Top Ten Working American Directors
A list of ten just isn't enough...
A list like this is tricky to the point of madness. However, I'm going to save you the trouble by saying it right here, right now: Most of the choices on this list are obvious. There's a reason why certain names continually pop up whenever conversation drifts toward great American films. So there. I said it.
Yet, how do you weigh the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, a genius who delivered some of the all-time greatest films, but fizzled out 25 or so years ago, against a filmmaker like Woody Allen who has worked consistently for decades churning out both brilliant gems and disposable time wasters? How do you compare either of these directors against an auteur such as Spike Jonze who has only opened two films so far, but both are masterpieces?
In the end I just went with my gut. I knew there were some I couldn't leave off and a few I shouldn't have left off, but did simply out of my personal taste (sorry Gus Van Sant). And really, after the number one and two spots the ranking was almost arbitrary.
In case you're curious how we came up with some of the names below (or more importantly why you may believe so many are missing), you should know we set up some strict rules.
- Possible candidates must be natural citizens of the United States (sorry David Cronenberg, James Cameron, and Guillermo del Toro, jingoism won out today).
- The directors must still be active in filmmaking.
- A beating heart is required (sorry Robert Altman).
Yet, even after we put those parameters in place there are too many brilliant American directors left off this list or the honorable mentions (that's where your opinions come in to play my dear readers).
Some of the above filmmakers still have several masterpieces in front of them while others are past their primes. A few should just make more films (yeah, I'm talking to you Malick). However, they're just names cobbled together from my huge, original list. I could have named many more (can you believe it?), but why should I have all the fun?
So those are a few names to chew on for the time being, but let's get to the list for now as I have plenty more for you to consider come the conclusion…
 | Steven Soderbergh |
 |  |
| Occasionally, Steven Soderbergh fails. Some see this as a demerit. Fair enough. But his failures are almost always fascinating ones. I'll take The Girlfriend Experience any day of the week over Stephen Sommer's best film. Like a true artist, the man isn't afraid to take risks, whether it's making a 4-hour marathon about Che Guevara or delivering an arty, European-flavored sequel within his "safe" Ocean's 11 franchise. He's one of the great cinematic experimenters of our time. Yet, unlike most envelope-pushing filmmakers, Soderbergh can often reel in major actors and studio financing. But even with that kind of pull, he still directs small, barely seen moves starring amateur actors just to explore and fine-tune his craft. The Best: Out of Sight; The Limey; Ocean's 11 The Undervalued: Solaris The Worst: Full Frontal | |
 |
 | Clint Eastwood |
 | |
| When Clint Eastwood dies, will obits emphasize his acting or filmmaking? Who knows? He's an icon in both roles, and Eastwood's filmmaking style mirrors the no bullshit, steely persona he forged over the decades. There's a simple elegance to Eastwood's best films. Nothing flashy or overwrought, just good, efficient craftsmanship that regularly pays off in emotional potency. The Best: Unforgiven The Undervalued: A Perfect World; Space Cowboys The Worst: Changeling | |
|
 | David Fincher |
 | |
| Many people admire David Fincher as a stylist. There is no question the grit-soaked veneer and uninhibited camera/visual-effect movements of Fincher's films influenced countless movies over the last 15 years. Yet, stylists come and go. Fincher remains, and his style has evolved far past '90s' grunge. Unlike most stylists who rely solely on visual panache to carry their films, Fincher imbues his movies with a sense of unwavering confidence, fierce intelligence, and subversive undercurrents. In many ways, he is the closest thing we have to Stanley Kubrick these days. The Best: Zodiac The Undervalued: The Game The Worst: Alien 3 | |
|
Links from Other Sites You May Like
Showing 98 Comments
~ PLEASE NOTE ~
If, in any way, your comment is an attack on the author of this post or a previous commenter, your comment will be deleted without question.
Add a New Comment |
Click to Read Our Commenting Rules & Guidelines
I give you so much credit for being able to make a list like this. Though I may disagree with some of the films you consider their best or worst, all of these directors belong on this list, or at least up there.
The biggest name I see missing, at least from an honorable mention, is Bryan Singer. With the exception of Superman Returns, all of his major films are top notch. I just finished watching The Usual Suspects, which has one of the greatest twists in movie history. Also, I do love all of Jason Reitman's stuff so far, and am expecting to love Up in the Air. Still, he has a few more films before he proves to be in the top echelon. I also love Kathryn Bigelow's recent work on The Hurt Locker, in addition to stuff like Point Break. David Mamet has always struck me as a brilliant filmmaker as well, and I love the way he films his movies with a style that is powerfully understated.
RIDLEY SCOTT & RON HOWARD not on the list???!!! Why am I even dignifying "this" forum with a reply? Nuff said.
Addendum: Ok…Ridley is a Brit.
The only problem I have is the definition of this list. Are we talking about film makers making a splash today or are we talking about the history of all film makers alive today? When I read the caption I understood it as the former, but you write about it as the latter. Taking the former definiton I agree with putting Spielberg at the top of the heap; certainly not in the latter. Spielberg no longer exhilerates us, he´s a granddaddy with a gray beard, understand? Gone is the real fire which characterizes young studs of each generation.
