Entertainment Weekly's 25 Greatest Active Directors

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Another_Dude

Ummm, Tony Scott called and said that list is crap.

I love Tony Scott

[tommyboy81]

I think Clint is to far down that list. IMO.

[assydingo]

It's a decent list. It seems the farthest back their last praised movie could be is 9 years (2000).

[ajgoodfella7]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

Their extended title: With the Oscars on our minds, we're counting down the most talented, in-demand filmmakers behind the camera today, a list including Zack Snyder, James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro -- and our No. 1

25. JON FAVREAU

THE EVIDENCE: Elf (2003), Iron Man (2008)

WHY HIM: How could we not include the man who gave us Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell singing ''Baby, It's Cold Outside''? With Elf, Favreau gave us one of the precious few Christmas movies in recent memory due to become a classic. Why does it work? Probably because of Ferrell's fruitcake earnestness as well as a visual style reminiscent of Rankin/Bass classics. Topping himself, Favreau marshaled a newfound tech savvy to help launch Robert Downey Jr. back onto the A-list with the comic-book yarn Iron Man. — Christian Blauvelt

Oh, so this list is what EW thinks is the most in-demand directors today? I dunno, I was assuming they meant the top 25 living directors. I still don't think Favreau belongs on this list anywhere. I mean honestly if you asked an actor to pick which director they would rather take a chance working with based on the likely quality of his film and without reading a script, I think all of them would pick Woody Allen or Sidney Lumet over John Favreau.

...and there is no way Peter Jackson should be ranked ahead of Scorsese, James Cameron, Michael Mann or the Coen brothers unless they are strictly talking about the fantasy movie genre.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

Click the pic for the reasons each were selected. I would imagine this might spark some conversation, but remember, it's just a list.



1. Steven Spielberg
2. Peter Jackson
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Steven Soderbergh
6. Ridley Scott
7. Quentin Tarantino
8. Michael Mann
9. James Cameron
10. Joel and Ethan Coen
11. Guillermo del Toro
12. David Fincher
13. Tim Burton
14. Judd Apatow
15. Sam Raimi
16. Zack Snyder
17. Darren Aronofsky
18. Danny Boyle
19. Clint Eastwood
20. Ron Howard
21. Ang Lee
22. Paul Thomas Anderson
23. Paul Greengrass
24. Pedro Almodóvar
25. Jon Favreau

The fact that Wes Anderson was flushed off this list like the floater that he is pleases me greatly.

Also: I agree with most of this list, but Spielberg being #1? Really? They may have blocked out the memory of Indy 4 {like me} but I would totally put Aronofsky up there with him as a viable contender.

Logan

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Mel Gibson needs to be on that list!

Why?

Logan

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

The fact that Wes Anderson was flushed off this list like the floater that he is pleases me greatly.

Also: I agree with most of this list, but Spielberg being #1? Really? They may have blocked out the memory of Indy 4 {like me} but I would totally put Aronofsky up there with him as a viable contender.

Logan

It's not just Indy 4. It's also War of the Worlds. He does have Munich recently that is a really good/great film, but 2 out of his last 3 have been mediocre.

[Drexyl666]

Originally Posted by Blu As Hell

I didn't see that...my bad, but hell why ain't John Woo on the list?

good question....how could they leave off "The WOO" ?

or Edward Zwick?

[Drexyl666]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

I love Tony Scott

absolutely....Tony Scott is the shit. this is not real list if he's not included .

[STARSCREAM]

I am kinda surprised Mel Gibson is not on there.

[KenWashio]

sam raimi r u serious?? and no nolan n' zemeckis makes me sad y,y

[Variable]

ugh, all I had to read was #1 to know the list was worthless. Not that he doesn't belong on the list but putting him at the top is a border line cop out.

[toef]

Just some notes:

Mel Gibson - last movie was Apocalypto in 2006, has nothing in the works

Coppola - has made only 2 movies in the last 12 years, not sure that's active; has one currently being completed for release this year, but none of these 3 movies seem to amount to anything

Woody Allen - not sure why he was left off; sure his best movies might be behind him, but he currently has a streak of 30 straight years with at least one movie... he also has movies set for 2009 and 2010, so that streak will get to at least 32

James Cameron is one of a few on the list that can be bumped off for Woody. His only non-TV movie directing credits since Titanic (1997) are a pair of documentaries (including one that was < an hour long).. Apparently the hype for Avatar earned him his spot.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by JimboTHX1138

No Robert Zemeckis, now that's just wrong.

He's over-the-hill. I'm sorry to say. At least compared.. to where he was... Yes, he is.

And this is from someone: who loved Polar Express (2004) and Beowulf (2007).

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Why?

Logan

Daring Director. Unique Style. Highly Successful. Controversial. Immense craft. Seamless use of visuals. Intricate camerawork. Personality teaming, in every shot. He’s won an Oscar for Direction. Passion of the Christ (2004) was a world-wide phenomenon. Why not?

Prejudiced?

[assydingo]

Originally Posted by KenWashio

sam raimi r u serious?? and no nolan n' zemeckis makes me sad y,y

I'm pretty sure you can't be.

Unless you actually didn't like Evil Dead or the first two Spider Man. I guess in theory... it's possible.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

Click the pic for the reasons each were selected. I would imagine this might spark some conversation, but remember, it's just a list.



1. Steven Spielberg
2. Peter Jackson
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Christopher Nolan
5. Steven Soderbergh
6. Ridley Scott
7. Quentin Tarantino
8. Michael Mann
9. James Cameron
10. Joel and Ethan Coen
11. Guillermo del Toro
12. David Fincher
13. Tim Burton
14. Judd Apatow
15. Sam Raimi
16. Zack Snyder
17. Darren Aronofsky
18. Danny Boyle
19. Clint Eastwood
20. Ron Howard
21. Ang Lee
22. Paul Thomas Anderson
23. Paul Greengrass
24. Pedro Almodóvar
25. Jon Favreau

I'd agree with the list.

With a couple changes:

Spielberg would be fifth or sixth... given his last few films.

Clint Eastwood would be in the top ten, at least. It's criminal to have him that low. (19th??)

Sam Raimi (Spiderman 3, of late) is higher that Clint Eastwood?? Give me a break.

Also, Steven Soderbergh??? Fifth?? He's less successful than the Coens. He appeals to the same core audience. Yet, he's five spots higher?? Did he bribe himself in? The man has great technique.. but little spirit.

Finally, Tim Burton 13th? Is that meant to be fashionable? “(Butthead Laughs) He’s number 13.” “That is so cool! (Beavis Laughs)”

Tim Burton [Excluding Sweeney Todd (2007)] hasn't done great work (consistently) since the mid-90’s. Why is he so high? Johnny Depp’s popularity?

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by Drexyl666

good question....how could they leave off "The WOO" ?

or Edward Zwick?

Woo hasn't been Woo since Face/Off (1997).

Zwick hasn't been Zwick since Glory (1989).

Goodness.

[STARSCREAM]

Yep, Clint Eastwood is way too low!!!

[ajgoodfella7]

Originally Posted by KenWashio

sam raimi r u serious?? and no nolan n' zemeckis makes me sad y,y

Nolan is #4.