-The- Best Director Poll (multiple vote)

[Crispy]

So that other thread was getting kinda crowded (and the first poll I tried to start got shafted) so I thought I'd post a poll to see who is really the king of direction.

Tips to make sure the poll gives a better reflection of people's real views:

- Lots of you might really like a director, but we're talking favourites here. Only vote for someone you would describe as one of your top 5 directors.

- If it comes down to a tough choice for the number 5 spot, just go through all the films they've made and if there are some unforgivables on there then *cut*.

- If you don't have 5 favourite directors, just vote for as many you would consider favourites. It will give them a higher share of the overall vote if you're not also nominating 4 other directors.

---

It was a tough call putting this list together. The maximum for a poll is 10 options. I tried to include directors from every genre so that everyone could find at least one name they would give a vote to. It is for this reason that you will probably find some names on here you would place below others. It was a very hard decision.

The vote will last for seven days only. By then we will have a new sovereign to bow down to. Hail king :O ?

 

[Crispy]

Here is my explanation for the list; why I kept/dropped who:

A lot of directors were cut from the list for not releasing good films lately and others for releasing absolutely abismal films. David Lynch, while some of his films are masterful, just couldn't be forgiven for Dune, even though films like Mulholland Drive almost more than made up for this. Steven Soderbergh These two decisions are made even more controversial when you look at this page.

Akira Kurosawa On the other hand some film directors got cut because they're fairly early on in their careers and have yet to really prove themselves (Walter Salles) or have yet to branch out into slightly different film-making (Kevin Smith).

This may lead you to question why I included Hayao Miyazaki. Probably the two most controversial inclusions are David Lean and Hayao Miyazaki. Lean gets in because he made some astoundingly good films over a range of genres, whether it be Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago or Some Like it Hot. Conversely Miyazaki has a very unique way of storytelling and hasn't strayed much from this stye so far but I felt I had to put in an animated film director. And who better to choose for this than a relatively new face in the public cinematic eye who seems to be going from strength to strength.

A lot of prolific film directors got dropped simply because, while their films pushed the boundaries and explored unknown cinematic territory, their beauty remains largely inaccessible to the average audience. Some of the European Masters such as Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and Pedro Almodovar. At the other end of this scale Steven Spielberg is a man who makes very accessible films. Even if he has lately fallen into a pattern of making 'good' but not 'great' movies, he has an eye for a good story which has, in the past, produced some gems of cinematic history like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Color Purple, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.

There had to be a director included who does weird well. I dropped Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director responsible for Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain and other beautifully sculpted and off-beat greats. Tim Burton also had to go because of a few lacklustre works of late (and I'm not talking about Big Fish). A popular vote in the thread that preceded this poll, Terry Gilliam was, if I'm honest, an early addition to the list. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Twelve Monkeys, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil, The Life of Brian, Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail; all of these are so undeniably eccentric, so irrefutably immersive whether in the world of fantasy or odd. An obvious hit with the gamers.

Finally it pained me to drop Francis Ford Coppola from the list in favour of Martin Scorsese, but I think this elimination was justified. Scorsese has entertained us for over 20 years now and doesn't show signs of stopping. But I also have a lot of respect for Coppola who dedicated much of his life to one of the two best film trilogies of all time and still managed to pull out an epic like Apocalypse Now, and more recently The Rainmaker, one of the few courtroom drama's I actually like. What can I say? He made me an offer I couldn't refuse...

Perhaps my favourite courtroom drama, though, is JFK. Along with other greats such as Platoon and Natural Born Killers, Oliver Stone has definitely done some great films. But I waver here, perhaps he should have been replaced by Lynch or Soderbergh. Probably, but there's not doubt in my mind that the man responsible for some of Stone's fame deserves a place in this list of ten.

When you hear about his struggle to directing fame you can't help but respect this guy. His first film, a small-time movie shot over 3 years on his days off whenever he had saved up enough of his minimum wage for a shoot, he admits was nothing special at all. But it taught him the ins and outs of making a film. His first screenplays were sold on to other directors; Oliver Stone took Natural Born Killers and Tony Scott took True Romance. But the latter was only after Quentin Tarantino said he wanted Reservoir Dogs to be his first. While I've been quietly unimpressed by the Kill Bill saga, a string of greats including Pulp Fiction, guest appearanced behind the camara for episodes of ER and CSI and his recent teaming up with Robert Rodriguez for Sin City more than justify his inclusion on the list.

I almost didn't mention Ridley Scott. Without Alien there would be no Aliens (or Alien 3, or Alien: Resurrection, or Alien vs. Predator... OK I'll stop now, I just hope the same happens for the Alien franchise). Without Ridley Scott there would be no Gladiator, no Thelma and Louise (and arguably no Brad Pitt), no Blade Runner, and no Alien (or Black Hawk Down, Hannibal, G.I. Jane, Legend... OK seriously, I'll stop if he does). A real Marmite man this one.