Here's one that would probably be on my top ten that I didn't see in your honorable mentions: Jim Jarmusch. He's one of our great auteurs, he's an important figure in independent film, his movies are both consistently entertaining and rich in substance, and his hair is a thing of wonder.
Huge fan of QT here, so I'm willing to put him above everybody else. He delivered every single time (and Pulp Fiction is by far my favourite film of all time), can get a fantastic performance out of ANY actor, has no rivals in writing great dialogue, can build some fantastic tension, choose some perfectly fitting music and as you said, is a great action director. And I disagree with everybody who says his work isn't deep and it's all just style-over-substance – all his films except KB1 and Death Proof were much deeper than they possibly appear to be.
Spielberg would be the second, for all the reasons that you've listed, and then some. The Lost World, War of the Worlds, Hook and Indy IV may have been a misfires, but Schindler's List and Private Ryan is some of the best cinema ever, Jaws has some great terror, and the Indy trilogy along with Jurassic Park are the definition of what a fun summer blockbuster should be like. The man is a living legend and over the years has put out some of the best films of their respective genres, and I'd go as far as say he's one of the finest directors of all time.
Finally, the third place in my list would unsurprisingly go to Martin Scorsese. He's had several misfires too (and I'm not saying crushing disappointments, there are none, just… somewhat unsatisfactory), but when the man got such brilliant films as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed in his resume, I can forgive him absolutely anything. At the end of the day he's a fantastic filmmaker and storyteller, and Goodfellas in my opinion has the best directing job ever. I absolutely can't wait for Shutter Island.
Here I think it's time for me to stop throwing long paragraphs around, but no way I submit this comment without mentioning:
The Coen Brothers
Paul Thomas Anderson
Darren Aronofsky
Bryan Singer
David Fincher
as some of the best living American directors. I'd love to mention Peter Jackson and Chris Nolan too, but they are from New Zealand and UK respectively, so… that's it.
The Color of Money is at least watchable and entertaining but clearly Martin Scorsese's worst movie is Kundun.
Solid list, but where is Christopher Nolan? He should at least be in the honorable mention. He hasn't made a bad film yet and he's responsible for arguably the greatest blockbuster of all-time.
Dude, Chris Nolan is British.
@Danny K.: American directors
..I really feel that QT should definitely feature with so many brilliant films to his credit. Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill series, and now the Inglourious Basterds, they are true masterpieces. Now one more name, that could not be dispensed with is Martin Scorcese, with exceptional films like Taxi Driver, Ragin Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed.
I actually like this list a lot. I really don't like some of the Best/Worst claims, but in terms of the directors, I like this list. For me, Reitman might have made the list, and Spielberg might not have, but hey. That's a rather small complaint.
Fascinating, very strong list. Although, Changeling worse than The Eiger Sanction? Or Sudden Impact? Not in my books. :P Also, in regards to Scorsese, he's in the PTA bag… his worst film (Who's that Knocking at my Door for me) is hardly a bad film. Although, obviously, he's done a lot more than PTA.
While I must concede that Spielberg's position on this list is justly deserved, I just can't help but wonder at the fact that he is so often given the number one position in many 'best directors of all time list'. Truth be told, I just don't think he deserves it. His popcorn films are some of the best ever, if not the very best, but he when he tries to tackle thematically complex material, he often reduces his films to an irritatingly sentimental and simplistic morality play.
Take Schindler's list, for example. It's a good film- but is it really the masterpiece people make it out to be? Is it really an intelligence inspection of the holocaust? I mean, alright, duality of human nature is an interesting theme, an ability to transcend beyond direct environmental influences, the possibility of humanity surviving even at the worst of times- it takes little thought to comprehend these films. I enjoy films that leave the viewer pondering for days after the viewing- and I'm sorry, but Spielberg's films, despite attempting to do so, often fail (for me!). There is also the problem of the excess sentimentality- like in the ending sequence- that makes me want to puke. When attempting to illicit an emotional response from the audience, less is often more. With such kitsch, it feels like the audience is cheated- the manipulation becomes far too obvious and unsubtle.
Spielberg's 21st century films have been often quite good, and he definitely deserves a place on the list. But number one? I beg to differ.
Otherwise, I agree with… well, almost everything, though, IMO, Eastwood should've been higher.
@Martian Army:
Um…Reitman is Canadian. I know he's based in the States but he's definitely Canadian.
i agree completly with the order but how could you say the colour of money is scorsese's worst and how could you put zodiac as finchers best over se7en and fight club
Absolutely not, fight club is best movie in the history of movies
@Martian Army: Jason Reitman is Canadian. However, I agree with you that he is a great filmmaker. While Diablo Cody won the majority of acclaim for Juno, it was Reitman who really took an okay script and made a good film from it. Mamet is a solid director (Spartan is one of the most underrated films of the decade). Singer is good, but he hasn't made a film that's lived up to the potential of The Usual Suspects (although X2 and, as far as I'm concerned, Superman Returns are very good movies).
@Michael Sevigny: I think Jim Jarmusch is more miss than hit. But I agree he is a very interesting filmmaker.
