what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
#1
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
I realize this is an odd question. Every film made by Quentin Tarantino is great, or at least close to it. Scorsese always seems to direct great films as well. I give more credit to Tarantino for writing most of the movies he's directed. What is it that certain Directors do that can make a film great?
Last edited by JZ1276; 03-20-21 at 11:23 PM.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
Talent?
The following 2 users liked this post by Josh-da-man:
John Pannozzi (03-21-21),
majorjoe23 (03-20-21)
The following 3 users liked this post by inri222:
The following users liked this post:
John Pannozzi (03-21-21)
#6
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
An unrelenting faith in oneself.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 03-22-21 at 10:52 AM.
The following users liked this post:
John Pannozzi (03-21-21)
#7
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
Most filmmakers are hit and miss. (Francis Ford Coppola made Jack for chrissakes!) There's also a certain snobbery that goes with the belief that one director is a genius who puts out nothing but gold and another is a hack who puts out nothing but garbage. The best example of this is John Waters and Kevin Smith. There are people will argue that Pink Flamingos is a work of subversive genius while Clerks is a third rate student-level film. People can push and shove on that, but it's all subjective. In reality Waters and Smith view each other as contemporaries.
I can't think of single filmmaker that I admire that hasn't put out a dud in their career. And then there are filmmakers who was scorching hot in their heyday and then kind of fizzled out (hello, Oliver Stone!). And there are filmmakers who made one film that I love (like Paul Greengrass's United 93) and I could give a crap about the rest of their filmography. I don't care, I just focus on the movies first and who made them second.
I can't think of single filmmaker that I admire that hasn't put out a dud in their career. And then there are filmmakers who was scorching hot in their heyday and then kind of fizzled out (hello, Oliver Stone!). And there are filmmakers who made one film that I love (like Paul Greengrass's United 93) and I could give a crap about the rest of their filmography. I don't care, I just focus on the movies first and who made them second.
The following users liked this post:
John Pannozzi (03-21-21)
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
Steven Spielberg comes to mind. I would say he's honed his craft after a very long career and he's always been about entertainment. When he's made more serious movies he's always made them thought provoking.
#9
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
I can't think of single filmmaker that I admire that hasn't put out a dud in their career. And then there are filmmakers who was scorching hot in their heyday and then kind of fizzled out (hello, Oliver Stone!). And there are filmmakers who made one film that I love (like Paul Greengrass's United 93) and I could give a crap about the rest of their filmography. I don't care, I just focus on the movies first and who made them second.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
Many of them go by the 'good enough' moniker for their movies. Someone like James Cameron puts his heart and soul in every movie he does, as it's almost personal to him. Then a guy like JJ Abrams (who reboots many popular franchises) churns them out like they are an assembly line. Abrams is happy with movie that is 'good enough' for the masses, where Cameron is obsessed with the movie being great. Both are successful at what they do and make alot of money for the studios, but only Cameron's films hold up year later because he tries to make it great.
#11
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: what is it about certain directors that make the majority of their films so great?
Many of them go by the 'good enough' moniker for their movies. Someone like James Cameron puts his heart and soul in every movie he does, as it's almost personal to him. Then a guy like JJ Abrams (who reboots many popular franchises) churns them out like they are an assembly line. Abrams is happy with movie that is 'good enough' for the masses, where Cameron is obsessed with the movie being great. Both are successful at what they do and make alot of money for the studios, but only Cameron's films hold up year later because he tries to make it great.
Compare that to Cameron who’s directed seven films in 40 years. Two of those films have basically encompassed his whole career since 1997. There’s a fine line between passion and obsession.
That being said he makes great films. I just wish he’d get his head out of his own ass and make something other than Avatar sequels.
The following users liked this post:
John Pannozzi (03-22-21)