Worse than all of them are Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Schumacher, Boll and Bay, at least you can see that they TRY to make a good movie and sometimes they do make one. Friedberg-Seltzer spoof “movies” are positively soul-sucking.
For Samuel Fuller, go with PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET. It’s an amazing film you’ll probably love. You’ll probably also dig THE BIG RED ONE.
I have to say it’s pretty neat that you’re so into these types of films at such a young age. I didn’t get into these types of films until I was around 16. (I’m 28). Are your parents film buffs too?
“Make Way For Tomorrow” – I haven’t seen it but I’ve been hearing raves about it being one of the best movies ever made period. It’s surprising the suits haven’t released it on DVD. (I hear it’s never even been released on VHS and has only aired a few times on TCM).
“Greed” – This one I’ve seen. The only good excuse for it NOT being on DVD yet is that they’ve found the original 9 hour cut and are busy remastering and restoring it for future screenings and subsequent DVD release. Otherwise, this should be on DVD.
I’m not a fan but the first “Charlie’s Angels” movie had a fun, goofy charm and Bill Murray was terrific in it. I wouldn’t put McG in my list of WORST filmmakers.
I’ve been promoting Filipino cinema a lot these days. We have quite a few Filipino directors who are relatively unknown in the international film circuit. Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon and Ishmael Bernal are probably the most highly regarded among them.
Over 90% of all successful working directors these days NEVER WENT TO FILM SCHOOL. I say attend a seminar or a film/screenwriting workshop, read about it if you wish, watch a lot of great films (and listen to audio commentaries) then write your own script and make your own film. Most of those who achieve success do it this way.
Look at most of the currently successful directors these days: Many of them are either film school dropouts, took only film seminars or workshops or had no formal film training at all and have college degrees in something other than film. I’m not saying film school is totally worthless and certainly a lot of people can blossom this way but other people do better without it. Studying 2-4 years of film can make you a slave to structure and theory and may prevent you from thinking outside the box and do something wild and completely new. Wild and completely new are what get you attention as a filmmaker these days.
“The 400 Blows”
“Aguirre, Wrath of God”
“Citizen Kane”
“A Clockwork Orange”
“The Decalogue”
“La Dolce Vita”
“Persona”
“Pickup on South Street”
“Throne of Blood”
“Viridiana”
“Watchmen” was a brilliant book, a modern literary masterpiece (and I’m not really comic book reader so it caught me by surprise), quite frankly and for it to be handed to a B-grade director like Zak Snyder is something that breaks my heart. I hope I’m wrong but I’m not optimistic at all with this film. I believe “Watchmen” is best realized as an HBO miniseries rather than a theatrical film.
“Am I wrong to suggest that Ryan Michaels is fulfilling a cinephilic fantasy? "
It’s also a cinephilic fantasy is to start earlier. I only started really getting into serious film when I was around 16. I wished I’d started earlier and seeked out more films.
My stand: What Bale did was out of line but I don’t think he should be vilified for it. He’s a human being. He makes mistakes. He has bad days. It doesn’t make him a jerk necessarily.
I think the lack of female directors, and I know I may get some flack here, isn’t MAINLY due to sexism. Sexism is only secondary. The real reason is that filmmaking or even film enthusiasm and cinephilia is by and large a MALE pursuit. Look at every film-related message boards, forums and chatrooms, they are predominantly male. Women who pursue filmmaking are few compared to the many males who pursue filmmaking.
Actually, they were paid well more than the normal rate for child actors in India. Plus Danny Boyle set up a trust fund for each of them to fund their EDUCATION which is much more practical, valuable and useful than giving their family huge sums of money. I live in a Third World country and giving too much money all at once to poor people is almost never a good idea. Many of them squander it, mismanage it or worse, get killed for it leaving them as poor as ever.
New to The Auteurs? You Belong Here over 4 years ago
I’m a HUGE cinephile from the Philippines. I’m glad to have found this site. Looking forward to some great discussions.
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Directors that consistently make terrible films over 4 years ago
Worse than all of them are Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Schumacher, Boll and Bay, at least you can see that they TRY to make a good movie and sometimes they do make one. Friedberg-Seltzer spoof “movies” are positively soul-sucking.
Go to Comment
12-year old asking... over 4 years ago
For Samuel Fuller, go with PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET. It’s an amazing film you’ll probably love. You’ll probably also dig THE BIG RED ONE.
I have to say it’s pretty neat that you’re so into these types of films at such a young age. I didn’t get into these types of films until I was around 16. (I’m 28). Are your parents film buffs too?
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instant messaging over 4 years ago
My AIM is Irvin Malcolm.
My MSN is malcolmthecritic1980@hotmail.com
My yahoo is angelx_ph2002.
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Classic movies you can't get on d.v.d. over 4 years ago
“Make Way For Tomorrow” – I haven’t seen it but I’ve been hearing raves about it being one of the best movies ever made period. It’s surprising the suits haven’t released it on DVD. (I hear it’s never even been released on VHS and has only aired a few times on TCM).
“Greed” – This one I’ve seen. The only good excuse for it NOT being on DVD yet is that they’ve found the original 9 hour cut and are busy remastering and restoring it for future screenings and subsequent DVD release. Otherwise, this should be on DVD.
Go to Comment
Directors that consistently make terrible films over 4 years ago
I’m not a fan but the first “Charlie’s Angels” movie had a fun, goofy charm and Bill Murray was terrific in it. I wouldn’t put McG in my list of WORST filmmakers.