Very interesting list. After Benjamin Button, Fincher would get the boot from my top ten but love the guy anyways. Arronofsky is fabulous too, just might have too few of films.
Also, ecstatic to see Linklater get some respect in the honorable mentions, he is easily in my top 5, warts and all. An impossible list to make but a well written one.
@Carson Dyle: Yeah, I know Changeling has some supporters (it is at the very least a beautiful looking film) and Eastwood has made a few bad movies in his time. But I can't help it. The pain is still too near. I hate Changeling.
@Herr Dude: "Is [Schindler's List] really the masterpiece people make it out to be?"
Yes. It is.
Did you only put Lumet on the honorable mentions because he doesn't work much anymore? I hope that is the case because his resume is arguably better than anyone on the list.
Nice list although the omissions are too hard to ignore. First the good. I love that you included Spike Lee on your list. Too often he is overlooked on these things and I feel it's mainly due to his outspoken nature rather than his (usually great) films. David Fincher was a great selection. He is a modern day Kubrick, albeit a more commercial friendly version.
Now the bad…
How can you include Aronofsky on your list over Stone, Mann, Coppola, Depalma, and Allen. I agree there are some missteps on these filmmakers credits, but what director doesn't have some.
Mr. Aronofsky has not done anything of note to warrant inclusion on this list. Yes, The Wrestler was great but that is one movie. Requiem For A Dream was just o.k. and The Fountain was a boring mess.
Yes it's true in recent years Coppola has made some real crap, but the four films he made in the seventies give him a lifetime pass onto these types of lists.
Kill Bill as Tarantino's best? Surely you jest.
You can't hammer Malick for not making enough product and then include P.T. Anderson on your list.
I want to say Tim Burton and Ron Howard should be on the top 10 and not honorable mention, but then again, that is my opinion.
Tim Burton for the following: Big Fish, Sweeney Todd, Beetlejuice, and of course Edward Scissorhands.
Ron Howard for the following: Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind, and Apoll0 13.
The list has some amazing directors. I would have switched the Coen brothers with Scorsese, but 1 spot isnt going to kill anyone. Interesting list.
You've got the one supporter for Linklater AND Crowe. Don't know who I'd knock off though. Ten seems just too small a number, but these guys deserve atleast an honorable mention. I mean, we're talking 'Dazed and Confused', 'Vanilla Sky', 'Before Sunrise' (definitely my preferred amongst the two), 'ALMOST ****ing FAMOUS'. I don't wanna go on, it's killin' me! Ok, I'd pop Spike Lee to a mention, and push these two in as a tied number 9. Everyone but Soderbergh I'd bump one up! But that's just me!
@Kevin: He was actually a MAJOR contender for the top ten (in fact, I'll even post my draft of the write up on him). However, he was moved to the honorable mention list after some discussion about whether he truly will ever make another film. Here's the write up.
Maybe Sidney Lumet is the one surprise of the list, as in most likely you’re surprised he’s still alive (he is, I assure you). Yet, if it wasn’t for 2007’s brilliant crime flick Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, I’d have cast him to the same has-been sidelines as Francis Ford Coppola. Yet, the film shot a flare up signaling to everyone (except Brad who hated it) that directors can still make great movies even after they’ve received one of those honorary-glad-you-haven’t-died Oscars. Sure, Lumet has churned out plenty of mediocre and bad films over his 60 years in the business. Yet, I think fantastic films such as Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon along with his masterpieces 12 Angry Men and The Verdict give more than enough reason for his inclusion on this list. However, it’s his satiric, biting masterwork Network, the most relevant film for today’s mass-media insanity, that demands we respect Lumet as a dangerously powerful filmmaker as long as he’s still kicking.
@J.J.: I'm glad we share the love on Spike Lee. However, I think your assessment of Aronofsky is way off the mark. But the world needs contrarians (that's not an insult). And I'm serious as a heart attach that Kill Bill is Tarantino's best work. It's the culmination of all of Tarantino's varied talents and is ultimately one of the most subversive revenge (and love stories) ever made.
As for the work output of Malick vs. Anderson:
Anderson has directed 5 movies over the last 13 years.
Malick has directed 5 movies OVER THE LAST 36 YEARS!
@BR: I will say this. Burton is overrated, but I like his movies. However, Ron Howard is vastly underrated. Sure, he makes some reeeallly awful movies (The Da Vinci Code franchise being the bottom rung), which why he didn't make the top ten. Yet, Parenthood, The Paper, especially Apollo 13, and (I don't care what anyone says, I think it's a brilliant film) A Beautiful Mind really speak for themselves.
Excellent list. First and foremost, it makes me want to revisit a number of movies you have listed as the best, the worst and especially the underrated. I've yet to see a Top 10 that would make me want to revisit my love of movies. Great job…
With that said, I love the discussions in the threads, and whereas my candidate should not be in the Top 10, I would say he needs to be mentioned – JJ Abrams.
