10. Darren Aronofsky
Films: Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky is another polarizing figure in Hollywood, but not because of controversies. Aronofsky simply makes polarizing films. Aronofsky’s work is absolutely brutal to watch at times, but the visual brutality is needed to get the message across. Some people may find his films difficult to watch. His debut film, Pi, was a low budget, black and white film. Pi was made on a budget of $60,000 and it brought in over $3 million. His follow up to Pi, was his best film, Requiem for a Dream. Aronofsky really began to push the envelope with this film by showing people in very lewd non-sexual sex scenes, people graphically using heroin, an orgy, an amputation, etc. This film is particularly hard to watch because of the way it is shot. All of the scenes that show people using drugs are shot quickly and from that characters perspective, making the viewer feel like they are in the character’s body. It is an uncomfortable thing to watch and to this day I would say it is the most emotionally draining film I’ve ever seen. When the movie ended the first time I saw it, I remember sitting there through the rolling of the credits, and then for an additional ten minutes without moving. I felt like I had just been hit by a Mack truck. Aronofsky’s next film, The Fountain, dealt with the tree of life, the story of Adam and Eve, time travel, etc. The Fountain is a terrific movie to watch although it may require multiple viewings. The Wrestler was Aronofsky’s most successful film. It was nominated for many prestigious awards in 2008 including 2 Academy Awards. The Wrestler was a gruesome portrayal of the life of a worn down wrestler. The wrestling scenes are brutal. Aronofsky’s next film, Black Swan deals with a rivalry between ballet dancers and the psychological issues of a girl who is trying to be a perfect ballerina. Aronofsky has what I would consider the second best director/composer relationship of all time with Clint Mansell. Some day they may pass Leone and Morricone on my director/composer list.
9. Steven Spielberg
Films: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET: The Extra Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, Artificial Intelligence: AI, Minority Report, Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, War of the Worlds, Munich
This director really doesn’t need any introduction. Of course Steven Spielberg makes the list. Spielberg is likely Hollywood’s most famous director and deservedly so. Spielberg’s films are extremely diverse. Some are sad (Schindler’s List), some are scary (Jaws), some are alien related (AI, ET, Close Encounters, War of the Worlds), some are true stories (Catch Me if You Can). All of Spielberg’s films are good and most of them are excellent. Spielberg is Hollywood’s busiest man behind the scenes. He is currently directing 3 films that are in production stages, producing 12 films that are in production stages, producing 4 TV series’ that are in production stages, and appearing as himself in 2 documentaries that are in production stages. He has worked on everything in film from cinematography (War of the Worlds), to music (Jaws), to editing (The Goonies, Poltergeist). We are extremely lucky that Spielberg has shared his unique talents with us often rather than keep them to himself like many directors do. There isn’t much I can say about Spielberg that everybody doesn’t already know. When people think of directors… Spielberg is always one of the first mentioned.
8. Christopher Nolan
Films: Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception
Christopher Nolan makes blockbusters in a new way. He makes blockbusters that are not dumbed down to keep the audience entertained. Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, and Inception are his 4 true feature films. Like Aronofsky, Kubrick, or Lynch, Nolan has a knack for confusing the audience. Nolan makes blockbusters with heart. All of his films are truly remarkable to watch. They were made for the big screen. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are his installations to the Batman franchise. These are, in my opinion, the two best Batman movies ever made and he still has one more on the way. Although I wouldn’t rank it so high, Nolan’s 2010 film Inception, is ranked the 4th best movie of all time on IMDb.com and it shows no signs of wavering. I think Nolan’s best film is either Memento or Inception. Memento may be a bit more pleasing to the mind while Inception may be a bit more pleasing to the eyes. Nolan received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for Memento. He also directed Heath Ledger in the most realistic portrayal of a character from a superhero movie ever. Ledger of course posthumously won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing the Joker. Many people speculated that the 2009 Academy Awards had changed its format to feature 10 films nominated for Best Picture rather than 5 because of public outrage over the absence of The Dark Knight from the list of nominees. Whether this is truly the reason, or part of the reason, or not at all, Nolan has completely changed the face of blockbusters. At 40 years of age Nolan still has a lot of time ahead of him to make more amazing films.
7. Joel & Ethan Coen
Films: The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou, No Country for Old Men, Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, True Grit
These brothers have teamed up together to direct some of Hollywood’s freshest movies of the last 20 years. Fargo won two Oscars; O Brother Where Art Thou was nominated for two Oscars; No Country for Old Men won four Oscars; Burn After Reading was nominated for two Golden Globes, and A Serious Man was nominated for two Oscars. No Country for Old Men, The Big Lebowski, and Fargo each hold a spot on IMDb.com’s Top 250 list. Their new film True Grit looks very promising. They frequently use the same actors and actresses in multiple films. They enjoy makes their films take place in the 1980s to early 1990s. They produce performances that are highly exaggerated by the actors, and it makes for sheer entertainment. The character development in their films is what truly amazes me. After watching a Coen brothers movie I feel like I’ve known everybody on the cast for years, and it makes me hate to see the movie end.
6. Clint Eastwood
Films: Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, Changeling, Gran Torino, Invictus, Hereafter
Clint Eastwood started acting in the 1950s and later became a director in the 1970s. He has received four Oscars for various roles (Directing and acting). Eastwood’s films have been amazing. Whether about war, aging, kidnappings, boxing or something completely different, Easwtood’s films always deliver. Eastwood is a living legend as both a director and an actor. A couple of other directors on this list act as well, but they are nowhere near the realm of Clint Eastwood. At 80 years of age one would think Eastwood may not have a lot left in the tank, but that hasn’t stopped him from directing the upcoming film, Hereafter, which will be Eastwood’s first dip into the sci-fi area of film. Eastwood has been ruled finished over and over again and he has always stood up to the naysayers and come back stronger each time. The man may never stop making films and because of that he holds the number 6 spot on my list. He has given his life to the entertainment of others.
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