fmian

I do remember this thread being around quite some time ago but couldn't find it with the search. Sorry if it's still active or something.

If you don't know, a director having Final Cut means that he/she has the last word on how the movie is put together, like what parts get cut, what the running time is, what kinda music to use, etc. Nowadays studios and producers tend to have more say in what the finished product will be, so it's actually quite rare to find a director who has Final Cut. This doesn't include directors of low budget B flicks or anything either.

From memory, I seem to remember P. T. Anderson saying on some commentary/making of that he had Final Cut for Magnolia.
I'm pretty sure George Lucas has it for his Star Wars movies (the new ones anyway).
I think I might have heard that Stanley Kubrick had it for some of his movies too, hence most of them being kinda far out.

Correct me if I'm wrong and list some other directors too.

Groucho

There was a thread about this some time ago, I can't find it now.

There's only a handful working today. Off the top of my head I'll name Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Woody Allen.

Giles

oh don't remind him, he'll probably find something wrong with the current DVD versions and correct them for the HD-DVD editions.

wendersfan

I would hope that Robert Altman does, but I wouldn't put money on it. I wonder about M. Night Shyamalan.

fmian

Hmm, I always though Speilberd DIDN'T have it for most of his big budget movies, hence why they seem to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Not saying that he's a bad director or that all his movies are like this, but his movies just don't seem to have an edge. Like you can't tell it's him directing it by just watching the movie... they all just seem to be 'general' movies that appeal to most people, rather than something very specific that an individual and those in his/her niche would enjoy.
I could be wrong though.

Groucho

Spielberg is his own boss, of course he has final cut.

And I can always tell a Spielberg film when I'm watching it.

I think Altman is a good guess. As for Shyamalan, I heard he got final cut on Unbreakable, but since then he has not.

scott shelton

A lot of directors have it on a case by case basis.

Shannon Nutt

Exactly...there are tons of directors that get final cut...even many first time directors get it.

Groucho

What first time director has gotten final cut? Not on a studio film!

Generally, what happens is a young director has a huge hit, so for their followup film they are given a "blank check" deal that usually includes final cut. This is usually revoked after they go apeshit with the money and creative control.

Very few directors have Final Cut all the time. Forgot one earlier: Quentin Tarantino.

wendersfan

And that's why it probably never happens anymore.

Groucho

I was of course talking about active directors, but you are correct about Welles.

starseed1981

If a director is also the main producer, he usually has final say.

Terrell

Well, there are some things that are wrong, that need to be corrected. Besides, he'll do it anyway. Lucas does what Lucas wants, not that I always like what he does. You and I'd do the same in his position.

As for the question, I'd guess that only Lucas and Spielberg have final cut on every film they do.

Crocker Jarmen

I'm pretty sure Spike Lee is insistent on getting final cut. And while I love many of his movies, after watching something like Jungle Fever or Bamboozled, I wonder if he might benefit from someone 'forcing' him to get rid of some of the films more wandering moments.

MahatmaPetey

i would guess the Coen Brothers get final cut, but i don't know.

scott shelton

Or SHE HATE ME, which is a good commerical for not giving Spike final cut anymore.

DonnachaOne

Norman Jewison won't make a movie unless he has final cut.

So we can blame him for that mess The Hurricane...

Cygnet74

each of the following routinely negotiate 'final cut' into their contracts: Woody Allen, James L. Brooks, Jonathan Demme, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Michael Mann, Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, Ridley Scott, Oliver Stone and Robert Zemeckis. also, Peter Jackson has 'final cut' for the first time on King Kong.

Groucho

Sydney Pollack? That one surprises me.

I think Oliver Stone's final cut privileges [Danny Glover]have just been revoked[/Danny Glover].

Giles

wonder if he filmed the "spider pit" scene...

sundog

I was thinking, including Bamboozled, just the opposite.

sundog

Jim Jarmusch owns the negatives to his films. And has, on one noted occasion, refused to cut at the behest of a distributor . . .

Crocker Jarmen

Do you mean just for the train wreck quality? Or do you actually think these movies work better as bloated, excessivly offensive, inconsistant in tone, over long movies?

I'm not trying to slam you if you really like these movies (I think the qualities I listed above do make Summer of Sam a great movie). I'm curious to find people who legitimently liked Bamboozled and She Hate Me, and not in a 'so bad it was fascinating way'.

Jay G.

I think Terry Gilliam had final cut on his first three films (Jaberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil), although he was later tricked into giving up final cut on Brazil.

sundog

Well, using 'legitimately' implies liking the films for their 'legitimate' reasons, which usually boils down, in my experience, to liking the story.

Bamboozled (which prepped me for She Hate Me) does barrel through the last act like the Silver Streak through Union Station, but that doesn't mean it didn't earn the right to do so.

It's been a few years so I can't get specific, but Bamboozled struck me as a very expressive work. It's a work that communicates its author's anger so well, that when the plot caves in on itself, it's perfectly natural. I liked the performances across the board, even the grotesqueness of Damon Wayans fit in with Lee's mad world. And of course Savion Glover's dancing was a joy to watch. Even the minstrel shows were quite mesmerizing (and disturbingly beautiful to look at, as Lee shot these scenes on 16mm film, not the digital video for the rest of the film).

And She Hate Me, I thought (in rare agreement with Roger Ebert) Lee used cliches and stereotypes to a masterful degree. And it had some very funny moments.

I like Spike Lee because of his way of expression on screen, it's so raw and beautiful when he lets loose.

And I found the 25th Hour quite good as well.

Though the performances in Summer of Sam made me detest that movie.