Now, as a fan of Lost (I know it's small screen, yet undoubtedly the largest of the small screen), JJ has a unique way of storytelling, and he is really starting to come into his own as a director. Not only does he have a finger on the pulse of what "popcorn" cinema really is, he is ramping up as one of the best thrill directors working today. He's taken a dead series with M:I and has crafted the best of the series, he's taken a huge chance of alienating his fanbase with creating a Star Trek origin film, and knocked it out of the park. He's produced/written some of the more entertaining films (I don't care what anyone says, Armageddon was a blast). Lost speaks for itself – love it or hate it, that series has a unique draw to it.
In short, JJ at his core is a great storyteller, and whereas he may not be on this list, I would warrant a guess that he'll be here in the next 10 years.
David Lynch; Jim Jarumsch; Sidney Lumet…all are what I would consider to be terrible snubs.
Now, forgive me if this was explained but I'm a bit confused: is this list judging the directors based on their current output (which would explain the absence of Coppola) or on their resumes?
Where is David Lynch? that's ridiculoues. Gus like Oliver Stone and Woody Allen has faltered to much recently or just aren't as important as they used to be, but they could come back. Malick stays on because The New World was very good, but not his best, and the promise of how good Tree of Life could be is enough for me to think he is still able to make films like Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line. I'm not a spielberg fan, so he wouldn't be in my top 10, but I know he's a great director, so it's ok that he is on your list. But there is no way that he should be ahead of PTA, Clint Eastwood, Coen Brothers, and Scorsese.
Here is my top 10
1. Martin Scorsese
2. Paul Thomas Anderson
3. The Coen Brothers
4. David Lynch
5. Terrence Malick
6. Clint Eastwood
7. Spike Lee
8. Quentin Tarantino
9. Gus Van Sant
10. Steven Soderbergh
H.M.: (David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky, Richard Linklater, Jonathan Demme, Spike Jonze, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Todd Solondz, Sofia Coppola, and more)
I don't know why anyone would disagree of Steven Spielberg being at first place.
I don't care if he makes mostly popcorn flicks… His list of CLASSIC popcorn flicks is so massive, you can't deny his hability to entertain at the BEST degree possible.
Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, ET… And if you ignore popcorn movies and add more 'meaningful' experiences like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, you settle the deal.
He makes the BEST popcorn movies and also make some GREAT movies overall. He truly is gifted.
@Chris C.: David Lynch..hmmm Inland Empire really made me questions his greatness. It was such an self indulgent mess. Especially after following Mulholland Drive. A flawed but brilliant masterpiece. I think great directors still need to make movies for audiences. Lynch doesn't care about this aspect anymore.
@ Leandro – You can easily disagree about Spielberg. He'd be in my top 10 most likely but his films, despite their vast appeal, aren't for everyone. If you prefer your movies to linger on in a deeper way, taking nothing away from popcorn films, there are many other directors who are better (Lynch, Jarmusch, Scorsese, Malick, Soderbergh).
Just a matter of taste is all. David prefers Kill Bill Tarantino, I like mine Jackie Brown any day of the week.
Great list David! I agree with this list 100%. However, I would've included Michael Mann as an honorable mention over most of your "potential additions" (seriously, Mamet and Russell?)
@Chris C.: I would say the list gives more weight to directors who are still consistently making great films. See my previous post regarding Sidney Lumet
Where's Michael Mann? He's American (from my home town Chicago) and he has made many amazing films and one of which has the best shootout in film history.
@Josh: He's in the Honorable Mention at the very beginning of the list.
Michael Mann was an official honorable mention. Honorable mentions are on page 1 (the collage of pics before the top 10 begins). The list on page three I guess would be honorable mentions of honorable mentions. And David O. Russell was definitely a strong consideration. Spanking the Monkey and Flirting with Disaster are good. Three Kings is a masterpiece (I just wrote about the 10th anniversary last week on this site) and one of the best films of the '90s. I Heart Huckabees is an underrated gem. If Nailed and The Fighter are up to par with Three Kings or even I Heart Huckabees he would make the top 10 without question.
Keep an eye out for Clooney. He's -going to be once his looks give out- an intellectual Eastwood. A honour, I'm mean honor, nod to Mamet would've been nice but I guess his name shows up. Ben Afflect?
@GregM: I absolutely agree with you about George Clooney, And yes, if Affleck's next film is as good as Gone Baby Gone, then he's a real force to be reckoned with
@David:
I wil agree w/ you that Howard has ruined the Da Vinci Code franchise, especially after reading all the books. But A Beautiful Mind is one of the greatest movies of all time (my opinion).
I will agree to disagree with you about Burton only because I respect the list you made.
This is a near perfect list to me. I'd personally replace Soderbergh with Wes Anderson and replace Spike Lee with Michael Mann, but your top 5 and my top 5 are the same, albeit slightly different order.
I also agree with your love for Kill Bill. I see them as one film, and together Kill Bill is my favorite film of the decade, although overall I still give Pulp Fiction the edge.
Thanks for a such a thought provoking and accurate list!
I'm also a little surprised that you haven't mentioned Sam Raimi at all. Yeah, he's had a couple of duds, but the Evil Dead trilogy, the first two Spideys and Drag Me to Hell are all great. As far as I'm concerned, he is the best when it comes to mixing comedy and horror to a fantastic result, and the first two Spider-Man films are some of the best purely fun summer blockbusters of the decade.
