Films that should be labelled as a Director's Best but arent

[Psynema]

Got to thinking this from another thread on the board.

What are films that are not labelled a Director's Best, but should be in your opinion

Mine are...

1. Joel Coen - Big Lebowski over Fargo. BL has arguably the best character realization out there of all their films and really, once you start watching it a billion times, does have plenty of depth people overlook because of the potty humor.

2. Hitchcock - Rear Window over Psycho : I'll probably get flamed for this, hell I think Psycho is a better "film" in terms of theory/aesthetic, but I think Rear Window was a much better story IMO and had better/more interesting and relevant undertones. Frankly I think Psycho was good in the first half, but I did lose some interest halfway in and thought towards the end it was a bit over the top. Still great, but Rear Window held my interest all the way through and just seems timeless to me, where Psycho at times shows its age at certain times.

3. David Lynch - Eraserhead over Blue Velvet - this one's easy and I think most people would probably put Eraserhead as his best anways. Blue Velvet was decent but more conventional. Once you start understanding Eraserhead it really just stands out as his best.

[Shaun Patrick]

Spielberg - Empire of the Sun

[The Machinist]

Psynema

Agree with two and three.

I like Barton Fink the most out of all the Coen's films. (Not to detract from the brilliance of Lebowski in any way. ) I just love the performances in that film. Every single actor on screen in Fink is in top form and i can't think of many movies where that's the case.

For Spielberg though i will always love Jaws over anything else he has done and probably ever will do.

Quentin Tarantino: Jackie Brown over Pulp Fiction

Wes Anderson: The Royal Tenenbaum's over Rushmore (i don't even know if this is a debate since the folks who like Anderson seem to like all his films. Although i did know this one guy who worshiped Rushmore and hated Tenenbaum's and Aquatic. So i guess this is for his ilk.)


I like this thread. Will try to think of more.

[Shaun Patrick]

I like Barton Fink the most out of all the Coen's films. (Not to detract from the brilliance of Lebowski in any way. ) I just love the performances in that film. Every single actor on screen in Fink is in top form and i can't think of many movies where that's the case.



I definitely agree on this one. In terms of comedies, I'd have to rate the Hudsucker Proxy as their best--even though I love The Big lebowski dearly.

[spidey]

Terminator 2 over Titanic
Alien over Gladiator (lot of people apparently didnt know ridley scott before that, average people I mean.)

[The Machinist]

Spidey i love that new avatar.

[Psynema]

Spidey i love that new avatar.

Is that a Goomba?

[jpeck]

Once Upon A Time in the West is better then The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

[Amerikan123]

I agree with all but one.

Alien over gladiator?

I say Blade Runner over Alien over Gladiator!

[The Machinist]

I could second that.

[Psynema]

Stanley Kubrick - anything other than Space Odyssey 2001 will do for me LOL. But I'll say Clockwork Orange - but this may be pointless cause I think most would agree anways.

Darren Aronofsky - Pi kicks living crap out of Requiem for a Dream. Although I think he may actually be more popular via Pi in many circles, so this may be a pointless nomination as well. But in any event via mainstream public, he's the "ass to ass" Requiem for Dream guy, so I'll add him to my list.

[spidey]

i forgot blade runner... yeah blade runner trumps alien just alittle bit.


lol yeah its a goomba. lol he looks hilarious.

[seejay1031]

Terminator 2 over Titanic
Alien over Gladiator (lot of people apparently didnt know ridley scott before that, average people I mean.)


I agree with all but one.

Alien over gladiator?

I say Blade Runner over Alien over Gladiator!

I agree... also
Aliens over Terminator 2 and Waaaayyy over Titanic.

[jpeck]

Anybody else feel the original Terminator was better then the sequel?

[Psynema]

Anybody else feel the original Terminator was better then the sequel?

Everyone.

Hell a lot of chicks like the first Terminator for some reason and were really pissed when they saw T2.

I do not acknowledge the existence of #3

[Blaine]

Anybody else feel the original Terminator was better then the sequel?
Absolutely! The rest paled in comparision and I believe they were only done to bolster Ahhnold's heroic image.

