Great Films and Filmmakers
 

I like to categorize "great" filmmakers as those filmmakers that have made at least three outstanding films - and each of those film sis so outstanding that portions of it have become part of the contemporary lexicon, that is, a part of our culture so that references to it are immediately understood and recognized.

For instance, because of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, we associate Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" with space imagery. Or the line "I'm not animal!" from the film "Elephant Man".

These are my favorite directors, and the films that I think puts them into the outstanding category:


Stanley Kubrick:

Dr. Strangelove
A Clockwork Orange
2001: A Space Odyssey


Steven Soderbergh:

Sex Lies and Videotape
Traffic
Ocean's Eleven


Francis Coppolla:

The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
Apocalypse Now!


Martin Scorsesse:

Taxi Driver
Goodfellas
Raging Bull
King of Comedy


James Cameron:

The Terminator
Aliens
True Lies


Oliver Stone:

Platoon
Wall Street
The Doors


Milos Forman:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Amadeus
The People vs. Larry Flynt


Terry Gilliam:

Brazil
The Fisher King
Twelve Monkeys



What are yours?

AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

True Lies? What The F?

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

True Lies is a really *great* film for its specific genre.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

True Lies is a really *great* film for its specific genre.

No.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
True Lies is a really *great* film for its specific genre.

No.

[/ QUOTE ]

The genre is "Action Comedy". Name another action comedy that exceeds it.

AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
True Lies is a really *great* film for its specific genre.

No.

[/ QUOTE ]

The genre is "Action Comedy". Name another action comedy that exceeds it.

AB

[/ QUOTE ]

Beverly Hills Cop one through fifteen?

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Ah.... True Lies?

Tarantino:
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Jackie Brown

Leone:
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
A Fistful of Dollars
Once Upon a Time in the West

Kurosawa
The Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Rashomon

John Huston
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The African Queen

Howard Hawks
Scarface
The Big Sleep
His Girl Friday

Orson Welles
Citizen Kane
The Lady from Shanghai
Touch of Evil

I've only seen two John Ford movies, but both are great, The Searchers and Stagecoach.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

How did Ocean's Eleven escape notice so far?

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

David Lean

Doctor Zhivago
Lawrence of Arabia
The Bridge on the River Kwai

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

I'd say Bev. Hills Cop ONE only - though it's hard to say "exceeds".


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

can't mention stanley kubrick without mentioning Full Metal Jacket

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

You know, I am a huge Kubrick fan, but I don't class FMJ as one of his best films - I prefer Barry Lyndon over it for instance.

I think FMJ is good, but after they left boot camp, I think the film tends to fall apart a bit, and is lacking the resonance of his other films.

AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
How did Ocean's Eleven escape notice so far?

[/ QUOTE ]


?? I listed it...


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How did Ocean's Eleven escape notice so far?

[/ QUOTE ]


?? I listed it...


AB

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Billy Wilder
Double Indemnity

Ace in the Hole (This movie is fantastic, prescient of media maniuplation of culture, stars Kirk Douglas and I don't think it's even on DVD, which is ridiculous)

Sunset Boulevard

The Apartment

Some Like it Hot probably has to be here because it's iconic.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Osprey: good call on Wilder. Also:

Stalag 17
Witness for the Prosecution (I love this movie)

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ah.... True Lies?

[/ QUOTE ]

I like light hearted action comedies like True Lies and Ocean's Eleven. And to be honest, it is one of the *hardest* genres to make work, so my hats off to directors that can walk that line.



[ QUOTE ]

Tarantino:
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Jackie Brown


[/ QUOTE ]

IMO Tarantino only has 2 worthy films - Reservoir and Pulp - and without someone like Stacey Sher to guide him, I think he's a hack. His other films are self indulgent and heavy handed.

[ QUOTE ]

Leone:
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
A Fistful of Dollars
Once Upon a Time in the West


[/ QUOTE ]



[ QUOTE ]

Kurosawa
The Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Rashomon


[/ QUOTE ]

Personally I didn't care for his adaptation of Rashomon - I'd put RAN on the list instead.


[ QUOTE ]

John Huston
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The African Queen


[/ QUOTE ]

How about Prizzi's Honor instead of African Queen?



AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

I'd say Bev. Hills Cop ONE only - though it's hard to say "exceeds".

Dude, most of your list is good, but True Lies is a truly crappy film.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Personally I didn't care for his adaptation of Rashomon

Yeah... what?

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd say Bev. Hills Cop ONE only - though it's hard to say "exceeds".

Dude, most of your list is good, but True Lies is a truly crappy film.

[/ QUOTE ]


Eh... I like lighthearted action comedies. I think True Lies walks that line well. But I will agree that comedy is very subjective, which is why it's one of the hardest genre's to do.


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

I think Jackie Brown is vastlyunderappreciated. After I saw it for the first time recently, I was shocked Tarantino took crap for that movie.


Oh, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a better movie by far, than True Lies as well.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ah.... True Lies?

[/ QUOTE ]

I like light hearted action comedies like True Lies and Ocean's Eleven. And to be honest, it is one of the *hardest* genres to make work, so my hats off to directors that can walk that line.



[ QUOTE ]

Tarantino:
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Jackie Brown


[/ QUOTE ]

IMO Tarantino only has 2 worthy films - Reservoir and Pulp - and without someone like Stacey Sher to guide him, I think he's a hack. His other films are self indulgent and heavy handed.

[ QUOTE ]

Leone:
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
A Fistful of Dollars
Once Upon a Time in the West


[/ QUOTE ]



[ QUOTE ]

Kurosawa
The Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Rashomon


[/ QUOTE ]

Personally I didn't care for his adaptation of Rashomon - I'd put RAN on the list instead.


[ QUOTE ]

John Huston
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The African Queen


[/ QUOTE ]

How about Prizzi's Honor instead of African Queen?



AB

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd say Bev. Hills Cop ONE only - though it's hard to say "exceeds".

Dude, most of your list is good, but True Lies is a truly crappy film.

[/ QUOTE ]

word.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think Jackie Brown is vastlyunderappreciated. After I saw it for the first time recently, I was shocked Tarantino took crap for that movie.


Oh, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a better movie by far, than True Lies as well.

[/ QUOTE ]


I liked lock/stock - but I know plenty of folks that think it's total crap.

DIfferent sub genre though and I don't think you can compare.

"Sexy Beast" FWIW is much better than Lock/Stock.


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How did Ocean's Eleven escape notice so far?

[/ QUOTE ]
?? I listed it...
AB

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.

[/ QUOTE ]


Oceans Eleven (The Soderbergh version) is astounding for the genre - I've seen it a dozen times and I never tire of it - it is sublimely crafted, entertaining, engaging, and just alot of fun to watch.


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

I like Ocean's Eleven, a lot actually. We can just ignore Ocena's Twelve.

I don't remember Sexy Beast being funny- is it really a comedy/actioner? Lock Stock was pretty funny.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Well, I don't see how the following names aren't on the list yet:

Steven Speilberg, for almost every movie he's made.

George Lucas, Star Wars, ROTLA, etc.

Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Outlaw Josey Wales

Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life

Ridley Scott, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, (Blade Runner?)

Tim Burton, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands

Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs (?), Philadelphia

There are tons more - this is a broad category.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't see how the following names aren't on the list yet:

Steven Speilberg, for almost every movie he's made.

George Lucas, Star Wars, ROTLA, etc.

Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Outlaw Josey Wales

Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life

Ridley Scott, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, (Blade Runner?)

Tim Burton, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands

Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs (?), Philadelphia

There are tons more - this is a broad category.

[/ QUOTE ]

Batman is atrocious and Sleepy Hollow is not a "great" movie.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

You could replace those with Ed Wood and Nightmare Before Christmas. But I liked Sleepy Hollow.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
I like Ocean's Eleven, a lot actually. We can just ignore Ocena's Twelve.

I don't remember Sexy Beast being funny- is it really a comedy/actioner? Lock Stock was pretty funny.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dark comedy, similar in tone to Lock/Stock, I think - but we're talking about subtleties here.

AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't see how the following names aren't on the list yet:

Steven Speilberg, for almost every movie he's made.

