Dork & Dubay’s Top 10 Directors – Part 1: Dubay

Dork & Dubay’s Top 10 ~ Directors

Welcome to Dork & Dubay’s first collaborative top ten list.  This we will be doing occasionally, or whenever Dubay gets that overwhelming urge to make a list.  These lists will be broken up into 2 different articles; one will feature Dubay’s lists, and the other Dork’s.  One each, the other reviewer will comment on what he feels are valid points, and which ones do not necessarily work for them.  You wanted us to debate, and darn it, we will!  No matter how much Dork is apathetic towards the whole thing or how Dubay won’t actually say anything mean because he’s way too nice for that.

Have your own Top 10 and feel like sharing? Vehemently oppose to our list? Wanna say how cute you think Dubay is? Please leave any and all comments below.

 

 

Part 1: Dubay

Often when dissecting or analyzing films, one looks at the film’s direction to generate a summary or consensus. This important component needs a director to right the ship. Directors have a sort of aura or bravado about themselves that can really influence the cultural impact of the film. When one thinks of “Pulp Fiction” for example, the director, Quentin Tarantino becomes instantly synonoymous with the movie. They go hand and hand. The same rule applies for a bad or movie. If I were to bring up “Transformers” 2 or 3, immediately one could joke about Michael Bay and his directing patterns. We associate ourselves with these architects because they are the glue, they are the nucleus, and they are the creative spirit that fuels a film’s momentum. Here is a very raw list of my favorite director’s based on their film collections.

 

 

10. James Cameron- This technical wizard made his mark with the original Terminator back in 1984. Since then, Cameron has dominated the box office with juggernauts that include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Titanic, and Avatar. Cameron’s earlier work seems to be much craftier than his latest installments. Many fans were disappointed in the time gap between Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). These were his only two releases in that time period. With that in mind, Cameron’s special effects have revolutionized cinema in the 21st Century. His attention to detail and set design is impeccable. Although a little light on script and originality, Cameron knows how to please an audience. As a science fiction nerd, his contributions to the genre have been game changing and I relish in the fact that his films have made such an impact on the genre.

Dork- He almost made my list.  His film list is exceptional.  The best Arnold & Alien films, plus his technical marvels.  I guess I just don’t think of Terminator or Aliens and think of Cameron.  Mostly I think of Avatar, and get a little annoyed.  Losses some points there, especially since he’s raving on and on about a franchise. No doubt an excellent work though.

 

 

9. George Lucas- Here is perhaps my biggest conundrum in the Top 10. Lucas’s Star Wars franchise is perhaps the single most significant cultural boost in the last 50 years. He’s a marketing genius and knows how to make a profit. With that being said, one can really only credit Star Wars: A New Hope as his crowning achievement. This 1977 masterpiece remains the cream of the crop for science fiction films. However, the immediate sequels were directed by other filmmakers with the guidance from Lucas. Lucas’s return to the director’s chair took a big hit with the critically panned prequels that left fans at a loss for words and often at each other’s throats for the validity of the films. With that being said, Lucas is loved and hated by an entire worldwide Star Wars fan base. Without his direction though, the characters and stories we’ve grown to love may never have existed.

Dork – This is even less warranted than putting Jaws on your top Sci-Fi films.  Seriously, greatest director? Special effects pioneer, insane capitalist, over-controlling revisionist, sure.  Director? Besides the original Star Wars, he has been the opposite of a good director.  Plus, most people agree that Empire and Jedi are better films than the original.  Even then, everyone knew you had to take Lucas out of the big boy chair and let him play around with his toys.  I guess what I’m trying to say is, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

 

 

8. David Fincher: Here is the king of the dark, twisted, and often terrifying modern thriller’s. Both on a psychological and emotional level, Fincher can really craft a movie that not only makes you think but also make you feel unsettled. His first prime example would be 1995’s Se7en. A film based on a serial killer who uses the Seven Deadly Sins as a motive for his crimes. Branching off of this highly effective approach, Fincher has stunned audiences with Fight Club (1999), Zodiac (2007), and most recently The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011). Fincher displayed his flexibility with 2010’s The Social Network. Here, Fincher allows his audience to peer into the greed infested origins of Facebook. Fincher has worked with an array of actors who have bolstered his vision and it’s been a joy to watch, regardless of the emotional strain!

Dork: Fincher is the man.  I feel like throwing in The Social Network at the end kind of took away from its absolute brilliance, though.  He has such great atmosphere in his movies, and I’ve never felt it was stronger while watching intelligent 20 somethings in a cutthroat race to internet fame.  And Fight Club is one of my all-time favorites; he really did that book justice, and even improved on it.  Excellent pick.