Kubrik needs no explanation. No, really. But just in case you want to vote but can't remember who made which film I'll include a list of Mr. Stanley Kubrik's work: Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut. He's where my money's at.

On with the vote!

 

[Angry Lawyer]

There's a distinct lack of Uwe Boll in there.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[Crispy]

There's a distinct lack of Uwe Boll in there.

-Angry Lawyer

In the same way that one could claim there's a distinct absence of quality in his films. :O

 

[DeusExMachina]

I don't really like the list. I want David Lynch up there. He directed what, one bad movie? Wow, Dune. Whoop dee doo. Quentin is a good director and all, but not at all one of the best directors up there. Where's David Cronenberg? Roman Polanski?

 

[Crispy]

There's no doubt about Quentin, I'm sorry I won't concede on that one. Not only has he created a much copied style of his own he's brought untapped genres closer to the public eye insofaras the Samurai genre, the Comic Book genre (films made in the style of a comic book, and there will be more) AND he's pushed back censorship boundaries for film-making in the 'States, helping bring a much needed move to liberal social attitudes there.

Oliver Stone and perhaps David Lean should have been substituted for Lynch. I can see that now, but Dune isn't just bad. It's nigh-on unwatchable, and he has no excuses for that given the masterpieces he had to work from. Many of his films since then have surpassed expectation, but there are other directors who haven't blundered so heavily. That is, apart from Ridley. Poor Ridley. But Ridley brought franchises that shaped our gaming culture.

Who knows if the makers of Deux Ex were or were not introduced to the cyberpunk genre by films or the original books? Without Alien what would gaming look like today without Mods like Natural Selection which popularize new off-shoot gaming genres such as the RTS/FPS hybrid? For all its faults Black Hawk Down used a lot of special effects that may have transferred back towards the game development. Cronenberg has had similar impact but his films are arguably les-accomplished.

I had to think about my audience. I threw in David Lean because I thought some older gamers might see where I was coming from. It was probably a mistake, but the votes will be the judge of that.

I'm glad this is causing controversy, because it'll get more people to consider watching films by director's they've never really heard of/rated highly before now. If it does that much I'll be glad.

 

[StardogChampion]

I voted Gilliam. Also, QTarantino only directed 1 small scene from Sin City as far as I know, it was hardly a "teaming up", and almost every scene was a direct copy from the comic.

 

[Harryz]

I don't really like the list. I want David Lynch up there. He directed what, one bad movie? Wow, Dune. Whoop dee doo. Quentin is a good director and all, but not at all one of the best directors up there. Where's David Cronenberg? Roman Polanski?

What he said and David Fincher? Se7en, The Game and Fight Club were awesome.

 

[Crispy]

What he said and David Fincher? Se7en, The Game and Fight Club were awesome.

I wouldn't disagree. It was a difficult choice. If I had to make a shortlist of 10 best films there'd probably be a Fincher and a Lynch film in there. But that would be an insanely difficult list to make.

As for QT and RR, they're kinda mates. I very much doubt that QT only helped out on the one scene in Sin City.

 

[JellyWorld]

Spielberg, Tarantino and Miyazaki!

 

[operative x]

Is a clockwork orange anygood? i keep hearing people talk about it. Whats it about anyway? I might rent it if you foolio's convince me.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Book's better.

 

[Crispy]

The book is better but the film is still a great. What Mr. Pemberton says here in his summary of A Clockwork Orange pretty much sums up the cleverness of the film.

 

[KagePrototype]

Steven Spielberg, bar none.

 

[Space Farm]

Tarintino is a hack.

 

[Kamikazie]

Steven and Quentin FTW!

EDIT: and Ridley Scott really isnt a film director, he just produces them...

 

[xLostx]

ridley scott ftw but I also like some of tarantino's work so i voted for him as well

 

[DeusExMachina]

Steven and Quentin FTW!

EDIT: and Ridley Scott really isnt a film director, he just produces them...

Blade Runner?
Aliens?
Black Hawk Down?

 

[Kamikazie]

Blade Runner?
Aliens?
Black Hawk Down?

err...damn IMDB, i didnt scroll all the way to the next section, and its pretty cool that he produced and directed most of his movies... :S

 

[Rebel Racer]

Spielberg

 

[Crispy]

Wow, Spielberg's closed the gap on Tarantino, while Kubrik and Kurosawa are making late comebacks.

And someone voted Lean! Thanks, I was starting to get embarassed. :cheese:

 

[Sulkdodds]

Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick - admittedly being the only directors I've watched enough films by (apart from Stone).