I'd also question the absense of Rob Reiner (the man gave us Misery and This Is Spinal Tap after all, though he ain't as good now), James Mangold (already proved he can be great when it comes to thrillers, musical biopics and westerns), and I think we should all keep an eye on Apatow, Mottola and David Gordon Green… I think they're well on their way of being great.
What IS MICHAEL MANN NOT DOING ON THIS LIST AT LEAST IN THE TOP 5? Spike Lee, Darren Aronofsky, and STEVEN SODERBERG who has done nothing past descent is on this list!? Mann is nowhere to be found? Are you kidding me, in case you don't remember Mann did the movies : The Insider, Heat , Collateral, Last of the Mohicans, Ali, Public Enemies, Manhunter, god those movies blow away anything Soderberg has done. Aronofsky doesn't really have a resume, he's done a hand full of independent films, and is an up and comer. But to leave Mann out on this list as well as other meritable directors, and why I am upset about Mann not on this list, is because he is around the same age as Scorsese, like Scorsese puts out a movie every 2-3 years. Not many older directors like Depalma and Coppola are even doing that. This list will definitely merit a lot of criticism from authorities that actually know about film!
FROM EDITOR: Obscene remarks were deleted to make this comment sound slightly more adult.
Wow a lot of opinions, I am an aspiring film maker and and a student of film, and a Graphic Arts student and I have many lists and 10 is tough even if you're talking american but I can live with your list, I think it is very Intelligent and well informed. Great job on a hard task, now that being said I might have put Gilliam of Burton toward the end of my list, but maybe not. It's very Hard to do that with 10, maybe you will do a Non- American list boy that would be tough too. Good Luck if you decide to do that.
Wes Anderson definitely belongs in there, Mann, I understand maybe current people and favs come into play, We're only human right. Opinions are like assholes everyones got'em. Ok i think i'm done
At what point did you decide to leave bloodwork out of Eastwood's worst changeling was an outstanding film. Right i understand Changeling may not be to your taste what choosing that over the worst of Clint's movies which is quite obviously Bloodwork is just a crime.
@BR: I don't know if he ruined The Da Vinci Code franchise. That's sort of like saying he ruined a crap sandwich :) I'm glad some people out there like A Beautiful Mind
@Nick: You know, I did sort of go back and forth on Raimi. A Simple Plan is a masterpiece. I think Spider-man 2 is arguably a pop masterpiece. And like most nerds I love the Evil Dead films. In the end, I really can't explain why I left him off. And yeah, Rob Reiner. Well, yes, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and American President should warrant his inclusion in at least the honorable mentions. But wow. I honestly can't think of another director who went from consistently making great films to churning out abortion after abortion as he has for the last 10 years (well, Rumor Has It was enjoyable, but Anyone could have made that film). I don't know what happened. Even Francis Ford Coppola has only one Jack on his resume.
the fountain is pure garbage
@jj: Oh I quite remember Mann's Public Enemies, Collateral, Insider, Heat, and Last of the Mohicans. I also remember Miami Vice, Ali and the utterly overrated Manhunter. Mann made my honorable mentions. Collateral is one of my favorite thrillers. Not of the decade. But just one of my favorite thrillers. Period. However, Mann's films tend to feel too cold and detached (and I don't think that's always by design). He's an obsessive technician and it often works against him. I guess it's a matter of taste.
I find your dismissal of Aronofsky laughable. He's only done a hand full of independent movies? So if he did two "hand fulls" of independent films would that qualify him? After all, Michael Mann has only made 10 films during the last 23 years. Admit it, he's not exactly a good example of prolific filmmaking. Or is it the fact that Aronofsky has mostly made independent movies that disqualifies him (although The Fountain is not an indie by any stretch of the word since Warner Bros financed its $35 million budget)? If he was a studio man, would that somehow give more credibility to his resume. Yes, he only has 4 films on his filmography (and like, totally OMG!!! 3 of them are indies). Guess what? Three of them are also flat-out masterpieces. As much as I love Michael Mann's Collateral, I honestly believe Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and even The Wrestler are better films.
I understand why you have spielberg at number one. He is probably the most well-rounded and successful director and he can make a damn good movie. However, I still have to back up Marty Scorsese. He I think is the best out there still to this day (Why isn't Raging Bull listed as one of his best?). His movies are all great. Also, PTA is ranked too high, he hasn't made enough movies to be that high. Clint Eastwood should take his spot. Finally, why isn't Se7en included in Fincher's best?
@LJ: The point that I left out Bloodwork as Eastwood's worst film was August 9th, 2002 when I saw it in the theater and sort of enjoyed it. A lesser work for sure, but much better than Changeling, True Crime, or The Rookie
@austin: My picks for the best films were based mostly off of personal taste (mixed with a little bit of the overall critical consensus). I really respect Raging Bull. I get why it's considered Scorsese's best. But I've never truly loved it. Goodfellas and Taxi Driver are films I love and feel are among the films considered as Scorsese's best work. But personally, my favorite Scorsese film is Bringing Out the Dead…I just knew it would be left best to The Undervalued category.
