The genre of science fiction can make for some pretty interesting movies and stories and it’s a very intriguing genre in general. A genre so intriguing, in fact, that maybe it’s one I’m too critical of. Like a fantasy story, a science fiction story has to be crafted completely from scratch. The story at hand is being told in a world that does not exist and when told with just the right amount of grace and purpose than a science-fiction story has the ability to touch on many unique ideas and themes that your average movie wouldn’t dare delve into.
Prometheus is an extraordinary movie on all accounts. While telling a fascinating story about the stars we look at every night, Prometheus enthralls, it scares and it takes our characters on perfectly epic journey that forces them to places and into making decisions they couldn’t possibly understand. Alien is a fantastic horror film in its simplicity and the grotesque ways it attempts to push the envelope. Prometheus has some horror elements and plays with them when it can, but Prometheus is dealing with so much more.
In one of the most visually stunning movies ever created, Prometheus manages to do more than astound with just its visuals. It tells an engrossing story about searching for the answers of life’s biggest questions and at the heart of this ambitious tale is a poetic character study of two pieces of existence defined by their times (in this case, a time that does not exist), a human and a robot.
Playing the human and the heart of the film is Noomi Rapace incredibly convincing as the caring, innocent and lovable Elizabeth Shaw. The other main character is played by the brilliant Michael Fassbender giving easily the greatest performance of the film as the robot, David. Like no other movie before it, Prometheus takes the time to actually examine the idea of being a robot and through a beautiful script and a flawless performance, the character of David is brought to life as the greatest character in film who doesn’t need to breathe.
Who could have done it other than the original Alien director himself, Ridley Scott? He has defined the sci-fi genre in the past and once again shows exactly what a sci-fi movie can be. I can’t think of one miraculous moment I didn’t care for in Prometheus and while telling a very broad and prominent story, Prometheus still manages to pay homage to the iconic horror film that started it all. It was spectacular in every way, shape and form.
I made this list a while back, but I was looking back over my site recently and I’m not ashamed to say this, but I did not spend nearly enough time on this list. So I’ve re-watched some movies, watched some new ones, re-evaluated my thoughts and I’ve decided to re write this list. This list consists of ten of the greatest minds and artists of our time. I’m proud to give them my money every time I hear their name attached to a movie and especially when their name is on the director’s chair.
Along with the name of the director I’ve also included a description of exactly why they’re on this list and also my three favorite movies in order by said director. It was one of the most difficult lists I’ve had to make, but one I believe all movie critics should divulge their time in creating.
Before I get into the actual list I’d like to give you a few honorable mentions in no particular order. These are all incredible artists who just barely missed the mark:
Oliver Stone
Guy Ritchie
Tim Burton
Ridley Scott
Alfred Hitchcock
Nicolas Winding Refn
Peter Jackson
Darren Aronofsky
Sergio Leone
Steven Spielberg
Milos Forman
Now here’s my top ten favorite cinematic directors of all time:
10. Clint Eastwood
Many people know and love Eastwood for his acting, which he does triumph in, but in my opinion his true genius lies behind the camera. He almost never disappoints and is my favorite director in the western genre. After making his masterpiece Unforgiven, he showed that he surpasses even his large influence Sergio Leone. He takes his craft seriously and he excels in it.
3. Gran Torino
2. Mystic River
1. Unforgiven
9. Francis Ford Coppola
It’s unbelievable that I’m forced to put a director as spectacular as Francis Ford Coppola in this slot. His films clearly speak for themselves. Coppola has a certain way about him that makes all of his films so utterly epic and breath-taking. The Godfather is considered to be, by many, one of the greatest films in movie history and even though I enjoy has Vietnam masterpiece more, it’s completely obvious why, it was directed by one of the greatest artists ever.
3. Tetro
2. The Godfather Part 1+2
1. Apocalypse Now
8. Danny Boyle
Like all truly great directors, Danny Boyle has managed to establish a clear and brilliant style, while telling different tales and expressing completely different ideas. Danny Boyle always manages to find his own way in telling a story and the stories he chooses to tell are always undeniably memorable. He puts so much unflinching feeling in every one of his films and as a result I find myself feeling for all of the characters he establishes. Danny Boyle is truly a man who knows his trade and performs expertly.
3. 28 Days Later
2. 127 Hours
1. Trainspotting
7. David Fincher
David Fincher has really become a powerhouse of utter genius. There’s no arguing that he really is one of the greatest film directors not just working today, but of all time. He defined a generation with his masterpiece in 1999 and over ten years later he does the exact same thing for another generation. He also never ceases to amaze with other films, whether its Zodiac or even The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. David Fincher really is a true master of a gneration and of his craft and his expertise cannot be doubted.
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. The Social Network
1. Fight Club
6. Martin Scorsese
The hardest part in creating this list was attempting to order this top 6. Each in my opinion is worthy of the number one spot, but I had to figure out an order. It really saddens me that I had to put the incredible director Martin Scorsese this low on the list, but I can’t let everyone win. Martin Scorsese is undoubtedly a creator of modern masterpieces. No one makes films like him and very few make films as good as he does. Martin Scorsese didn’t invent the beautiful art of filmmaking, but being the genius he is, he sure perfected it.
