Friday, October 9, 2009

Top 30 Directors of All Time: Part 5

7. Orson Welles - He is known for his uncompromising nature, his veracity, and his pure talent as an actor, writer, and director, and there is no one else quite like Orson Welles. His smaller, lesser known movies such as The Lady from Shanghai, The Magnificent Ambersons, The Trial, Macbeth, Othello, are all eceletic and show his pure talent and uncompromising nature. However, nothing in this list even compares to Citizen Kane, the American Film Institution's Number 1 movie (my personal # 2). It has been overtly studied, consistently watched, and constantly praised. It is considered the peak of movie greatness, and has cemented Welles' name in history.

6. Billy Wilder - With 21 Oscar nominations, and 6 wins (2 directing), no list is complete without his name on it. In my opinion, all the great comedic directors (Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Judd Apatow) all owe their careers to this brilliant man. His films like Some Like It Hot, The Fortune Cookie, The Apartment, Sabrina, Stalag 17, and Ball of Fire were absolutely hilarious. Don't think that he didn't have a dark side too. His classics like Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, and Witness for the Prosecution were simply brilliant, and showcased the fact that this man was a chameleon with a gift for film.

5. Steven Spielberg - Some people just never grow up. Thank God for us that Steven Spielberg was one of those people. In modern film, no name has quite the prestigous or honored recognition as Steven Spielberg. He is the Michael Jordan of movies. He proves that horror, sci-fi, and a story about an alien that teaches us all a little something about life can not only be huge blockbusters, but also timeless films. Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indian Jones movies, E.T., Jaws, and the Jurassic Park movies, all prove that he is still a kid at heart. But no one has also done for for historical dramas than Steven as well. Munich, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Schindler's List, and Catch Me if You Can, all proved that he is capable of compelling, factual, and incredible drama.

No comments:

Post a Comment