@austin: One additional comment about the best movies. If I could honestly say one film was a director's best (and I feel Zodiac edges Seven and Fight Club out just by a hair) then only one film would get mentioned. If I could not decide between several films, then all were included.
Great list, but The Hudsucker Proxy is a wonderful film.
I don't understand how one can say that Kill Bill is better than Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs.
…Or that The Fountain is better than The Wrestler.
…Or that The Color of Money is Scorsese's worst.
…Or that Zodiac is better than Fight Club, Se7en, and Ben Button.
Overall this article pissed me off. I'm not at the least pleased.
Keep up the good work!
Glad to see Spike Lee was up there. One snub in my eyes would be Woody Allen. But it was a good list….
@David: love the analogy, after going from the books to the theatre, i felt myself leaving disappointed, and I know Howard is better than that.
@Brad Brevet: Oops, my bad. I read the American requirement, but I guess it didn't sink in right away because he wasn't in the parenthesis.
Well, if you're going to stick to live American directors, you've just about nailed it. Thank you so much for listing "A.I." as undervalued, because it is an amazing film, as much Kubrick as it is Spielberg (in fact, I consider it more of a Kubrick film, especially since he eventually decided he wanted Spielberg to direct it anyway). And I'm fine with placing him over Scorsese. I wasn't actually very fond of "Goodfellas," and I thought "Raging Bull" was a storm of talent wasted on one of the worst biopic subjects possible, but "The Last Temptation of the Christ" was a true marvel.
Good thought provoking list. I wanted to disagree with it and then found I couldn't (too much). Here's my thoughts:
Martin Scorsese
Coen Brothers
David Lynch
Quentin Tarantino
David Fincher
Terry Gilliam (completely unique vision)
Steven Spielbreg
Jonathan Demme
Oliver Stone
I wanted to leave Spielberg off then looked back over his career, he really does have to be on the list although Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was terrible. And I'm excited about Lincoln
I wanted to add David Cronenberg too and then discovered he's Canadian – oh well
Am I crazy because I love Changeling more than Unforgiven? A lot more? Personally, I think Gran Torino was the worst Eastwood movie.
come on, Tarantino shouldn't even be on the list. over-rated director who hasn't really done anything good since Pulp Fiction. I think mere "fanboys" – movie geeks – fall for this guy. Woody Allen and Michael Mann probably deserved to be on the list more. Even Ron Howard!
I am somewhat curious what the Top Ten Working Directors regardless of nationality would have looked like. I liked the list, but I wonder if Ridley Scott would have made your top ten overall directors working today. He would make mine. Possibly Guy Ritchie? I would love to see Matthew Vaughan merit a mention on an overall list, but his body of work is somewhat abbreviated at this point.
How do you not put Gus Van Sant and David Gordon Green on this list?
I almost completely agree with your top 10. Except I feel Paul Thomas Anderson should have been number 10, besides Magnolia and Boogie Nights I don't care for many of his films. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. You should do a top 10 for working american actors and actresses!
Excellent list. My only disagreements would be some of the best/worst films (i personally believe that changeling is a way better film than space cowboys), I dont think that Anderson deserves to be as high in the list as you put him because he hasn't done enough films to be up as high as those around him. I would have also placed Tim Burton and Ron Howard at the lower end of the top 10. Like many others have commented, I am not a big fan of Speilberg, but all he has done for the film industry is there for all to see so I can't argue with him as number 1.
What I would love to see is a list of top ten all time directors to see how you you compare the likes of Speilberg and Scorcese to Kubrick and Hitchcock, and of course a list of best working directors (regardless of nationality).
I mostly agree with the list, or at least I can't find real fault in your logic on the aspects I'm inclined to disagree with, except the best/worst/most under appreciated selections. Those selections seem to favor most recent movies.
I'm really glad to see Paul Thomas Anderson on the list, but would say Boogie Nights or Magnolia was best and Hard 8 was under appreciated–though, to be honest, the actors were the ones doing the heavy lifting in that one. With the Coen brothers' worst, you're way of the mark, have you seen The Ladykillers? I've heard Intolerable Cruelty is pretty awful, too, but I've not seen it, so can't really say for sure.
I do wish Lumet was on the list over Steven Soderberg, and I hope we'll get to see at least one more movie from him. I also questioned the absence of Todd Solonz, Sam Raimi, and Julie Taymor from the honorable mentions.
Top Ten American Directors:
1.Quentin Tarantino / Best: Inglourious Basterds
2.Steven Spielberg / Best: Munich
3.Tim Burton / Best: Ed Wood
4.Robert Rodriguez / Best: Desperado
5.Spike Jonze / Best: Adaptation
6.David Fincher / Best: Zodiac
7.Wes Anderson / Best: Rushmore
8.Eli Roth / Best: Hostel Part II
9.Paul Thomas Anderson / Best: Boogie Nights
10.David O. Russell / Best: I Heart Huckabees
Top Ten Non-American Directors:
1.M. Night Shyamalan / Best: The Sixth Sense
2.Guy Ritchie / Best: RockNRolla
3.David Slade / Best: Hard Candy
4.Alfonso Cuaron / Best: Children Of Men
5.Bong Joon-Ho / Best: The Host
6.Christopher Nolan / Best: Memento
7.Edgar Wright / Best: Shaun Of The Dead
8.Ang Lee / Best: Lust-Caution
9.Alex Proyas / Best: Dark City
10.Timur Bekmambetov / Best: Night Watch
I'm just suprised that Michael Mann is an honorable mention, his movies except for miami vice have been pretty stellar and by your own admission Collateral was one of your favorite movies
@Jon: Without the constraints of whether a director is American born or not, my three favorite directors working today are probably Peter Weir, Peter Jackson and Werner Herzog.
