"Ten at a Time" is a series of my top ten lists of movies and movie-related content. Most of the movie lists will be retrospective, now that I've had the chance to view a lot of films I might not have seen in the cinema. These aren't definitive lists of what are the best of a particular area but are my own personal opinion.
The following is my list of the top ten directors working today — that is, directors who are still alive and making movies. They are directors I feel have given us some truly great films over the course of their careers and particularly those who are putting out great work in the present. Another important factor is whether they're talents to watch out for in the coming years evidenced by past and current work.
Primarily they will be directors who work in the English language or in general mainstream cinema, although that doesn't necessarily exclude anyone out of that range. On top of this, my love for the director will also be a reason for their inclusion on the list.
So without further ado, enjoy.
10. Guillermo del Toro
It’s taken a while for this Mexican filmmaker to gain mainstream recognition but with the Hellboy franchise (some would say even with Blade II, although I don’t think general audiences would know he was the man behind that one) and the phenomenal Pan’s Labyrinth people are just beginning to recognise just how much of a talent this man is. Even when he makes a painfully slow film like Cronos, there’s still a technical (particularly visual) flair on display. He's one of those directors who's very much hands on with the projects he takes on, particularly when it comes to the character design. Undoubtedly they come from his imagination and it's one of the many key aspects which make him a truly great talent. And personally I think since he’s been locked down for The Hobbit I see this man becoming a household name within the next five or so years.
9. Werner Herzog
Although his best work is behind him — Aguirre, the Wrath of God in particular — he is still one of the best the world of movies has to offer. His grasp of what goes into making a quality film is astounding and it comes shining through more than most others in his films. Not many directors could take 120-plus hours of nature footage shot by a man killed by wild bears, for example, and make it into functioning film, but somehow Herzog found a way to accomplish it with the harrowing Grizzly Man. He recently went to areas of Antarctica that have rarely been captured on film before with Encounters at the End of the World, not just making the film but truly immersing himself in the process by actually braving the harsh conditions to capture what he wanted to. It's an example of the kind of commitment you don't often see with filmmakers. I really believe the movie world would be an inferior place if this man didn’t exist.
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Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Interesting list.
I would go with, in no particular order (other than the obvious, of course): David Lynch, Scorsese, Terrence Malick, David Cronenberg, Alexander Payne, Ang Lee, Takeshi Kitano, Alfonso Cuarón, Hayao Miyazaki, and Gus Van Sant.
2 - Dusty Somers
You have to consider Sidney Lumet for this list - the man has made plenty of legendary films over his almost 50-year career (12 Angry Men, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico) and you could make the argument his best work is behind him, but Before the Devil Knows You're Dead was extraordinary; it's hard to believe an 83-year-old man directed it.
I agree with Jordan about Cronenberg and Cuaron. I would even say Wes Anderson has potential to be one of the best, despite his last two disappointing efforts.
3 - El Bicho
"[QT] is undoubtedly one of cinema’s greatest talents of the modern era."
He's a two-hit wonder and ever since been a hack who keeps repeating himself, an utter bore whose run out of ideas other than ripping off someone else's movie. "Death Proof" could have been a great half hour, but the only way it comes close to a masterpiece is that it was once again QT mastur-bating with a movie camera. No shock that almost every character is him and they are uninteresting.
"From the inception of the great Indiana Jones right up until the masterpiece that is Munich, Spielberg is simply brilliant."
How is Jaws not included in this range? Munich a masterpiece? Here's a film that couldn't stop repeating the point it was making. An hour could have been cut from this and no on would have noticed.
"I can see no reason why Lynch won’t continue delivering films that are as special as the last."
INLAND EMPIRE was an absolute mess. It wasn't even a film. Just a collection of ideas strung together with no cohesion, as he repeats themes that aren't as good as the first time he covered them. It's special like a kid in special ed is special.
"Boogie Nights is a masterful exercise in character interaction. It plays as a kind of homage to Pulp Fiction"
You must be joking. see Robert Altman's Nashville.
"Mark Wahlberg’s porn star Dirk Diggler (his brilliant debut performance, I might add)"
considering Boogie was Mark's sixth film, I wouldn't add it.
