My Top Ten Directors [Part One]

Now I know this won’t be as controversial as if I had titled it “The Top Ten Directors of All Time”, because this way I’m able to defend my selection by simply stating preference rather than trying to stand behind some artistic values. And especially for those readers out there who know me will automatically know who my number one is and won’t try to argue with me, because we have already had this argument before and know exactly where it ends… it ends at the lonely dead end of personal preference. And I guess I’m writing this one more for those readers who don’t know me, and since I never really made a proper introduction when I started this site it will give you an idea of my theatrical taste rather than having to read through a dozen movie reviews and seeing if your preference and mine coincide.

So here we go…

I’ve been a fan of movies for a very long time now. However, for the last five to eight years I’ve been paying more or less keen attention to what goes on behind the camera rather than what goes on in front of it. And quickly I learnt how much more important the man standing behind the camera is than the ones standing in front of it.

TEN – Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks is one the great comic directors. He’s brought us some great films like “Blazing Saddles” (1974), “Young Frankenstein” (1974) and “History of the World : Part 1” (1981), which will never be forgotten. His talent for being able to emphasize some great character flaws within the high class of the world is great: Governor William J. Lepetomane in “Blazing Saddles”, King Louis XVI in “History of the World: Part 1” and even in “Life Stinks” (1991) with the huge businessmen and the world. And he does it all with a smile on his face, just like a clown would, which is why I guess we find them sad as well as funny, depending on how we look at them on that day. However, no matter how deep you view his movies there is no doubting the comedic genius and he is even more well credited for his creation of great characters that I’m sure will be rehashed for a long time to come (most recent example Maxwell Smart in “Get Smart”).

NINE – Christopher Nolan

His first big studio film “Memento” (2000) made it known that there was a new great director on the up and coming. He followed that up two years later with a well received film by the critics “Insomnia” (2002) starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, personally I wasn’t very impressed but as a follow-up you could do much worse (like a certain Shymalan that I know…). Then he hit true form with his reinterpretation of the night prowling detective of Gotham City, “Batman Begins” (2005) which was a best for the franchise so far. And his last film was definitely his best as a director, taking his art to a new level with “The Prestige” (2006) where he made the movie’s story (and direction) follow the same format as the actual subject. I know I won’t be the only one fighting to be first in line for his new movie “The Dark Knight” is released in another month.

EIGHT – Edgar Wright

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