 

[crackhead]

you should be shot for leaving david lynch out of this. also how is quentin tarentino winning!? kubrick is the best out of that list i mean come on!

 

[SAJ]

David Lynch, while some of his films are masterful, just couldn't be forgiven for Dune

Im really glad you said that crispy.
That is word-for-word exactly what Ive said about lynch for years. Great as he may be, him and his ego stomped that book into confusing ,overblown chunks, such a waste.
Kubrik, by a mile anyhow.

 

[Direwolf]

Wheres Uwe Boll?

 

[DeusExMachina]

So? Oliver Stone made Alexander, yet he's still up there.

Once again, this list needs some Lynch. And Cronenberg. And Polanski, etc. Tarantino needs to be taken off.

 

[Crispy]

Maybe I'll do a second vote with a set of 10 other Directors, including Fincher, Lynch, Soderbergh, Coppola and Cronenberg. Then Lynch will have his day.

[Edit] I must say, I'm surprised that Gilliam hasn't got more votes...

 

[Kamikazie]

wow...you really want people to vote in this dont you...you went as far as sigging it...

 

[Crispy]

I wanted to get a vote from a wider audience than just the guys who watch films a lot. This is to do with some film theory elements I'm reading up about at the moment. Basically the language of words is fairly fixed. They generally transfer a few, fixed meanings in terms of sound and definition.

Film is not fixed, but can appeal to different people for different reasons. It's much more down to personal interpretation. The main point is that there's a theory that the more films you watch, the better you understand them. With words, the better you understand a language the better you speak it. Film is the opposite "for to speak [film] is partly to invent it". The more you can draw from a film the more meaning it has. It's just down to recognising different aspects of cinematography.

So I wanted to pick critically acclaimed directors and put them up to a broader vote, not just those who can recognise film technique and draw more value from technically brilliant films because they watch more of them. How do the critically acclaimed directors stand up to the public vote?

 

[Absinthe]

No Lynch? I shit on your poll!

 

[TheGrimSweeper]

Ridley Scotts a very good director, especially how he presents colours on the screen, like in Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.

Steven Spilebergs also up there of course.

 

[Space Farm]

That's the cinematographers job, not necessarily the director's.

 

[Skaadi]

Wait a minute, who here besides me chose the Kurosawa option?

 

[mortiz]

Stanley Kubrick is the best the director on the list, maybe not my favourite, but the best.

Anyone else who says otherwise is wrong.

 

[OCybrManO]

Wait a minute, who here besides me chose the Kurosawa option?

I'm one of them.

 

[Bohonkie]

Tarintino is a hack.

You're a moron.

Yeah, I've seen others post this exact statement, but it's pointless. Every director is influenced by other directors. Tarantino doesn't have a single, repetitive formula for directing: it's definately evolved over the years. The guy is a screen writing genius. No one, I mean no one, can write dialogue like Tarantino.

 

[DeusExMachina]

You're a moron.

Yeah, I've seen others post this exact statement, but it's pointless. Every director is influenced by other directors. Tarantino doesn't have a single, repetitive formula for directing: it's definately evolved over the years. The guy is a screen writing genius. No one, I mean no one, can write dialogue like Tarantino.

Well I would hope no one can write like him. That's what make people unique, doing their own thing. I know plenty of writers who write better than him. I know plenty who write worse. He's a good director-writer and all, but people need to get him off this greatest director ever crap. Kill Bill was a good film (combining the two volumes here), but not something I would watch over and over again. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, True Romance...that's stuff I can watch over and over again. Hopefully, he hasn't fully lost his touch.

 

[Bohonkie]

Well I would hope no one can write like him. That's what make people unique, doing their own thing. I know plenty of writers who write better than him. I know plenty who write worse. He's a good director-writer and all, but people need to get him off this greatest director ever crap. Kill Bill was a good film (combining the two volumes here), but not something I would watch over and over again. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, True Romance...that's stuff I can watch over and over again. Hopefully, he hasn't fully lost his touch.

In modern cinema, he writes the best dialogue, no question. He writes like real people talk.

And for your other point, I definately wasn't saying he's the greatest director ever. Nowhere in my post did I ever even mention that. I was just defending him after someone labled him a mere, "hack."

 

[Space Farm]

Yes well that comment I made earlier was a bit...well, I used the wrong word, but I completely agree with DeusExMachinia in that people think he is the greatest director that ever lived.

He just seems to be the 'flavour of the week' for a lot of people since the Kill Bill movies and I'm wondering if these movies will ever stand the test of time? Will they be as great as they are today in another 50 years? Will Tarintino even be remembered in another 50 years? I think if you can answer yes to all those questions, then he is truly a great director. But hey, it all comes to your own personal opinion really.

(By the way, I love Resevoir Dogs and Pulp fiction..I have them all on DVD.)

 

[63]

Where's Jackson?