Today...who is the best director?

[Pablo Parker]

I think no one mentioned Roman Polanski...
Shame on you, guys!

 

[Mister H.]

Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood, David Lynch and Roman Polanski are still making films and some of you guys are throwing out names like Neil Blomkampt and Guillermo Del Toro?

Not trying to disrepect other opinions, but jeez... It's bad enough to see James Cameron and Christoher Nolan mentioned before those guys, and they have actually made more than one brilliant film. For me, the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and Darren Aronofsky would rank well ahead of Cameron and Nolan as well, as they have a more diverse portfolio and make films that are more poetic, more artistic.

Until Coppola dies, he's the greatest director on the planet. After all, he is responsible for The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now. Just think about that. I think you could literally put all four of those films in a top 10 all time list and feel confident that nobody could gripe. And he made those four films right in a row, in just over a decade. He and Kubrick were the Michelangelo and DaVinci of film.

 

[spider-neil]

Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood, David Lynch and Roman Polanski are still making films and some of you guys are throwing out names like Neil Blomkampt and Guillermo Del Toro?

Not trying to disrepect other opinions, but jeez... It's bad enough to see James Cameron and Christoher Nolan mentioned before those guys, and they have actually made more than one brilliant film. For me, the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and Darren Aronofsky would rank well ahead of Cameron and Nolan as well, as they have a more diverse portfolio and make films that are more poetic, more artistic.

Until Coppola dies, he's the greatest director on the planet. After all, he is responsible for The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now.

its all about opinion. someone who's favorite genre is sci-fi is hardly going to pick Scorcese, are they? some people hate the gangster, war, genres, or they may not like obscure, abstract or esoteric movies.

as an example I saw dracula by Scorcese and thought it was utter (UTTER!) rubbish, I saw the fountain by Aronofsky which I thought was utter rubbish. so again, it all comes down to opinion to to who is the top director around today.

 

[terry78]

its all about opinion. someone who's favorite genre is sci-fi is hardly going to pick Scorcese, are they? some people hate the gangster, war, genres, or they may not like obscure, abstract or esoteric movies.

as an example I saw dracula by Scorcese and thought it was utter (UTTER!) rubbish, I saw the fountain by Aronofsky which I thought was utter rubbish. so again, it all comes down to opinion to to who is the top director around today.

Scorsese did Dracula?

 

[spider-neil]

Scorsese did Dracula?

coppola, but the point still stands.

 

[spider-neil]

for the record my favorite genre is sci-fi so all my favorite directors are sci-fi directors. I can 'apprechate' the craft of other genres can can watch movies like absolutely FLOOR me (shawshank redemption for example) but sci-fi is my first, great love and my favorite directors reflect that

cameron
ridley scott
paul verhoeven

and so on

 

[Laderlappen]

Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood, David Lynch and Roman Polanski are still making films and some of you guys are throwing out names like Neil Blomkampt and Guillermo Del Toro?

Not trying to disrepect other opinions, but jeez... It's bad enough to see James Cameron and Christoher Nolan mentioned before those guys, and they have actually made more than one brilliant film. For me, the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and Darren Aronofsky would rank well ahead of Cameron and Nolan as well, as they have a more diverse portfolio and make films that are more poetic, more artistic.

Until Coppola dies, he's the greatest director on the planet. After all, he is responsible for The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now. Just think about that. I think you could literally put all four of those films in a top 10 all time list and feel confident that nobody could gripe. And he made those four films right in a row, in just over a decade. He and Kubrick were the Michelangelo and DaVinci of film.

Its best director now, not best director alive. There is a difference.

 

[spider-neil]

Its best director now, not best director alive. There is a difference.

same thing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Laderlappen]

obviously 'now' and 'alive' have two different meanings.

 

[spider-neil]

obviously 'now' and 'alive' have two different meanings.

ha ha okay, fair point

 

[CBGB]

Man, just because SOME films work great with long running times doesn't mean other do as well. King Kong was one of those films, where the added running time did very little but fatigue many viewers, as opposed to Seven Samurai for instance which used its longer time well Kong didn't need, and shouldn't have had, it.

To each his own. I loved King Kong.

 

[Mister H.]

Its best director now, not best director alive. There is a difference.

All the directors I listed are still making movies...quality ones. So I'm not getting your point. Are you basically saying my post was irrelevant because I spent the last paragraph praising Coppola's career? Because that is really the only time I spent dwelling on the past. That's the only thing I can figure out when reading your nonsensical response to my post. That you are somehow downplaying Coppola's relevance as he may not have made a great movie in the last couple of decades. Well, neither has James Cameron my friend, and his best film would still tremble in the presence of Coppola's masterpieces, so strike him from the conversation immdiately.