@Christina: There's a special place in my heart for The Ladykillers. I've never understood the hate that film elicits from some people. I also enjoy Intolerable Cruelty. Hudsucker Proxy is not horrible by any stretch of the imagination. I just think its their most uneven film.
@Christina: Oh and Julie Taymor was never considered. I believe Titus and Across the Universe are wretched films (but Frida is good).
As much as I love the Alien box set, I hate the word quadrilogy, just hate it.
Good list though, I would have left out Spike Lee. Would have included Linklater instead, but thats just me.
This is good list but I have to stand up for Ron Howard. I know you have him on your honorable mention list but if you look at his body of work I don't know how anyone can leave him off the top ten. Think of these movies:
Apollo 13
Cinderella Man
A beautiful mind
Frost/Nixon
Those are only four but they show how Howard is consistently solid everytime out of the gate and movies are almost always succesful.
I personally am a huge Michael Mann fanatic but it makes me more upset that Ron Howard is not on this list rather than man.
You're the man just for signaling Solaris as Soderbergh's undervalued. FINALLY! Wonderful piece of imagery and sound.
@Daniel Wolfe:
That's soooooooooo off.. I'm not even remotelly an expert but Hostel Part II? RockNRolla Guy Ritchie's best? Ever heard of Snatch? Zodiac Fincher's best? Even Inglorious Basterds over Kill Bill, Pupl Fiction and Reservoir Dogs? No Soderbergh on the top10? No Scorcese? No Coen brothers? But you keep PTA.. That's rich
@Danny K.: Christopher Nolan isn't on here because he is not technically and 'American Director'. If he was, and didn't have the number 1 spot, then there is something wrong with whoever made this list.
What a perfect list. I would have made the same exact list I think, agree with most of your Bests and Undervalued as well.
judd appitow should be up there imo
I think the best Clint Eastwood´s films are:Unforgiven, A perfect world,The Outlaw Josey wales,Pale Rider,Changeling,Gran Torino,Bird,Million Dollar Baby,Mystic River,Letters from Iwo Jima,Flags of our Fathers,Blood work,Play misty for me,White Hunter Black Heart,Breezy and Bronco Billy.I think Clint Eastwood is the best director of all times.
I'd like to see more Wes Anderson love here. He is one of the most unique directors in film – his skills with characters and image are amazing. I'd sub him for Aronofsky, not because I hate DA, I just think Wes is better. Also, Eli Roth was better as the Bear Jew than his movies are as a director. He sucks. Or maybe I just don't like Gorno.
@oldskool138:
Kundun is my favorite Scorsese film.
True, it is completely different than almost anything else in his filmography – but it is one of the most remarkable portrayals on film of an inner spiritual life. It's coming from the opposite side of where Scorsese normally approaches humanity, but is equally insightful.
The imagery combined with Philip Glass' beautiful, haunting score create a sort of pure cinema experience to the latter half of the film, which transcends the mere narrative biopic. It is a great example as what you put as 'the passion that practically glows' in Scorsese's films. Additionally, the film deals with one of the most pressing international issues of today, but one of a small nation that needs a voice to speak for it on the international scale. The film is Scorsese's gift to the Tibetan people. But even just technique-wise it is one of the primary films that got me interested in filmmaking.
Don't get me wrong, I love Taxi Driver and most of Scorsese's other work as well!
I think Kundun would have fit well on Scorsese's Undervalued section though.
Otherwise, great list! I agree with your take on Aronofsky, it perfectly explains why I think he's one of the greatest directors working today. His four wonderfully risk-taking films are amazing, especially The Fountain!
Michael Mann aught to be in the top 3. Otherwise, outside of Spike Lee, this list is alright.
@David Frank:
You liked "Collateral", then what do you think of his masterpiece "Heat"? Which by my meserment should have ranked Mann in the top 10 alone…
I've always found Heat to be horribly overrated. Pacino really hams it up for me, and De Niro just looks bored. I think Michael Mann's recent camerawork is reason enough not to have him in the top ten, but overall I think he's an excellent director.
Kudos on the love for PTA; it's incredible that someone with such undeniable talent – both as a director and as a screenwriter – isn't even forty yet. Also, THANK YOU for stating that Solaris is an underrated film. It is by far Clooney's best performance, Cliff Martinez's score is sublime and absolutely mesmerising, and the attention to detail that Soderbergh put into his direction – along with a natural, organic quality – is reason enough for it to be considered one of the best pieces of modern sci-fi. Dare I say, sci-fi as a whole.
Overall, a very solid list. Well done.
You forgot David Lynch and Michael Mann
First of all great list. It's really hard to make such a list, but I do have one complaint, nay one question?
