Ben's Movie Directors Guide
Last updated: 03 December 2005
Directing can bring as much infamy as acting. But do you know your directors? Ben gives an insight into the CV's of the most prolific film directors, their style and expertise.
Steven Spielberg
 Jaws *****
Jurassic Park *****
Schindler's List *****
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial *****
Close Encounters of the third Kind *****
Raiders of the Lost Ark *****
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ****
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom ****
Saving Private Ryan ****
Minority Report ****
Catch Me If You Can ****
Hook ****
War of the Worlds ****
Duel ****
Poltergeist (1982) ****
A.I. Artificial Intelligence ***
The Terminal ***
The Lost World ***
Indiana Jones 4 (not yet released) Spielberg is famous for directing ET. He started in the film business Directing 'Duel' in 1971 and has made countless successful films since. Set up Dreamworks studios with two partners in 1994. He has created some serious films, 'The Color Purple' and 'Schindlers List' concentrating on both racial hatred and abuse, as well as creating some amazing action / adventure films like 'Jurassic Park' and 'Indiana Jones'. All his ideas are original masterpieces. Quentin Tarantino Sin City (special guest director) *****
Pulp Fiction *****
Reservoir Dogs *****
Kill Bill Vol. 1*****
Kill Bill Vol. 2 ****
Jackie Brown ****
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV Series (one episode) ***
ER TV Series (one episode) ***
Quentin Tarantino had no formal training. He hit fame with 'Reservoir Dogs' in 1992, followed by his film 'Pulp Fiction' in 1999. Both films are brutally violent. He later won an Oscar for best original screenplay. His films are based on good storylines, imaginative characters, they are usually about the underworld / real life, and the stories are exaggerated. He focuses in on characters with the camera which gives the actors a chance to show some good acting and to get to know how the character is feeling or reacting. It also makes it seem up close and personal so you get a more realistic view of the film.
Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas *****
Taxi Driver *****
Raging Bull *****
Mean Streets *****
Gangs of New York ****
The Blues ****
The Aviator ****
Martin Scorsese studied film in New York and started by directing movies for Roger Corman. 'Mean Streets' (1973) launched his and Robert De Niro's careers. Both have made eight films together and so have got a good friendship and can work together well. Some actors and directors seem to work together well and work together a lot, such as Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, Quentin Tarantino and Samuel. L. Jackson, M Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis. Scorses enjoys working on real life stories e.g. The Aviator, No Direction Home - Bob Dylan, Lady of the Sea (Statue Of Liberty).
Most of his films have New York settings, feature loners struggling with inner demons, and unrelenting cathartic violence.
Some of his techniques are that he makes use of are slow motion techniques and extensive white lighting in scenes of his film. He often uses diegetic music (source of music is visible on-screen). His blonde leading ladies are usually seen through the eyes of the troubled as angelic; they always wear white in their first scene and are photographed in slow-motion. Two of the films in which he uses this technique are 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull'. As the movies progress, these ladies usually prove to be anything but angelic. Also some of his films begin with segments taken from the middle or end of the story like in 'Raging Bull', 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino'. Ridley Scott
 Alien *****
Gladiator *****
Hannibal *****
Kingdom of Heaven ****
G I Jane ****
Blade Runner ****
Black Hawk Down ****
Ridley Scott is one of the most talented directors working right now. He has a way of using and manipulating the camera that can tell more about the characters and the story than words ever could. He has been in the business a long time and is only going up. Some of his other techniques include using lighting to set the mood e.g. in Hannibal there is a red light in the prison cell representing danger. Guy Ritchie
Snatch *****
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels *****
The Revolver ***
The Hard Case ***
Guy Ritchie is one of the best British directors with his films being extremely imaginative and funny as well as serious. Most of his films are set in London while his more recent films are set in other places like Revolver which is set in Las Vegas. His stories are extremely clever and very well put together. His two best films Snatch and Lock Stock have several different stories that all seem to come together in the end. There isn't really a main character in these films, as they are about a few people trying to stay alive in the illegal underworld of London while trying to make a some cash at the same time. He uses close-up shots as well as shots taken like a picture holding the moment. Some of the explaining in the films is done by the narrator who usually has a very strong London accent. Sometimes the camera stops looking at one of the characters in the film and has their voice saying something, so that you know what's going on inside their heads. Stopping what's going on in the picture adds a really good effect. Luc Besson
Leon *****
The Fifth Element *****
Subway ***
The Big Blue ****
Nikita ****
Joan of Arc ****
Luc Besson has made some very dramatic movies, such as Joan of Arc and Leon. He has actually said he is only going to make 10 movies then quit. He feels you cannot keep getting better, and wishes others would retire. He thought of the film 'Fifth Element' at the age of 16, when he had no telly, no cinema, and time to imagine. His films are very imaginative and have very good storylines and characters. In 'Leon' the main character is a 'hitman' but in the film you really like him as you see he has his own problems like everyone else, and that he isn't actually a bad or mean person and does have emotions. He uses good camera angles in his films with long shots and close-ups. M. Night Shyamalan
 Unbreakable *****
The Sixth Sense ****
Signs ****
The Village ****
M. Night. Shyamalan is a screenwriter and director. His films are famous for having unexpected plot twists. He directed 'Signs' which is a science fiction film. 'The Village' is a suspense horror Film which was filmed using very precise detail e.g. close up shots, scenes which make you jump and an ending which was unexpected. To do this takes clever editing. He also makes 'cameo' appearances himself in each of his films. He rarely uses computer animation - which is quite a task in a science fiction. Brian De Palma
Scarface (1983) *****
Carrie (1976) ****
The Untouchables (1987) ****
Carlito's Way ****
Dressed To Kill (1980) ***
Blow Out (1981) ***
Body Double (1984) *** De Palma is a director without limits on his range. He has directed war films, comedies and science fiction, and wrote and directed Blow Out, which explored two of his major themes: voyeurism and politics. His films are mainly very serious and quite brutal as well as graphic. |
Ben
your comments
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jack, your mate
ben is reli reli cool, i have to say, keep up the good work
Fri Dec 2 22:06:00 2005
wyatt
ben this was a very interesting read, i found it the best one out of the bunch i read.
Mon Nov 21 15:29:46 2005
blogs
very good article ben very good choice of films
Wed Nov 16 11:42:57 2005
What's your verdict on the directors above? Do you agree with Ben's views? Who would you add to your Directors Hall of Fame?
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