Cameron = Aliens
R. Scott = Blade Runner
Leone = Once Upon a Time in the West
Coppola = Apocalypse Now (but it bounces back and forth with The Godfather, depending how I feel that day)
T. Scott = The Hunger
Eastwood = The Outlaw Josie Wales AND Play Misty for Me (but I'm hoping Flags of Our Fathers is going to blow everything he's done in the past out of the water.)
QT = Jackie Brown
Mann = Last of the Mohicans
Kubrick = The Shining

[Filmjunkie677]

I prefer the original Terminator over Judgement Day as well.

There's just something about the low-budget, gritty, violent, urban wasteland that Cameron created in the first film that is really compelling and original.

[spidey]

i like t 2 better for some reason because you get the father arc and how this child and this machine we suppose to be enemies are now best friends. and the other fearing fate and how to prevent all of this from happing and the scarafice the machine takes he learns what emotion and companionship is. I love it, I remeber when i was kid it was the only movie I ever cried too. when he gives him thumbs up going into the fire I go NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[Filmjunkie677]

Don't get me wrong, I love T2 as well for all the same reasons you mentioned, Spidey.

I love how John Connor makes the t-800 more human and feel emotion. Great stuff.

Plus it just flat out rocks like no other film before it.

[Cynic821]

ill take a shot:

Raimi : Evil Dead 2 over Spiderman's

[Zak Forsman]

this is a very subjective list, but these are my favorite works from directors who are usually celebrated for other entries in their filmography....

Coppola -- The Conversation
Scorsese -- Life Lessons (his segment from New York Stories)
Kubrick -- Barry Lyndon
David Lynch -- Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me
Gus Van Sant -- Gerry
Ingmar Bergman -- Scenes from a Marriage

[Psynema]

Ah that reminds me...

Ingmar Bergman: Wild Strawberries over Seventh Seal , but usually those two are neck and neck when folks talk Bergman, but usually SS gets the nod.

[donkathon]

i forgot blade runner... yeah blade runner trumps alien just alittle bit.


lol yeah its a goomba. lol he looks hilarious.

Aw, I hated that movie... assuming Im thinking of the right one.
But Im assuming, meaning Im probably making an ass out of U and Ming.

[Shaun Patrick]

this is a very subjective list, but these are my favorite works from directors who are usually celebrated for other entries in their filmography....

Coppola -- The Conversation
Scorsese -- Life Lessons (his segment from New York Stories)
Kubrick -- Barry Lyndon
David Lynch -- Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me
Gus Van Sant -- Gerry
Ingmar Bergman -- Scenes from a Marriage

I was just thinking about throwing The Conversation into the mix. What a great movie.

Gerry is an interesting pick for Van Sant. I really, really love Elephant and Last Days.

Maybe I'll throw some Cronenberg in there. How 'bout "Videodrome"

Also:

Chan Woo-Park: Joint Security Area.

[J.R. Hudson]

I was just thinking about throwing The Conversation into the mix. What a great movie.

Gerry is an interesting pick for Van Sant. I really, really love Elephant and Last Days.

Maybe I'll throw some Cronenberg in there. How 'bout "Videodrome"

Also:

Chan Woo-Park: Joint Security Area.

Loved The Conversation

-

John Carpenter's Christine

[Blaine]

Yes, yes, The Conversation is great. Only problem is Coppola has several great movies. It was another incredible performance by Hackman. He hardly ever misses...

I'm really surprised to see you list Christine, John. What happened to The Thing? Carpenter is another one that had a real good run there for a while, but I have to go with Halloween.

[Amerikan123]

Cameron: Aliens
R. Scott: Blade Runner
QT: Reservoir Dogs
Guy Ritchie: Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels
Schwarzenegger (as an actor): Predator
Mary Harron: American Psycho
Sam Raimi: Darkman & Evil Dead II
Darren Arnofsky: Pi
Scorsese: Taxi Driver
Coppola: Dimentia 13
Mel Brooks: Blazing Saddles

ok, im done

[Aaron Marshall]

Yeah I liked T2 better than the original. I love them both though. The third one doesn't count in my book.