David Fincher is number 8 on your list, and I complete disagree. He is definitely my favorite director. The man has never made a bad movie.
Alien 3 is not bad at all, is it much better than the awful Alien: Ressurrection. Alien 3 has some problems (it's predecessors doesn't make it easier). Fincher never made the movie he wanted to, cause of lack of trust from the moneymen. Even though Ellen Ripley is surrounded by unlikable characters and the fact that the Alien looks like a shiny dog, it still has a wonderful cinematography, it's very entertaining and the ending is brilliant. 8/10
Se7en is his best movie and one of the best in cinema history. It is perfect! 10/10
The Game is definitely underrated. The movie is slightly unrealistic at times, and there are some plot-holes, but it still is very clever, great, entertaining, pure Hitchcock. The ending ruins the experience a bit, but when the movie shines it really shines! 8/10
I can't say anything about Fight Club, that haven't been said. Masterpiece. 10/10
Panic Room is much more simple than his other movies, but is probably is one the best simple thrillers. It has great performances, and Fincher once again showcases his brilliant technical abilities. 8/10
Zodiac is not as good as Se7en but a little better than Fight Club. Everything is perfect, and Fincher shows that he can keep you glued to the screen for more than 2½ hours. 10/10
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a slight disappointment when I watched it the first time. I have since watched it again, and the second viewing improves. I agree that it is a little over the top sometimes and it is too long. But I haven't ever seen more beautiful visuals before. It is flawed, but is it beautiful, visually and emotionally.
David Fincher might be the best technical director working today, nay ever. Every one of his movies are visually superior, and if anybody says style over substance, I disagree. He has some of the greatest plots, characters, everything. He is still quite young, so he hasn't the same filmography as Spielberg or Scorsese. But the fact is that has never made a bad movie, and sometimes he makes a really good movie and sometimes he makes a masterpiece. Scorsese and definitely Spielberg's bottom movies are can't hold a candle towards Fincher's bottom movies.
Right then. Should imagine I'll post again. Could not get past number eight without feeling sick. Worst? Alien 3? Swines. Which cut did you watch? The origininal concept was a wooden space station. The acting ah. A lead, a woman, an officer; the natural way of things the order reinforced. The trained person is looked to. The acting. The whole thing beautiful. Just so good. Just not the worst. Just scrolled up again. Need sleep now. plplpl.
As I said, Alien 3 might be his worst (I have seen the Director's Cut), but it's still very good. The conclusion – Fincher doesn't make bad movies!
it's funny to see how subjective something like this is, and how much people argue, like "David Fincher is the best alive" haha.
lumet, jarmusch, d lynch, and ummmmm…the guy who directed the godfather movies? anyone?
Of course it's subjective – we're talking about favorite directors, how could it ever be objective? We all want to convince each other that our favorite (Fincher) is the greatest.
alexander payne.
here is my topten:
1. Martin Scorsese
BEST: Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver
WORST BY FAR: The Last Temptation
Scorsese is the best American film director at depicting realism.
2. Quentin Tarantino
BEST: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction
WORST: Inglorious Basterds
Tarantino contributed some of the Nineties best films almost in concert with the alternative music popular at the time.
3. David Mamet
BEST: House of Games, Homocide, the Spanish Prisoner
WORST: Heist
Mamet is the master at writing dialogue that is sharp, funny, and intelligent. His films also offer commentary on modern society
4. The Coen Brothers
,
BEST: Fargo, Blood Simple
WORST: The Big Lebowski
The Coen Brothers put their whole heart into their works and understand how to make a cinematic experience fully memorable.
5. Paul Thomas Anderson
BEST: Hard Eight, Boogie Nights
WORST: Punch Drunk Love
Paul Thomas Anderson took what was best of Altman and revised it for the Nineties; realistic human drama and original storytelling.
6. Steve Soderbergh
BEST: sex, lies, and videotape and Out of Sight
WORST: Full Frontal
Soderbergh came on the scene as an auteur who could capture realism and human drama while offering sharp commentary on modern living.
7. Jim Jarmusch
BEST: Down By Law, Mystery Train
WORST: Stranger Than Paradise
Like Tarantino after him, Jarmusch borrowed from film noir and the French New Wave to make modern independent films that complemented the independent music of their time and movies that appealed to the more intelligent and eccentric in society.
8. John Sayles
BEST: Matewan
WORST: Lone Star
John Sayles created independent films for the Eighties and Nineties that exquisitely captured human drama and human history and with the good guys winning against malicious villians.
9. Oliver Stone
BEST: Platoon, the Doors, JFK
WORST: Natural Born Killers
Oliver Stone is a topical filmmaker who takes subjects relevant to their time and to his youth that are powerful and sometimes unforgettable in their imagery and depiction. Also, Stone is a master at movie soundtracks.
10. Francis Ford Coppola
BEST: The Godfathers Part 1 and 2, the Conversation, Apocalypse Now
WORST: Dracula, Peggy Sue Got Married
Francis Ford Coppola filled the Seventies with three of its best epics and one other film all of which helped introduce a new level of realism and human drama to cinema.