[Lineski]

Here's a small list in no particular order, although I'll probably list my favorites closer to the top:

-Stanley Kubrick
-Wes Anderson
-Sergio Leone
-Pt Anderson
-Martin Scorsese
-Alfred Hitchcock
-Quentin Tarantino
-Alexander Payne
-Orson Welles
-Brian de Palma
-Mike Nichols
-Clint Eastwood
-Francis Ford Coppola
-Sophia Coppola
-Joel Cohen
-David Fincher
-David Lynch
-Frank Capra
-Milos Forman
-Spike Jonze
-Robert Zemeckis
-Steven Spielberg...when he still knew how to make movies
-Oliver Stone...see above

[Rocky]

What about Ridley Scott, Ang Lee, Christopher Nolan and Miike Takashi

[Lineski]

Originally Posted by Rocky

What about Ridley Scott, Ang Lee, Christopher Nolan and Miike Takashi

Not a big Ridle Scott fan, sorry. But I was happy to see the rise and fall of the "ancient epic" end up in his hands (Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven)

I like Ang Lee a lot, and actually thought of adding him later but couldn't edit it and didn't think anyone would call me on it haha.

I love Christopher Nolan's first two films (I'm discounting The Following so I mean Memento and Insomnia). I did like Batman Begins a lot, it was by far the best batman movie ever, I just feel Nolan's talent should put him above that. Yes, the movie was done well, looked great and he got what he needed from his actors, but I'd like to see him move into the more high-art end of the industry because I think he has the talent to do it. Like after watching Memento can you really say that he shouldn't be making better movies than Batman Begins? Every director has their fun movies, I'd just like to see him get more back to his roots.

And I'm not so familar with Takashi, but I can't believe I left out Kurosawa from my list!

[Rocky]

Indeed Kurosawa! Disgarceful omission!

Check out some Takashi films! He truly is a visionary - really extreme cinema. The most well known of his is probably "Audtition" - but he's done loads! Really freaky and unconventional narratives.

I know what you mean about Nolan, but in a way I think it's to his benefit to do the more conventional film as hopefully it will give him the leverage to get more power from the studios when he goes back to making more the Memento style films.

[Rocky]

Another couple too who I forgot. Cameron Crowe, and I think Wes Craven and John Carpenter deserve a mention for their earlier work - back then it was pretty pioneering of one sort or another. SFX for the thing and Last House on the left and Hills have eyes were pretty extreme for the time, if not great films. Nonetheless the influence they've had on the genre can't be ignored.

[Lineski]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Another couple too who I forgot. Cameron Crowe, and I think Wes Craven and John Carpenter deserve a mention for their earlier work - back then it was pretty pioneering of one sort or another. SFX for the thing and Last House on the left and Hills have eyes were pretty extreme for the time, if not great films. Nonetheless the influence they've had on the genre can't be ignored.

Crowe and Michael Mann are two I had on my original fairly long list that I didn't mention. Robert Redford (minus The Legend of Bagger Vance) and Warren Beatty also deserve recognition. I'm glad you didn't bring up Ron Howard as I feel that if you gave me a million dollars I can make a better movie than something he'd spend 40 million making.

Sam Mendes is also good, Jarhead was slightly dissapointing (biggest problem being unrealistic character arcs) but his first two movies (American Beauty and Road to Perdition) were solid. I hear he may be taking time off though to just spend time with his family in England, so good for him.

[Rocky]

Was also thinking Sam Mendes on the strength of the same films you mentioned. Can't believe I left out Mann. I'll be interested to see how Miami Vice pans out.

[LitterTrove]

Any more accolades for the world's most popular film-makers?

I just saw The Beat That My Heart Skipped. About a week ago I started in 10 minutes but turned it off because I wasn't in the mood for a slow movie. Finally got back to it, and I'm happy to say that it really took off, particularly in the music sequences.