Last I checked Scorcese, Eastwood, Lynch, Polanski, and Coppola are still, in fact, active and making solid films.

Just because Incpetion may or may not be better than Coppola's most recent work or Scorcese's Shutter Island doesn't mean Chris Nolan is the best director right now. He's too Hollywood and is a bit of a sloppy director. His films lack focus and he's yet to film an interesting female (although Cotillard did her best). Don't get me wrong, I admire Nolan a great deal, and I love that he has invited the brain back to big-budget entertainment, but I don't think he has made a true masterpiece yet.

James Cameron has made two great films in his 30 year career, so I hardly think he should be in the conversation.

District 9 was a solid sci-fi film. Don't see how that merits any support for Blompkamp. I can't stand Del Toro, as he is as one-dimensional as Tim Burton and has never made anything more than a mediocre film.

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy is one of the finer achievements in cinematic history, but nothing else Jackson has done has remotely impressed me, therefore I can't seriously consider him in the mix.

Of course Spielberg should get serious consideration, but he's almost too prolific and (I know it sounds silly) I've just grown a bit tired of him.

Innaritu, Cuaron, and Amaldovar should get some love, so those suggestions aren't quite as irritating.

 

[Harry_Lime02]

If Nolan has another 20 years in him of films consistently of this calibre, I'll be one happy guy.

 

[Mister H.]

its all about opinion. someone who's favorite genre is sci-fi is hardly going to pick Scorcese, are they? some people hate the gangster, war, genres, or they may not like obscure, abstract or esoteric movies.

as an example I saw dracula by Scorcese and thought it was utter (UTTER!) rubbish, I saw the fountain by Aronofsky which I thought was utter rubbish. so again, it all comes down to opinion to to who is the top director around today.

These kinds of posts annoy me. I don't know why it is hard for someone to recognize the greatness of a director, regardless of their favorite genre. You love sci-fi, great. But you honestly can't see how Scorsese is a better director than Ridley Scott or Paul Verhoeven? Seriously?

I disagree about Dracula and The Fountain too, although most would take your side in that argument. They are both visual feasts and although they may have their weaknesses, I still think they are better films than Pan's Labyrinth. After the six months of hype I heard about that film, I must say, I was truly disappointed.

 

[Brother Jack]

Its best director now, not best director alive. There is a difference.

Indeed. Coppola may have made some of the greatest films ever made, and nothing can change that, but lets face it he hasn't done anything really note-worthy in a while. Same with Lucas and to a certain extent Spielberg (though he's the best out of the bunch).

 

[Octoberist]

This sounds cheesy because his movie just came out, but I think Edgar Wright should be mentioned because he can handle action, comedy, and even drama (Shaun) with such style where it doesn't seem contrived or pretentious. Everything that he does feels effortlessly and I can't image how he does it, especially his comedic timing.

Now, with him and even Nolan, these guys have barely made their mark (they both in their 30s still) and they will continue on making great films to come.

 

[spider-neil]

These kinds of posts annoy me. I don't know why it is hard for someone to recognize the greatness of a director, regardless of their favorite genre. You love sci-fi, great. But you honestly can't see how Scorsese is a better director than Ridley Scott or Paul Verhoeven? Seriously?

I disagree about Dracula and The Fountain too, although most would take your side in that argument. They are both visual feasts and although they may have their weaknesses, I still think they are better films than Pan's Labyrinth. After the six months of hype I heard about that film, I must say, I was truly disappointed.

I can appreciate a good movie, cinematography, dialogue etc but if I'm not really into the genre I'm not going to 'love' that movie as I would love a movie from my favorite genre. so, whilst I appreciate the godfather is an amazing movie it will never impact me the way alien, termintor, blade runner etc has. that's why coppela or scorsese will never be the best ever director imho. I think the only director that for me transends genres is hitchcock, its a pity he never made a sci-fi movie.

 

[Laderlappen]

All the directors I listed are still making movies...quality ones. So I'm not getting your point. Are you basically saying my post was irrelevant because I spent the last paragraph praising Coppola's career? Because that is really the only time I spent dwelling on the past. That's the only thing I can figure out when reading your nonsensical response to my post. That you are somehow downplaying Coppola's relevance as he may not have made a great movie in the last couple of decades. Well, neither has James Cameron my friend, and his best film would still tremble in the presence of Coppola's masterpieces, so strike him from the conversation immdiately.

Last I checked Scorcese, Eastwood, Lynch, Polanski, and Coppola are still, in fact, active and making solid films.