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Age / Level of education? (An informal poll) over 4 years ago
I’m 28. I have a BA in Literature.
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Favorite underseen/unknown directors over 4 years ago
I’ve been promoting Filipino cinema a lot these days. We have quite a few Filipino directors who are relatively unknown in the international film circuit. Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon and Ishmael Bernal are probably the most highly regarded among them.
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SONGS (MUSIC ) ABOUT ACTORS OR FILMMAKERS over 4 years ago
“Grace Kelly” by Mika – One of my favorites.
“La Vie Boheme” from the Broadway musical “Rent” mentions Antonioni, Bertolucci and Kurosawa.
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Favorite Cinematographer over 4 years ago
Roger Deakins
Christopher Doyle
Vilmos Zsigmond
John Alcott
Conrad L. Hall
Sven Nykvist
Gregg Toland
Russell Metty
Stanley Cortez
Jack Cardiff
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Film School over 4 years ago
Over 90% of all successful working directors these days NEVER WENT TO FILM SCHOOL. I say attend a seminar or a film/screenwriting workshop, read about it if you wish, watch a lot of great films (and listen to audio commentaries) then write your own script and make your own film. Most of those who achieve success do it this way.
Go to Comment
Film School over 4 years ago
Look at most of the currently successful directors these days: Many of them are either film school dropouts, took only film seminars or workshops or had no formal film training at all and have college degrees in something other than film. I’m not saying film school is totally worthless and certainly a lot of people can blossom this way but other people do better without it. Studying 2-4 years of film can make you a slave to structure and theory and may prevent you from thinking outside the box and do something wild and completely new. Wild and completely new are what get you attention as a filmmaker these days.
Go to Comment
What's your Top 10? over 4 years ago
Top 10 Favorite Films? Tough one.
“The 400 Blows”
“Aguirre, Wrath of God”
“Citizen Kane”
“A Clockwork Orange”
“The Decalogue”
“La Dolce Vita”
“Persona”
“Pickup on South Street”
“Throne of Blood”
“Viridiana”
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Who here liked "Love on the Run"? over 4 years ago
Isn’t “Love on the Run” pretty much a clip movie?
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The Best Films of 2008 over 4 years ago
WALL-E
The Band’s Visit
The Dark Knight
Appaloosa
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Burn After Reading
Tropic Thunder
Sparrow
Kung Fu Panda
Iron Man
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Watchmen over 4 years ago
“Watchmen” was a brilliant book, a modern literary masterpiece (and I’m not really comic book reader so it caught me by surprise), quite frankly and for it to be handed to a B-grade director like Zak Snyder is something that breaks my heart. I hope I’m wrong but I’m not optimistic at all with this film. I believe “Watchmen” is best realized as an HBO miniseries rather than a theatrical film.
Go to Comment
Watchmen over 4 years ago
double post.
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Obscure recommendations over 4 years ago
Ritwik Ghatak’s “THE CLOUD CAPPED STAR” – an extraordinary motion picture. I like it better than “PATHER PANCHALI”.
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Your Favorite Godard Film? over 4 years ago
Band of Outsiders is mine.
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Criterion Christmas over 4 years ago
I gave myself (courtesy of my Christmas bonus): “Playtime” and “Pickup on South Street”.
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12-year old asking... over 4 years ago
“Am I wrong to suggest that Ryan Michaels is fulfilling a cinephilic fantasy? "
It’s also a cinephilic fantasy is to start earlier. I only started really getting into serious film when I was around 16. I wished I’d started earlier and seeked out more films.
Go to Comment
2000's worst decade in cinema? over 4 years ago
Is it the best? Nope. But I think the 80’s are worse.
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What Out of Print Criterions do you own? over 4 years ago
An early edition of “Brazil”
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The Auteurs "Sight & Sound" Poll over 4 years ago
I’m in! :)
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Age / Level of education? (An informal poll) over 4 years ago
28.
B.A. in Literature.
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CHRISTIAN BALE over 4 years ago
My stand: What Bale did was out of line but I don’t think he should be vilified for it. He’s a human being. He makes mistakes. He has bad days. It doesn’t make him a jerk necessarily.
Go to Comment
FEMALE DIRECTORS over 4 years ago
I think the lack of female directors, and I know I may get some flack here, isn’t MAINLY due to sexism. Sexism is only secondary. The real reason is that filmmaking or even film enthusiasm and cinephilia is by and large a MALE pursuit. Look at every film-related message boards, forums and chatrooms, they are predominantly male. Women who pursue filmmaking are few compared to the many males who pursue filmmaking.
Go to Comment
stupidest things ever said in a movie over 4 years ago
From “House of the Dead”
Rudy: You did all this to become immortal. Why?
Castillo: To live forever!
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Directors who should be ashamed of themselves over 4 years ago
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, definitely.
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the real lives of the kids in slumdog millionaire about 4 years ago
Actually, they were paid well more than the normal rate for child actors in India. Plus Danny Boyle set up a trust fund for each of them to fund their EDUCATION which is much more practical, valuable and useful than giving their family huge sums of money. I live in a Third World country and giving too much money all at once to poor people is almost never a good idea. Many of them squander it, mismanage it or worse, get killed for it leaving them as poor as ever.
So exploited? I don’t think so.
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