Martin Scorsese seems to know more about film history than any other director I've read about. See his commentaries and interviews on selected DVDs. He could be an even better teacher than he is a filmmaker.

Quentin Tarantino, while I don't always jive with his films, knows film. He is first and foremost a student and fan of cinema. He knows his stuff.

I like to think all directors have at least some knowledge of the past, but do you know any others in particular that have a true appreciation for film?

Edgar (Shaun of the Dead) Wright
Terry Gilliam

He was a teacher. He taught Oliver Stone at NYU. So, if a professor's students are a reflection of their professor, I'd say he made a great teacher.

Peter Bogdanovich definately needs to be added to the list. As does Francis Ford Coppola, Brian DePalma(def. a better teacher than director), and as probably George Lucas as well. That whole 70's film school director group know a hell of a lot about film history.

That's interesting. I didn't know that.

If you add Quentin, then you add Kevin Smith.

John Carpenter.

Martin Scorsese, though, is the right answer. That guy knows his shit inside and out.

François Truffaut

Who are not?

Uwe Boll. He seems to hate every film not made by him.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Steven Spielberg. Consider that they used an interview with him as a bonus feature not only for "Eyes Wide Shut," but "Lawrence of Arabia," as well.

I respectfully disagree.

I doubt that Kevin Smith has followed the careers of Eddie Romero,Jean Pierre Melville,William Witney and Pedro Almodovar the way Tarantino has.

Perhaps he saw them on Tarantino's recommendation?

Eli Roth is actually a pretty knowledgeable guy.

Frank Darabont seems to jump at any chance he can get to talk about film.

He cribs it all from his butt buddy, Quentin. Trust me, Eli is a pretentious prick who basically regurgitates whatever other famous people tell him is cool.

Martin Scorsese
Quentin Tarantino
Akira Kurosawa
Guillermo Del Toro
Sergio Leone (probably the most underrated director ever)
Francis Ford Coppola
Robert Rodriguez
Jean-Luc Godard
Francious Truffaut
Steven Spielberg
George Lucas (His critical quality may have rapidly waned but the man knows films)
Edgar Wright (though Tarantino topped him on his own Hot Fuzz commentary)
Clint Eastwood
Terry Gilliam

That "Lawrence of Arabia" interview always pisses me off because he talks about how great it was to watch the film with Lean and ask him questions - he even referred to it as being like a DVD commentary - about how things were done yet he refuses to do commentaries for his own films.

I guess it depends on what you perceive a film buff to be. I think as far as popular culture and pop references, anything post 1970 for Smith is acceptable.

I think that's far game for Kevin Smith, his knowledge of films within that box of time seems pretty high.

Steven Soderbergh. He's another guy that seems to be called on a lot for other filmmaker's DVD's for commentaries or interviews with directors.

Touche. I suppose what strikes me as the most curious about Spielberg's DVD releases is that not only does he not provide a commentary track, but to my knowledge none of his DVD's have a commentary track by anyone. Although, I will say that the featurettes tend to be fairly thorough and engaging for his films.

LOTS! There's a lot of directors out there who work ... A LOT ... and don't know (or pay attention to) anything further than what they remember from film school.

To complete the list ... "all of the 'good' directors". I wonder if there's any 'greats' (or at least 'contemporary great') out there that you COULDN'T include on the list?

Two of my favorites:

Wim Wenders has made documentaries honoring two of his great influences, Ozu Yasujiro (Tokyo-Ga) and Nicholas Ray (Lightning Over Water).

Steven Soderbergh wrote a book about Richard Lester, mostly consisting of interviews, called Getting Away With It.

Jackie Chan is a guy I'd add to the movie buff..but his may be specific genres or whatnot. He seems to bring up Gene Kelly, Buster Keaton, Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd. A lot of time he brings up Kelly and Keaton....
John Carpenter is someone else I'd add to the movie buff list


I don't think James Cameron is a big movie buff. Michael Mann either.