Billy Wilder was pretty good. I've liked just about everything I've seen from him. Frank Capra too.

I don't know. While "Crimewave" is not up to the standards of his later work, there is enough visual inventiveness and slapstick that works at play to make it an interesting watch. For instance, I am constantly amused by the door chase.

By no means great, but not a complete turkey either. Just one of those films that could have only come out of the 80's.

I just watched "Crimewave" again less than a week ago (I'm on a big Raimi kick for some random reason, I broke out my trusty R0 release) and I agree that there are great moments in it, and I enjoy Brion James's performance more and more each time I see it, but I still think the overall tone of the movie defines "complete turkey" in spite of a few sporadic inspired moments.

Deciding between "For Love of the Game" and "Crimewave" for the "worst Raimi film" title is a real close call, though. Raimi's direction on "FLotG" is competent and the baseball scenes are particularly exciting but the script is just sooooo bad and the movie runs around 30-40 minutes longer than it should (which you can blame on Costner rather than Raimi). I think the moment where Kelly Preston does her "is this not America?" speech in the hospital is easily the cheesiest moment in any Raimi film, and this is coming from a director known for cheesy moments. The problem is that the normal "Raimi cheese" is fun and goofy whereas the aforementioned "FLotG" moment is just poorly-written and acted and totally embarrassing.

Anyways, my point is that I think "FLotG" and "Crimewave" have their redeeming qualities but you have to dig through an overwhelming amount of flaws to find them.

Ditto Wilder

DOUBLE INDEMNITY
LOST WEEKEND
SOME LIKE IT HOT
SUNSET BOULEVARD
BIG CARNIVAL
THE APARTMENT
ONE, TWO, THREE
THE FORTUNE COOKIE
KISS ME STUPID
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
STALAG 17
FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO
That I can think of off the top of my head
Just about everybody missed the mark at least once but others that batted nearly 1000:
John Ford
David Lean
William Wyler
George Stevens

Witness for the Prosecution and the Secret Life of Sherlock Holmes are pretty good too. Oh, and Sabrina.

Even though he only has four films under his belt, I'd still say he's one of the most consistent directors, if not of all time (since he has so few works to his credit right now), then at least of the current day. I said it right after watching Following and Memento, one day we'll all look back over film history and Christopher Nolan will be viewed a legend, one of the greatest and most consistent directors of all time.

What do you guys think of this list of the top ranking directors over at RottenTomatoes?

Howard Hawks

Michael Haneke. So far, I haven't liked only Code Unknown.

I liked "Memento" and "Batman Begins" but I thought "Insomnia" was a snoozefest. I haven't seen "Following" though.

I'm shocked that Sergio Leone hasn't been mentioned yet?

-Once Upon a Time in America
-A Fistful of Dynamite
-Once Upon a Time in the West
-The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
-For a Few Dollars More
-A Fistful of Dollars

David Cronenberg is pretty consistent:

A History of Violence (2005)
Spider (2002)
eXistenZ (1999)
Crash (1996/I)
M. Butterfly (1993)
Naked Lunch (1991)
Dead Ringers (1988)
The Fly (1986)
The Dead Zone (1983)
Videodrome (1983)
Scanners (1981)


Michael Mann is also good:

Miami Vice (2006) (looks like it could be good)
Collateral (2004)
Ali (2001)
The Insider (1999)
Heat (1995)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Manhunter (1986)
... aka Red Dragon: The Curse of Hannibal Lecter (USA: TV title)

Ozu.

I would say Kubrick, hands down.

I wish I could say P.T. Anderson, Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, or one of the many other great choices mentioned here but I'd like to point out that directors like PT, Wes and Q have only made about 4 or 5 movies apiece while guys like Kubrick, Spielberg, and Kurosawa have had much longer careers and have each been consistent in quality throughout.

Luc Besson

Dont feel like posting all his films but "the professional" and "District B13" are a couple.

Charles Laughton

For a real answer, I'd have to say that Orson Welles maintained a very high level of quality in his films, and especially maintained a consistent distinctive look and sound to his work despite working with numerous cinematographers and often with limited resources. F for Fake is intentionally different from his other films but still quite good IMHO.

*DING DING DING* We have a winner.

Well for a close 2nd, I cannot find flaw with the works of Alejandro Amenabar:

- Tesis
- Abre los Ojos
- The Others
- Mar Adentro

I'd follow that with Almodovar. His string of films from the 80s to today is absolutely sublime.

Yes, all one of his films are very consistent!

Where's the love for <b>Peter Weir</b>? I've yet to see a movie of his that isn't very good - great.

Master & Commander
Truman Show
Fearless
Greencard
Dead Poets Society
Witness
etc...

Have you SEEN "The Keep"??

Nope, is it a stinker?

"Manhunter" is the earliest of his films that I've seen. I haven't seen "Ali" either, but the films I listed are a pretty good run for the last twenty years.

Spielberg

Cronenberg

Preston Sturges

Michael Mann is definately consistent...all crap. I'd have to stick with Kurosawa or Hitchcock.

Thanks for your wonderful insight?

What about Cameron Crowe? How do you feel about his works, especially Say Anything and his lead character Lloyd Dobler?