3. Taxi Driver
2. Goodfellas
1. The Departed
5. Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick is all around one of the greatest directors of all time, mainly because he has more innovation and variety than any other filmmaker. He’s really done it all. He’s made horror movies, war movies, dramas, science-fiction, romance, heist movies, even comedies, and I could go on. Each one of his films are worth watching and making opinions on. You will find at least one that you will thoroughly enjoy. Or you might just be exactly like me and notice that every single movie the genius made was truly and relentlessly brilliant.
3. Full Metal Jacket
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
1. The Shining
4. Paul Thomas Anderson
There is something truly miraculous about Paul Thomas Anderson in the way he makes each of his films completely special and prominent, while sticking with his keen directorial style. Each of his movies are so big and not because most of them are longer than the average film, but because all of his films touch on so many themes and emotions while never ceasing to entertain. He’s only got five films under his belt and he can already be considered one of the greatest directors known to film. I just can’t wait to see what he does next.
3. Punch-Drunk Love
2. Boogie Nights
1. There Will Be Blood
3. Quentin Tarantino
Through the years Quentin Tarantino has always stuck out as one of the greatest directors of all time. He began his illustrious career with the fantastically unique heist flick Reservoir Dogs, then he showed us what he can really do by directing one of the greatest movies of all time, Pulp Fiction. Time passed and he directed the spectacles that were Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and Death Proof. Every single one is fantastic. He then showed me that he is one of the greatest artists not only working today, but of all time with the release of Inglourious Basterds.
Pulp Fiction is one of the greatest movies of all time and I didn’t think for a second that Tarantino would ever be able o top that. I was wrong. He did and he did it with flying colors and flare. I love all of Tarantino’s work and I don’t believe I will ever find myself being disappointed by a movie he directs. He has fun with every movie he makes. He loves what he does and as a result I love and have fun with every single masterpiece he comes up with.
3. Kill Bill
2. Pulp Fiction
1. Inglourious Basterds
2. The Coen Brothers
Their movies really speak for themselves, there’s not much I can really say. The industry wouldn’t be the same without them. They are a monumental force releasing masterpiece after masterpiece. Its really impossible to ever be disappointed with a Coen Brother movie. They make films exactly how they want to make films, they let nothing hold them back like money or popularity. They make art for the sake of making art.
They’ve made more masterpieces than one would think possible. They absolutely never let you down. They are the smartest people working in the industry by far. I honestly want to shed a tear of joy with every ending of each of their movies because it seems almost impossible that the same two people can keep making masterpieces without fail for this long. The best part about it is also that The Coen Brothers still have a lot more masterpieces to go and that fact makes me happy to be alive.
3. True Romance
2. Barton Fink
1. No Country For Old Men
1. Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan isn’t in the movie business, he’s in the masterpiece business. He just oozes brilliance and all he has the ability to make is flawless films. No shot, performance, or second is lacking in perfection. He tells gargantuan stories that end up being nothing short of magnificent. Even my least favorite Nolan film, Insomnia, I find just incredible.
Don’t even me started on movies I couldn’t live without such as his dark tale of obsession and rivalry The Prestige, or the independent masterpiece that put him on the map Memento, or even the always enthralling and unbelievably extraordinary Inception. There’s something special, almost magical, that Nolan manages to instill in every single brush stroke in the beautiful art he creates.
One of the main reasons I consider Christopher Nolan one of my heroes and the greatest director/artist of all time is because he is the man responsible for my favorite story ever told. The Dark Knight Legend (or Trilogy if that tastes better going down) is and always will be nothing short of the greatest movie ever created. I love every character and event as they add to the perfection of it all. It wasn’t a hard decision to make, but Christopher Nolan is the greatest director in all of film.
While watching Body of Lies, there will be a point where you will think to yourself, wow, this is a great movie. For me that point was car/helicopter chase about 20 minutes in. I agreed with that thought the second the movie ended. When watching Body of Lies, you realize that what your watching is an intricately plotted drama with a lot of entertaining action thrown into the mix. Body of Lies was a fictional story about two CIA agents attempting to end a rising terrorist group.
Roger Ferris (Dicaprio) is a rising member who knows the score, hates all the deception, but at the same time knows he has to accept it. Ed Hoffman (Crowe) is a senior member whose so full of himself that he thinks he can play god and toy with the lives of others, and sometimes does, but only “for the good of the country”. Don’t get me wrong though, Hoffman isn’t the villain of the film, he’s just a good man he sometimes does bad things. Everyone in the film is on the top of their game especially Crowe, who plays a very different character, as he plays a fat arrogant prick who you can’t stand at times.
Body of Lies is a very realistic and intelligent movie that deals with topics that are political, technological, and most of all deceptive. Body of Lies sort of reminds me of a Global version of the movie The Departed. I’m not saying this movie was as good as The Departed by any means, but what I am saying is that it’s no that far from it.
Movies-Films-MotionPictures 