Are there any current directors who you think are improving with age?

[Jaymole]

I was trying to think of a current director who is improving career wise but I am unable to think of any off the top of my head, although I am sure there are. Most that I think of are either declining, consistent in quality or have peaks & valleys.

Of course this is all subjective, but are there any that you can think of?

[zorbonaut]

Denis Villeneuve is the first that comes to mind. Granted, he is not that old but for me, his films have gotten progressively better. I know that may not be the most popular opinion but Sicario was his best work followed by Enemy.

[dgoswald]

Pete Docter. Inside Out was a supremely confident effort, and a sign of someone developing a clear vision for their work.

[grape_jelly]

Tarantino.



It's funny too, because he is so vocal about directors worsening as they get older. Yes, Pulp Fiction is widely considered his masterpiece, but films like Basterds, Django, and now Hateful Eight show the scope of his vision becoming grander, and more accessible. He's retained his quirks, but is able to pair them with a more measured pace, elaborate set design, stronger writing, and a deeper understanding of film. He started off making unorthodox crime flicks, and has evolved into a director of idiosyncratic epics.

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

Tarantino.

It's funny too, because he is so vocal about directors worsening as they get older. Yes, Pulp Fiction is widely considered his masterpiece, but films like Basterds, Django, and now Hateful Eight show the scope of his vision becoming grander, and more accessible. He's retained his quirks, but is able to pair them with a more measured pace, elaborate set design, stronger writing, and a deeper understanding of film. He started off making unorthodox crime flicks, and has evolved into a director of idiosyncratic epics.

Agree. The way he handles character interaction (all in his inimitable style) has vastly matured and improved over the years. There's substance to the dialogue, whereas previously I thought it was a bit too try hard.

[AKORIS]

probably past his prime now but Clint Eastwood comes to mind if you compare his films from the 70's and 80's vs the 90's and 2000's.....

[DragonOfTheBlackPool]

At 71, George Miller hit a grand slam with Fury Road.

[grape_jelly]

Originally Posted by DragonOfTheBlackPool

At 71, George Miller hit a grand slam with Fury Road.

Today I learned that the same guy responsible for the Mad Max films also brought us Babe: Pig in the City, and the Happy Feet films. Hollywood is crazy.

[Monterey Jack]

James Wan. Hard to believe the progenitor of the loathsome Saw franchise would one day make a horror film as exceptional as The Conjuring.

[Will.]

Scorsese. I always expect to be disappointed once in a while, but I never am with him.

[octagon]

Ben Affleck. I mean, yeah, three features isn't exactly a long resume but he seems to be improving with age in just about every way. He's a good director who might turn out to be a very good or even exceptional director, he's a better actor than he used to be and off-screen he seems like a lot less of a smug douche than in the heyday of the Bennifer era.

[Member-275053]

Ava Duvernay
I Will Follow --> Middle of Nowhere --> Selma

Joshua Oppenheimer
The Act of Killing --> The Look of Silence

Kathryn Bigelow
Pointe Break --> The Hurt Locker --> Zero Dark Thirty

Michael Haneke
The Piano Teacher --> Hidden (Cache) --> The White Ribbon --> Amour

Wes Anderson
Fantastic Mr. Fox --> Moonrise Kingdom --> The Grand Budapest Hotel

[grape_jelly]

Originally Posted by JWFORD

Kathryn Bigelow
Pointe Break --> The Hurt Locker --> Zero Dark Thirty

Yeah... but, Near Dark, though.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

Tarantino.

I can't go along with this one. Yes, his last couple movies are a big step back up from some of his past flicks like Kill Bill, Jackie Brown, and Inglourious Basterds, but he has still never lived up to the potential of his first couple films.

[surfdude12]

Alejandro González Iñárritu

(18 years into his directing career = two consecutive Best Director Oscars)

[grape_jelly]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I can't go along with this one. Yes, his last couple movies are a big step back up from some of his past flicks like Kill Bill, Jackie Brown, and Inglourious Basterds, but he has still never lived up to the potential of his first couple films.

Kill Bill, Basterds, and Jackie Brown are among my favorites.

Reservoir Dogs? Meh... not so much.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

Kill Bill, Basterds, and Jackie Brown are among my favorites.

Reservoir Dogs? Meh... not so much.

I guess really I was referring to Pulp Fiction. I like Res Dogs, but to me it's not the classic most people regard it as.

Pulp Fiction
*big gap*
Django Unchained
Hateful 8
Reservoir Dogs
Jackie Brown
Inglourious Basterds
Kill Bill
Death Proof

[grape_jelly]

Pulp Fiction is excellent, don't get me wrong, well-worth every single ounce of acclaim it's gotten. I find Kill Bill to be much more memorable though. Also, while I likely prefer PF to IB (apples and oranges), the latter strikes me as a technically superior work. It has more of an elegance to it, imho. Same goes for Django and H8ful.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

I was trying to think of a current director who is improving career wise but I am unable to think of any off the top of my head, although I am sure there are. Most that I think of are either declining, consistent in quality or have peaks & valleys.

Of course this is all subjective, but are there any that you can think of?

I feel the same. Most of the directors I find very entertaining start out strong, but then decline over the years, some faster than others. At best they fluctuate.

[Member-275053]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

Yeah... but, Near Dark, though.

Near Dark was before Point Break.