I would put the films of John Lasseter, Alexander Payne, and Ridley Scott up against anyone on this list. I would also consider honorable mention for Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings alone. Baz Luhrman is always interesting to look at. How about documentaries? Ross McElwee, Ron Fricke, Errol Morris.
Aren't lists fun?
4 - Ross Miller
@Dusty Somers,
I almost put Lumet on the list (in fact I actually just forgot to put him on the honourable mention part, damn...); you're right it was incredible that a 80+ year old made Before The Devil Knows You're Dead.
I've never been a huge fan of Cronenberg, perhaps is earlier stuff but I think his recent, violent work is extremely overpraised (particularly A History of Violence). And Wes Anderson is fun but I don't think warrants to be on this list (although I do LOVE The Darjeeling Limited though).
@El Bicho
I belive Tarantino to have one of the best talents for writing dialogue, I really don't understand why people didn't respond to that in Death Proof - it was the equivalent of the dialogue in Reservoir Dogs only it was with women. I just blieve that for what Death Proof was paying homage to, it did it fantastically. And I think generally he applies his writing in great fashion, he knows what he's doing.
Yes I believe Munich to be a masterpiece. And just because I didn't mention Jaws doesn't mean I don't include it in his list of greats in general.
Inland Empire was not a mess, if you think for one second that was unintentional.....The film isn't supposed to be looked at the way you do others, it's an experience. If you take it in not trying to figure anything out (something that Mulholland Drive calls for but not this) and just let it flow over you...it's an astonishing piece of not just film but art.
What I meant about comparing Boogie Nights to Pulp Fiction was simply the feel. Perhaps homage was a bit strong but it has a remarkably similar feel I think.
Oh shit you're right, Boogie Nights was Wahlberg's sixth performance. Hold my hands about about that one, I always thought it was his first. Well I think we can say it was his breakout performance, for sure.
Those you mentioned are great (some I haven't seen enough to include on the list), but those I included I just feel warrant being on the list more.
5 - zingzing
won kar wai?
6 - zingzing
that's wong kar wait...
and bela tarr?
7 - zingzing
oh shit
ok... steady hands.... wong... kar... wai...
now, i hit publisheses.
8 - Jordan Richardson
I like Tarantino. He makes good, fun films that work well as homage pieces. I wouldn't consider him a masterful director, but he is gifted and I've been highly entertained by each of his pictures.
I prefer Robert Rodriguez, though, as I think he's more innovative and creative in a visual sense.
9 - Ross Miller
@zingzing,
I haven't, unfortunately, seen enough of Wong Kar Wai's work to be able to judge him fairly (as far as how good he is now to what he used to be etc etc). I do LOVE 2046 though (funnily wasn't so keen on In The Mood For Love the first time I saw it, perhaps I need to give that one another watch), but I thought, as an example of one of his I've seen, that My Blueberry Nights didn't work on the levels that I feel were aimed for. I just don't think his style works in the English language.
@Jordan Richardson,
I hold Tarantino higher up than Rodriguez (although I love his films too) as I just think he has a bit more grit and substance to him. I mean if you compare the work of them - Pulp Fiction to Desperado, Reservoir Dogs to From Dusk Till Dawn (although Tarantino did write that one funnily enough:P)-- I just think Tarantino has more to grasp onto, if you get my meaning.
10 - zingzing
yeah, my blueberry nights wasn't great. it had moments. chungking express is your next stop.
11 - Sterfish
I agree with most of the picks on this list. I was intrigued by your top choice of Paul Thomas Anderson but then I thought back to every movie of his I've seen. They usually draw me in almost in spite of myself. I barely could bring myself to pause There Will Be Blood when I rented it on DVD.
I noticed that some of the commenters mentioned directors of animated films (John Lasseter, Hayao Miyazaki). I think a list of great directors of animated films would be really interesting since they are rarely part of a discussion of great directors.
12 - Joseph
What about James Cameron? HE GAVE US THE TERMINATOR FOR CHRIST SAKES.
13 - senorelmac
Scorsese.
coen brothers.
paul thomas anderson.
fincher.
Aronofsky
Tarantino
eastwood
nolan
spielberg
14 - senorelmac
Cameron