 

 

7. The Coen Brothers- This dynamic duo (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen) have been at the directing game for the last 30 years. The Coen Brothers directing style often incorporates dark humor, wacky plots, and memorable characters who have been molded into modern cinematic lore. Now, I’ll say that there are a handful of films that I still need to see from this crew, Raising Arizona and Miller’s Crossing are at the top of the list. Going beyond this notion, the Coen’s are excellent at being diverse with their styles. One could put The Big Lebowski at one end of the spectrum, with No Country For Old Men at the other. Even with these two distinct genre’s comedy and thriller, you’re still able to get a mixture of both from these guys with a film like 1996’s Fargo. The writing is always top notch and the stories are always memorable. Even with underrated films such as A Serious Man and O Brother Where Art Thou, the Coen trademark is always evident. This a good thing! And their track record at the Academy Awards is sufficient enough to back any doubters.

Dork: I really don’t feel the Coen’s.  I get excited to see their movies, Fargo and No Country for Old Men are most excellent, but I feel like they have too much of a spotty record. For every Big Lebowski there’s a Burn After Reading, for every Fargo, Ladykillers.  There is some excellent talent here, and I respect their inclusion, but I just don’t really agree with greatest. 

 

 

6. Clint Eastwood- Here is a perfect example of a stellar acting career translating into an even better directing career. Mr. Eastwood’s claim to fame is typically derived from his stint as the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns of the 60’s or as “Dirty” Harry Callahan during the 70’s. With the acting career always open, Eastwood started opting for directing. His breakout hit, Unforgiven won Best Picture in 1992. As a storyteller, Eastwood’s films often have people overcome very serious circumstances, a la Mystic River and 2005’s Oscar Winner, Million Dollar Baby. I’ve come to appreciate Eastwood’s influence on historical films. His dual productions of Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima grasped the contrasting views and morals of the Americans and Japanese during World War II. Recently, Eastwood has contributed solid efforts with Gran Torino and Invictus. A film veteran who learned a lot as an actor, Eastwood’s direction has been critically acclaimed and culturally relevant in the last 25 years.

Dork:  I’m not terribly familiar with his pre-2000’s movies, as I’ve only seen a few.  Maybe I would give it a second guess if I’ve seen more of them.  But in the 2000’s sample that I’m completely familiar with, he’s even more hit-and-miss than the Coens.  Gran Torino was excellent, and his duo of WWII movies even better, but otherwise I find him terribly overrated.  Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River are beloved for reasons I’ve never been able to figure out, and his recent efforts are a bore.  Even at his best, I feel like he makes mediocre movies really well, but the best of the middle I don’t really see as great.

 

 

5. Steven Spielberg- Starting out in 1975, Steven Spielberg’s debut film Jaws changed modern filmmaking forever. A social phenomenon, Jaws became the starting point for one of the most illustrious film careers to date. For almost 40 years, Spielberg’s imagination and innovation has captivated his audiences. From Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Lincoln, Spielberg’s film credentials are simply much greater than a summarized paragraph. Spielberg has always been willing to evolve and modernize with his filmmaking. The advancements in technology from Jaws to Jurassic Park to Minority Report are staggering. Spielberg’s two primary film genres have been historical and science fiction. The willingness to bring history to life in films such as Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan and then give us hints at the future with E.T. or A.I Artificial Intelligence indicates how talented Spielberg has become. Indiana Jones, Catch Me If You Can, and Munich rate as some of my personal favorites from Spielberg. Spielberg has always been a splendid director, who’ll continue his directorial evolution for years to come.

Dork: One of the absolute best.  Not only did he create the summer blockbuster, but he has brought absolute magic to the screen time after time.  Completely agree with this, although I might have included him lower on the list …

 

 

4. Quentin Tarantino- They’re vile, they’re cruel, they’re funny, and they’re unforgettable. The films of Quentin Tarantino each exude the style of the director in a multitude of ways. From his crisp camera work to his elaborate scripts, Tarantino has generated a cult following amongst film lovers. Reservoir Dogs kicked off his career and ever since the days of Mr. Pink and Mr. White, Tarantino has had his fingerprint on modern cinema. His thirst for violence is exuded in each of his films, with each one simply out doing the others. See Kill Bill. But, the stories have heart. Tarantino does a superb job blending his heroes and villains. The protagonists, although flawed and conflicted our characters we root for, while the antagonists are menacing creatures that have spawned from the mind of Tarantino. Django Unchained offers us this in its purest form as Tarantino explored the cruelties of slavery in the antebellum South. Even with Jackie Brown, Tarantino supplies us with a compelling story and interesting characters for us to ponder. Mr. Tarantino is a one of kind director, who is not afraid to push the envelope. Some may like him, others may hate him, but his unique style and love for the art of film has transcended the way we look at movies.

Dork: Although Kill Bill might be my favorite of his, I’m surprised at the lack of mentioning Pulp Fiction.  As far as directing goes, I feel that this is still his crowning achievement.  Everything from the pacing, the interwoven plots, the shots, the dialogue, the violence, the unforgettable characters, and so many memorable shots, it’s a shame you didn’t go into this film.  Fantastic director though.

