Directors & Writers I Respect

someone who delivered so many masterpieces i ran out of fingers to count them all. Even though widely know for his samurai cinema he was quite versatile a storyteller if you take a look at his entire filmography

Whether by the pen or with the camera any film associated with John Huston seemed to breathe fresh life into it. Deep with in the clean and polished hollywood style Huston's films seem to have this "dirt underneath the fingernails " style to it. Imitated never duplicated

A versatile writer/director who knows that fine line between dark drama and comedy. He is unafraid to show the dark sides of all of us. His stories are filled with scrappers, opportunist, and survivors as endearing main characters.

The King

One of the greatest directors of all time. Continuously delivering a versatile solid body of work. The projects he puts his name on continue to challenge himself and audiences. From what I understand stays under budget and delivers his work on time. Works well with his cast and crew,

For many many years, the hollywood studio system continued an endless stream of writers, directors, editors, and cameramen, who were slated into whatever came their way. Michael Curtiz always seemed to make it work no matter what genre. The man did it all and put his stamp on each genre. Take a look at the classic years of Hollywood by genre and Michael Curtiz credit appears time and time again.

In the same spirit as Powell & Pressburger, Joel & Ethan Coen are one individual directing entity. It is amazing how diverse and subtle they can be in their filmography. Not every film is a masterpiece. When they intentionally write a comedy (except raising arizona & Lebowski) they tend to take it over the top. When they make a film in which it just happens to be funny (Fargo, A Serious Man) it is excellently crafted.

He just knew how to bring a script and an actor alive. Knew what a rehearsal is suppose to be used for. Knew how to handle all kinds of performers. Every film was different and organically came to life on screen. No one like him never will be another.

A lot of film buffs already know that Chaplin starred arranged directed produced financed and released his own films. Chaplin also took enormous risks with his audience. When people only wanted him. He released Woman of Paris with Edna Purvance. When Hollywood switched to sound. He made City Lights & Modern Times. When the USA refused involvement in the War in Europe in 1940. Out came the Great Dictator. When only a few could distribute United Artist was created.

Grandfather of filmmaking. Forget birth of a nation and just peer into his work.

Even though i would have loved to see Hitchcock outside of his comfort zone of Mystery/Thriller/Suspense, his films are still quite enjoyable and masterfully executed.

I am just blown away by what this man has done. I cant wait to see what he continues to bring us.

Labeled too quickly as being too cerebral a director. Give him a chance and you will find a great deal more substance in his work. I don't think i've seen more accurate relationships portrayed in film then the ones you see in Bergman. While his existential examinations may have been a little overwhelming in my early twenties. I am so glad they are around now in my mid/late 30's

Billy Wilder had a sign in his office " W W L D " What would Lubitsch Do ?

There is nothing like an Anthony Mann western.

I am still scratching my head how the F Michael Powell, Pressburger, and Jack Cardiff did what they did when they did.

Really pushed how stories can be presented. Loved to have seen another film of his in which he had complete control.

I am not the person to call myself a fanatic of his films. Dr Strangelove and Spartacus are the only films of his i can take repeated viewings of. I do respect him for challenging the conventions of film storytelling. Brilliantly crafted films. No one shoots a movie like Kubrick. His biggest flaw, his writing.

You can't look back at your years of enjoying those warner bros cartoons and forget the impact he had. Friz Freleng, Tex Avery, Bob Clampet and so many others did as well. Chuck Jones always pushed what he could do with the medium. Animation allows your brain to spill on paper. The technique and method of the man just is remarkable. While Disney played it safe most of the time. Chuck took what had been done and turned it on its head.

Patterns (1956) [TV MOVIE] Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) Seven Days in May (1964) Planet of the Apes (1968) [co-wrote] oh yeah and a little science fiction / storyteller program The Twilight Zone

Really appreciated how he told his stories. Mostly from the perspective of how he viewed America. An immigrant holds the mirror up to America a lot differently than full blooded American director would

I am not a fan of all of his joints. He does spark conversations and he is a storyteller with a lot to express. I respect what he has achieved in his career. When you think you have Spike pegged, out comes something new fresh and for a time provocative.

Not everyone warms themselves to his films and i am understanding to that. Not all of his films would i consider GOD on celluloid. When many writers and directors come out maybe with a film or two every five years or so Woody has continued to write direct and release a new different film every year. While alot of common themes can be found, every film he makes is different from the last. Women are written as complex human beings in his films. We see a sliver of Woody in every character he writes. His calm and still camera style makes the audience pay attention to whats being filmed than rather how its being filmed. His latest films however have been grasping at straws to stay relevant. His years as good story teller are well behind him

An auteur of still yet lively Japanese filmmaking. I look at his films as one would see a mosaic/dottism art piece. As one watches one scene to another it doesnt appear on the surface to be going anywhere. After the films are over you begin to get the film as a whole. Ozu captures a complex weave of family roles, identity, and dynamics within his elegant composition.