It's about a 28 year-old French man who's landed in thuggish work with bad people. I don't entirely understand it, but he drives people out of prospective properties for a real estate speculation group. They plant rats, turn off water and power, and even trash the place to get people out and prevent them from settling there. He's a bit neurotic, like his dead mother we hear in a piano tape -- she keeps stopping her piece and explaining, exasperated, that is wasn't good enough. His father and him are close, but when he learns his son intends to rekindle his classical music studies, he uses his wife as a counterexample; they have a fight and briefly part ways. Ever seen a movie about a gangster who just wants to play piano?

This is a fantastic characterization movie. There are no scenes without the protagonist, and he's great to watch. The cinematography is crisp but shakey, matching the jittery but well-groomed protagonist.

[thedon]

Martin Scorsese, quentin tarantino, Brian de Palma, Clint Eastwood, francis ford coppola, Stanley Kubrick

[De_battre]

The Beat my Heart Skipped is a remake of a film called Fingers that starred Harvey Keitel. For once the remake is excellent and i think it is hard to tell which is superior.

Lineski that is not nearly as pretentious as it could be so don't hide your tastes! I was expecting names like Truffaut, Bergman, Kar-Wai and Antonioni!!!

I agree in a big way with some of your choices, but think in a couple of cases it is too early to judge whether the person in question is a great director or not. Most controversially, i am not sure about QT. I think PF and RD (in particular) were excellent but the rest of his work to date has not lived up to the potential shown in those two films in my opinion.

Sofia Coppola? Isn't it a bit early to tell?

I am afraid on Fincher i simply disagree. I don't like him...

[De_battre]

On a postivie note, i agree with Kubrick (!!!), Lynch, Welles, Scorcese, Jonze and Leone (who wouldn't agree with Leone??). I would probably also add Cronenberg to this list.

I am also a huge Kurosawa fan, Rock. I have heard talk of Miike many times but have never been able to track to down any of his films (they must be very obscure).

Have either of you seen a Korean film called Oldboy? That is one of the more exciting films i have seen in recent years. Highly recommended!

[Lineski]

Well I've gotta get to my cardio but I'm giving Fincher credit soley on Fight Club, where the camera movement is absolutely amazing. Whether you like the movie or not, I don't think another director could've given the screenplay justice in the way Fincher did. It's sorta how I feel about Tony Scott who I think is more than capable of making a good movie and has shown incredible craftsmanship potential but has failed to find a suiting screenplay for his uncompromising style (and even then he should probably still pull it back a little).

Sure, I look pretention to an extent (Pt Anderson gets away with some things I'd normally would be like "wtf!?") but I also studied design (as well as film) for a little while so I don't let too many people get away with arbitrary decisions; it's just simply not good art. Yes, some on that list are fairly questionable, but I'm not saying I enjoy all their movies, if I were to list that, it wouldn't be much of a list.

With Sofia Copolla, you're right, it may be too early too tell but I was a huge fan of LIT and am really looking for to Marie-Antoinette. I'm not sure if you've seen the trailer or not but it sort of looks like LIT meets Barry Lyndon!

More than anything when I refer to my "snobbish shell" (your words, but I like the phrase) I'm talking of just how critical I can be of modern movies (and even classics) where as some people just tend to "accept" things. For instance, it appauls me that Munich and Crash are nominated for best picture this year. There are things in both of those movies that good movie-makers just shouldn't do I can't believe the public, let alone the academy is accepting it (although the most popular of the critics agree with me on Munich, see rottentomatoes.com). I'm also one of the people that when others only like the less known, independent directors I feel they're taking things a little too far; I'm a realist in that sense. I feel anyone is capable of making a great movie, although it's unlikely, and if they do I'll acknowledge them for it. If they don't, they'll get blasted lol.

One last topic, on the subject of QT, personally I'm a big fan. He's by far one of the most accessible directors when it comes to choice of shots, pacing, style, etc. and whether you hate or love him, he's a film-love first, who's making films. My only problem with him is that his work-speed is slow but hey I can't complain with the results. Oh...and his buddy Rodriquez is another one to watch (proved he can do almost anything digital by himself with Sin City), however he's another one I'd like to see eventually to a prestige piece.

We'll talk more later, I've just woken up (sorry if I was rambling), and now I"m going to do cardio and head off to church. Later guys.