Directors who put Style over Substance.

[zorbonaut]

There have been many directors over the years who have created a very distinct style to their films. Such directors as Kubrick, Wes Anderson, Terrance Malick, David Lynch, Tim Burton, Nicolas Winding Refn and Tarsem Singh all come to mind.

I just watched The Neon Demon a few days back and watched Only God Forgives last night. Nicolas Winding Refn is one of those directors who has been accused of putting "style over substance" with some of his films.

Tarsem Singh is another director who has been accused of this in the past with movies like The Fall and The Cell.

Does having an eye for style and design automatically classify a director as someone who cares more about style than plot?

What directors would you say put style over substance? How important is plot to the film?

[jacobsever]

Refn is definitely the leader of that.

I'd say Malick too. I don't find any substance in his films. Just pretty images.

[imsounoriginal]

Michael Bay, but I like his stuff for the most part. Not every movie has to make you question the meaning of existence, and frankly when Bay does add in thematic elements (13 Hours, Pain & Gain, to some extent The Island), he's quite good at it.

Wes Anderson is all style and no substance, but his style is excellent and I like most of his movies. I remember being shocked that Grand Budapest Hotel was doing so (relatively) well commercially and critically because it's a ridiculously entertaining movie, but there's nothing else there beneath the surface.

I tend to find a lot of Darren Aronofsky's stuff to be "style over substance," with some exceptions. Also Baz Luhrmann and, to some extent, Brian de Palma.

[Rodney-2187]

I haven't seen The Neon Demon yet, but Only God Forgives is FULL of substance!

[Underworld54]

Zack Snyder is the king of doing this.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Michael Bay, but I like his stuff for the most part. Not every movie has to make you question the meaning of existence, and frankly when Bay does add in thematic elements (13 Hours, Pain & Gain, to some extent The Island), he's quite good at it.

Wes Anderson is all style and no substance, but his style is excellent and I like most of his movies. I remember being shocked that Grand Budapest Hotel was doing so (relatively) well commercially and critically because it's a ridiculously entertaining movie, but there's nothing else there beneath the surface.

I tend to find a lot of Darren Aronofsky's stuff to be "style over substance," with some exceptions. Also Baz Luhrmann and, to some extent, Brian de Palma.

I don't get this, Darjeeling was genuinely touching, Rushmore told a story with real progression

[ThatOneGuy]

Style over substance is basically just making a art house film. The story isn't straight forward and is basically either hidden within the scenes or non-existent. It doesn't really have to do with the colors of the film. Wes Anderson makes unique and colorful films but he still lays out his story so his audience know what is going on, he is style and substance. Refn on the other hand doesn't really give you layout and leaves the understanding of his films to his audience (a lot of his films require outside knowledge to understand) while giving their eyes something to really enjoy, he is style over substance. At least that is how I see it.

Going on your topic, I actually liked Ryan Gosling's try at directing with Lost River. It definitely wasn't a great film with a plot that even left me attaching my head but he definitely made a gorgeous to watch film.

[warrian]

Ben Wheatley







And god bless him.

[Moviefan2k4]

Michael Bay is king of the completely pointless spectacle...and has been since Armageddon. That was his last (mostly) decent film, in my book.

[Creed]

Originally Posted by warrian

Ben Wheatley







And god bless him.

Forgot High-Rise.

[charlieray1]

Tim Burton. His visual style has gotten tired for me, and his more recent movies don't offer much beyond that.

[ThatOneGuy]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Michael Bay is king of the completely pointless spectacle...and has been since Armageddon. That was his last (mostly) decent film, in my book.

I heard 13 Hours was actually a pretty good film, a very good film when you take into consideration that Bay made it.

[Yungheat]

Tarintino how did you guys forget

[warrian]

Originally Posted by creed123

Forgot High-Rise.

Nope. Blu-ray.com just doesn't have any sweet screen shots of Sightseers or High Rise. But they are remembered, I assure you.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by creed123

Forgot High-Rise.

As he should. As we all should.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

Zack Snyder is the king of doing this.

Thread winner. Can't think of one person that could claim the title over him. Even Micheal Bay can't compare to Snyder.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

Tim Burton. His visual style has gotten tired for me, and his more recent movies don't offer much beyond that.

Burton has been vastly overrated for over 20 years. The only films of his I still enjoy, are Beetlejuice and the original Batman.

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

Originally Posted by John Klein

I heard 13 Hours was actually a pretty good film, a very good film when you take into consideration that Bay made it.

It definitely is imo. It is a departure from his normal movies and it pays off. It is actually my favorite film of his at the moment with This Island 2nd and the Rock 3rd.

[Rodney-2187]

great movies:
Drive
Only God Forgives
The Watchmen
Ed Wood
every Tarantino movie
every Wes Anderson movie

[dgoswald]

J.J. Abrams.