Just because Incpetion may or may not be better than Coppola's most recent work or Scorcese's Shutter Island doesn't mean Chris Nolan is the best director right now. He's too Hollywood and is a bit of a sloppy director. His films lack focus and he's yet to film an interesting female (although Cotillard did her best). Don't get me wrong, I admire Nolan a great deal, and I love that he has invited the brain back to big-budget entertainment, but I don't think he has made a true masterpiece yet.

James Cameron has made two great films in his 30 year career, so I hardly think he should be in the conversation.

District 9 was a solid sci-fi film. Don't see how that merits any support for Blompkamp. I can't stand Del Toro, as he is as one-dimensional as Tim Burton and has never made anything more than a mediocre film.

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy is one of the finer achievements in cinematic history, but nothing else Jackson has done has remotely impressed me, therefore I can't seriously consider him in the mix.

Of course Spielberg should get serious consideration, but he's almost too prolific and (I know it sounds silly) I've just grown a bit tired of him.

Innaritu, Cuaron, and Amaldovar should get some love, so those suggestions aren't quite as irritating.

You dont have to be so damn defensive. Offending you was not what I was trying to do. Based on your post it was obvious you missunderstood the topic. Nothing wrong with that. Many of your choices havent done many movies the last few years and you talked about Coppola's movies from the 70's. I mean based on the films Coppola has made lately, you cant really chose him as the no1 director in the world now. His daughter is a better director now.

 

[Laderlappen]

I can appreciate a good movie, cinematography, dialogue etc but if I'm not really into the genre I'm not going to 'love' that movie as I would love a movie from my favorite genre. so, whilst I appreciate the godfather is an amazing movie it will never impact me the way alien, termintor, blade runner etc has. that's why coppela or scorsese will never be the best ever director imho. I think the only director that for me transends genres is hitchcock, its a pity he never made a sci-fi movie.

Its a pity you have a limited taste in genres. You dont know what you're missing out.

 

[Juggernaut33]

Best working director today?

Paul Thomas Anderson.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

For me, it's Joss Whedon... he's the only director I can think of who has never ever let me down.

Other ones I like, always have one bad thing they have made.

1. Richard Kelly - Donnie Darko/The Box and wrote the script for Domino... but I found southland tales dull

2. J J Abrhams - Lost, Alias, Star Trek... but he wrote that awful superman script

3. Christopher Nolan - The Prestige/Batman Begins/TDK... but i've not been all that compelled by his other stuff (might change after I finally get around to seeing Inception).

But with Joss, everything he touches turns out well.

 

[lime]

I see names like Spielberg, De Palma, and Coppola, but they are not the best..today. They where in the 80's and 90's, but the thread is talking about today's (new) directors. The best for me are: P.T.Anderson, Cristopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro (only for Fentasy/horror genre), J.J Abrams (only for Sci Fi genre), Peter Jackson, and more...

 

[spider-neil]

Its a pity you have a limited taste in genres. You dont know what you're missing out.

I watch other genres for the record but I'm just not into war or gangster movies

 

[The Joker]

Christopher Nolan.

 

[Mister H.]

You dont have to be so damn defensive. Offending you was not what I was trying to do. Based on your post it was obvious you missunderstood the topic. Nothing wrong with that. Many of your choices havent done many movies the last few years and you talked about Coppola's movies from the 70's. I mean based on the films Coppola has made lately, you cant really chose him as the no1 director in the world now. His daughter is a better director now.

Backing up my reasoning isn't being defensive. I called your response nonsensical because I believe it was. It was meant to elicit a response and was put in such a way that it was discrediting my entire post because you had a problem with my spending the last paragraph praising Coppola. Sorry I felt it necessary to give props to one of the three greatest filmmakers to ever walk the surface of earth. I figure many of these posters had never heard of the guy, so just wanted to throw his name in the ring.

Please enlighten me on what I misunderstood. There's not a single director I mentioned that hasn't put out a film in the last three years, so I really have no idea where you are coming from. Are you saying that if a director hasn't put out a work in the last year he isn't eligible for the discussion?

Coppola's daughter is a better director now, huh? When did Lost In Translation come out? 2003? 2004? By your logic, she's not eligible for this conversation either.

Again, you keep bringing up this Coppola thing. Any comments on the dozen or so other directors I mentioned that consistently put out better work than Cameron, Nolan, Del Toro, Ron Howard, Peter Jackson, the Wachowskis, Zack Snyder, Neil Blomkamp, etc., etc.?

No comments on Eastwood, Lynch, Scorcese, Lynch, Polanski, the Coens, Tarantino, Cuaron, Innaritu?

By the way, I agree with your Ang Lee suggestion. Great filmmaker and can't believe I omitted him earlier.