George Lucas, Star Wars, ROTLA, etc.

Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Outlaw Josey Wales

Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life

Ridley Scott, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, (Blade Runner?)

Tim Burton, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands

Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs (?), Philadelphia

There are tons more - this is a broad category.

[/ QUOTE ]


George Lucas has directed only ONE excellent film, and that is Star Wars. though some contend American Graffiti shoul dbe listed.

Raiders was directed by Spielberg.

As far as Spielberg - I mostly HATE him.

There's JAWS - though Jaws is a testament to Verna Fields editing - she saved that film. Close Encounters was good, as was Raiders - so okay, that's three. But most of evertyhing else makes me nauseous.

Ridley Scott I forgot to mention:

Alien
Blade Runner
Thelma and Louise.


Tim Burton? Mostly a hack. Nightmare was good.


AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]

Batman is atrocious

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to kick your crack habit!

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Sidney Lumet:

Dog Day Afternoon
Murder on the Orient Express
Serpico
Network
The Verdict
Running on Empty

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Dog Day Afternoon
Network
The Verdict


Yes, Network in particular is exceptional. Verdict is on the fence for me though - very good but no real lasting resonance, which I think is needed for that genre.

AB

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

Aren't we missing the obvious?

Hitchcock

Psycho
The Birds
Rear Window
I could keep going...

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
Steven Soderbergh:

Sex Lies and Videotape
Traffic
Ocean's Eleven

[/ QUOTE ]

Not a great Director by any stretch if these are the three films you list as his best work.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are yours?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'll tell you who's not...Michael Bay. "Why does he get to keep on making movies?"

I don't know if these guys match your criteria, but they match mine for "great" film makers:

Ethan and Joel Coen
-Fargo
-The Big Lebowski
-The Ladykillers

Peter and Bobby Farrelly
-Dumb and Dumber
-Kingpin
-There's Something About Mary

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'll tell you who's not...Michael Bay. "Why does he get to keep on making movies?"

[/ QUOTE ]

The Rock and Armageddon are awesome movies.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't see how the following names aren't on the list yet:

Steven Speilberg, for almost every movie he's made.

George Lucas, Star Wars, ROTLA, etc.

Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Outlaw Josey Wales

Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life

Ridley Scott, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, (Blade Runner?)

Tim Burton, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands

Jonathan Demme, Silence of the Lambs (?), Philadelphia

There are tons more - this is a broad category.

[/ QUOTE ]


George Lucas has directed only ONE excellent film, and that is Star Wars. though some contend American Graffiti shoul dbe listed.

Raiders was directed by Spielberg.

As far as Spielberg - I mostly HATE him.

There's JAWS - though Jaws is a testament to Verna Fields editing - she saved that film. Close Encounters was good, as was Raiders - so okay, that's three. But most of evertyhing else makes me nauseous.

Ridley Scott I forgot to mention:

Alien
Blade Runner
Thelma and Louise.


Tim Burton? Mostly a hack. Nightmare was good.


AB

[/ QUOTE ]

You're overly harsh, I think. Lucas may not have directed the later Star Wars movies, but he was the guy who brought it all together. Meanwhile Speilberg is pretty fantastic, I mean can you honestly say that you don't feel Schindler's LIst, Saving Private Ryan, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Amistad and countless others are great films?

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
The Rock and Armageddon are awesome movies.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was just kidding. I've never seen either. I just really like Team America. Please tell me Pearl Harbor really did suck.

Re: Great Films and Filmmakers
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ethan and Joel Coen
-Fargo
-The Big Lebowski
-The Ladykillers

[/ QUOTE ]

Blood Simple and Miller's Crossing would be in my top 3, along with either Fargo or TBL.

For Sidney Lumet, you have to add 12 Angry Men (and probably Fail-Safe?).

Someone (Pryor?) posted this in the Lounge Links thread. It's a fantastic resource, with a 1-10 rating of a ton of directors, along with must see/highly recommended/recommended films for each director. It's just the work of two film lovers, but I tend to agree with their opinion and am discovering lots of great films from their lists.

edit: here is their top 100 directors list, compiled from a bunch of top 10 polls:

http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1...0directors.htm