 

 

3. Martin Scorsese- Martin Scorsese burst onto the scene with the psychological thriller, Taxi Driver in 1976. This grimy and controversial film put Scorsese on the map as a filmmaker and he’s never looked back. Scorsese’s stories are often woven with a multitude of gifted actors, Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio are staples in his Although, known for his major mob hits Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed, Scorsese has traveled along the director’s arch over the course of his career. A family film like 2011’s Hugo or a bio pic like The Aviator shows the directorial range that Scorsese has. He too uses violence as a thematic device, his brash and unfiltered characters elevate the enchantment of his films. But, my favorite film from Scorsese is the 1980 film Raging Bull. Here, we uncover the traumatic and depressing life of champion boxer Jake LaMatta (DeNiro). Never has a sports film grabbed me the way that this one did and it was Scorsese’s craft that allowed the film to flourish. It’s a perfect film. His record speaks for itself and I’m excited to see what Scorsese has up his sleeve for the rest of his career.

Dork: To this day, I still can’t believe this man has only one oscar, and so late in his career.  His track record is almost perfect, and I appreciate his range over the past decade.  It’s a shame that he seems to get left out of consideration half the time.  Excellent pick.

 

 

2. Christopher Nolan- With only a handful of films under his belt, Christopher Nolan has already established himself as one of the top director’s in Hollywood. His reliance on intricate and non-linear storytelling has prompted some of the most intellectually driven film debates in the last 15 years. Memento was Nolan’s first success in 2000. This film about a man with retrograde amnesia sparked a series of thrillers that have had similar patterns. Films like Insomnia and The Prestige are well-constructed labyrinth’s which beg the audience to pay close attention! The shots are graceful, the characters are fantastic, and the twists are always something to think about. Nolan’s sci-fi hit Inception created a layered puzzle for audiences to dive into. The film explores the dream world and has some of the best ideas and concepts for a blockbuster to date. Still, Nolan may be remembered for his rejuvenation of the Batman franchise. With Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan was able to explore the mythos of not only Batman, but more importantly Bruce Wayne. These films changed the legend of Batman and finally brought a proper live-action series to the screen. Nolan continues to bring fresh and exciting ideas to the movie table and I believe his best work has yet to be unveiled!

Dork: Ahh, here it is.  For a brief second, I thought you might have left him off.  How silly was I to think that.  Nolan has made some great movies.  In fact, sans Insomnia, I like them all.  However, placing him over classics such as Scorsese, Speilberg, Fincher, or pretty much everyone on this list (well, besides Lucas of course), is a bit overzealous.  I find the writing in his films to be the real strength, and its even better when other people assist him.  As I director, I feel he is kind of a one hit wonder, bringing movies that feel like they are in the same vein with similar morals and a dark, gritty, humorless realism.  It would be like me including J.J. Abrams because I liked his reboot of Star Trek.  What he brought to Batman is truly great, and I love his passion with practical effects, but he hasn’t done near enough to earn such a high spot.  

 

 

 

 

1. Paul Thomas Anderson- It has only taken Paul Thomas Anderson 5 films to convince me that he is the brightest director in the business today. Anderson’s film style is unquestionably magnetic and has an effect that leaves you craving for more. With 1997’s Boogie Nights, Anderson was able to achieve wonders by bringing in a story about the adult film industry. This character study and time piece is executed to perfection. On the surface the film may seem like complete sleaze, but once you peak into the drug infested world of the 70’s, you’ll understand just how tormented people were. One compelling aspect about these films is that Anderson continues to infuse religion into them, especially in Magnolia and The Master. However, we are left to question and critique the way the religion is used as an audience. Another example of  Anderson’s talent are shown in his dark comedy Punch-Drunk Love. The film installs concepts about love and morality in such a fine manner, that it became hard to picture Adam Sandler as a well-rounded actor. But, this is what Anderson can do. Anderson makes us question not only the characters and their actions but ourselves and how we might handle similar situations. For me, Anderson’s pinnacle is his brilliant film, There Will Be Blood. Never has a movie made me question the principles of capitalism or religion in such a fashion. The acting is a tour de force from Daniel Day-Lewis and Anderson is able to explore some of the common problems with power, greed, and manipulation. The cinematography for the film is unparalleled and the constant struggle between an oil tycoon and a persuasive preacher is the stuff of legend. There is no doubt this film will be analyzed, discussed, and debated at film schools across the world. Some feel that this movie will fall in line with Citizen Kane, widely considered the best film of all-time. The long continuous shots, the story, the music, the acting, and the ending are beyond perfect to me. Anderson has several years of filmmaking ahead of him and I’m curious to see where he will take us next!

Dork:  Anyone who can make a movie consisting of 3 hours of dialogue with 20 characters and Tom Cruise on of my favorite films certainly deserves high recognition.  His choice in subject matter, absolute originality in his works, and crafting scenes that are impossible to forget show his great showmanship.  He does only have 5 films though.  Its hard for me to rank someone so high with so few films.  And for the record, I’ve never heard anyone compare There Will Be Blood to Citizen Kane.  I think you made that up, which is silly because we both haven’t seen it.

 

 

Well, there is my Top 10 list. Obviously, you may notice some glaring omissions.Here is a list of probably some of the finest directors ever, I just don’t have a large enough viewing sample to include them in!

1. Alfred Hitchcock

2. Stanley Kubrick

3. Francis Ford Coppola

4. Sergio Leone

5. Frank Capra