:30:50 AM
Coppola *
* with qualms
I got some qualms too (assuming you mean FF and not his offspring), but
The Conversation is one of the most perfect movies I've ever seen.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 15, 2017, 01:09:40 PM
I got some qualms too (assuming you mean FF and not his offspring), but The Conversation is one of the most perfect movies I've ever seen.
I approve of this post!
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 15, 2017, 01:09:40 PM
I got some qualms too (assuming you mean FF and not his offspring), but The Conversation is one of the most perfect movies I've ever seen.
Yes. It's his best. Best of the era probably, with Chinatown.
http://www.theonion.com/video/denmark-introduces-harrowing-new-tourism-ads-direc-14403 (http://www.theonion.com/video/denmark-introduces-harrowing-new-tourism-ads-direc-14403)
Seems the right thread for this. http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/245953/this-anti-semitic-bbc-interview-perfectly-illustrates-britains-left-wing-anti-semitism-problem (http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/245953/this-anti-semitic-bbc-interview-perfectly-illustrates-britains-left-wing-anti-semitism-problem)
Oddly enough, it looks like nobody in this thread ever mentioned Ken Loach. I had to watch The Wind That Shakes the Barley for school, but that's all I know of him.
Loach isn't very well known outside the UK, except to film buffs I guess. His stuff regularly plays at Cannes, and he has won the Palme d'or twice, but he definitely isn't a household name. He tends to do "kitchen sink" realist stuff about working class British life, and in general has a very left wing perspective which he has no qualms about expressing strongly in his work, some of it can be quite divisive for that reason. He had a big boost in popularity with I, Daniel Blake last year, but I think his most famous film, at least here in Yorkshire, will always be Kes.
Quote from: André on September 15, 2017, 11:57:55 AM
Yes, as Andre: Renoir, Bresson, Ray, Ozu, Hawkes, Wilder...I've always loved Eric Rohmer...Linklater has made some good films, especially Boyhood and Dazed and Confused...the Coen Brothers...I used to like Mike Leigh but it's been a while...Woody Allen made four or five good films...Errol Morris...Joel DeMott and Jeff Kreines...
Ken Russell used to be really big 40+ years ago: any interest in his efforts?
Quote from: Crudblud on September 28, 2017, 03:53:49 AM
Loach isn't very well known outside the UK, except to film buffs I guess. His stuff regularly plays at Cannes, and he has won the Palme d'or twice, but he definitely isn't a household name. He tends to do "kitchen sink" realist stuff about working class British life, and in general has a very left wing perspective which he has no qualms about expressing strongly in his work, some of it can be quite divisive for that reason. He had a big boost in popularity with I, Daniel Blake last year, but I think his most famous film, at least here in Yorkshire, will always be Kes.
I don't think I've ever seen a Loach film. I tend to confuse him with Mike Leigh, who has a similar approach.
I remember that one of Loach's films was released in the US with subtitles, because its working-class English characters spoke a dialect incomprehensible to Americans.
From
Kieslowski on Kieslowski, a book of interviews published by Faber & Faber:
"I always said that I never wanted to be anyone's assistant but if, for example, Ken Loach were to ask me, then I'd willingly make him coffee. I saw
Kes at film school and I knew then that I'd willingly make coffee for him...I'd just make coffee so I could see how he does it all. The same applies to Orson Welles, or Fellini, and sometimes Bergman."