Cameron: Aliens
Ridley Scott: Blade Runner
Tarantino: The Kill Bills
Hitchcock: Vertigo
Polanski: The Tenant (I really liked it for some reason)
Speilberg: Jaws
Raimi: Army of Darkness
Alex Proyas: The Crow
Coppola: Dracula
Mel Brooks: Young Frankenstein
Kubrick: Full Metal Jacket

[Blaine]

Coppola: Dracula
Hmmmm. Really? It was a very good movie, perhaps the definitive Dracula, but better than The Godfather and Apocalypse Now?

[J.R. Hudson]

Hmmmm. Really? It was a very good movie, perhaps the definitive Dracula, but better than The Godfather and Apocalypse Now?

Wow; that is surprising

Blaine

I totally love The Thing and Escape From New York and The Fog and of course, Halloween. These films are at the pinnacle of my infleunces and best ever lists

But no one ever talks about Chrsitine

I find it his best film made. This is the film where he should have quantam leaped into the next level of greatness

Think:

Peter Jackson with The Frighteners

... which is the bridge between Heavenly Creatures and The Lord of the Rings

Steven Spielberg with Jaws
James Cameron with Aliens
Quentin Tarantino with Pulp Fiction
Franci Ford Coppolla with The Godfather
Martin Scorsese with Taxi Driver
Sam Raimi with Darkman and maybe Army of Darkness (Took him two times)

Carpenter crossed this bridge with Christine and then turned around and went back the other way. He never grew or evolved from that whereas the filmmakers listed above continued thier rise as autuers and major forces in filmmaking

IMO

[Aaron Marshall]

Hmmmm. Really? It was a very good movie, perhaps the definitive Dracula, but better than The Godfather and Apocalypse Now?

Yes, in my personal opinion. I'm a sucker for fantasy. Don't get me wrong. The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now were great. They're grounded in reality more than Dracula. Perhaps that's a reason why a person with different taste would like them better. I just loved the music, costume design, set design, art, atmosphere etc. etc. in Dracula.

[J.R. Hudson]

I love Dracula and found it his best film since Rumble Fish; but his best film for me is The Godfather 2

[Aaron Marshall]

I totally love The Thing and Escape From New York and The Fog and of course, Halloween. These films are at the pinnacle of my infleunces and best ever lists

But no one ever talks about Chrsitine

I find it his best film made. This is the film where he should have quantam leaped into the next level of greatness

Carpenter crossed this bridge with Christine and then turned around and went back the other way. He never grew or evolved from that whereas the filmmakers listed above continued thier rise as autuers and major forces in filmmaking


Maybe he felt he was crossing a bridge to somewhere, but he didn't feel it was a place he wanted to go. He's a very quirky guy. He likes to keep it campy and he likes to do it his way...but Vampires?! That sucked. I see what you mean by how he turned around. I still have faith that he could pull another great film off if he wanted to.

Carpenter: Big Trouble in Little China or The Thing

I love John Carpenter!

[J.R. Hudson]

I too would like to see him shine once more. Unfortunately for me it hasnt been since Christine.

Now, I totally dig BIG TROUBLE and THEY LIVE and I found MEMOIRS an enjoyable (if not terribly memorable) experience. But for me Carpenter is:

The Fog
Halloween
The Thing
Escape from New York
Assault on Precinct 13
Christine

[Blaine]

Yes, in my personal opinion. I'm a sucker for fantasy. Don't get me wrong. The Godfather, and Apocalypse Now were great. They're grounded in reality more than Dracula. Perhaps that's a reason why a person with different taste would like them better. I just loved the music, costume design, set design, art, atmosphere etc. etc. in Dracula.
No problem with that, just kinda surprised. It's certainly in his top 5 for me.


I totally love The Thing and Escape From New York and The Fog and of course, Halloween. These films are at the pinnacle of my infleunces and best ever lists

But no one ever talks about Chrsitine

I find it his best film made. This is the film where he should have quantam leaped into the next level of greatness

Think:

Peter Jackson with The Frighteners

... which is the bridge between Heavenly Creatures and The Lord of the Rings

Steven Spielberg with Jaws
James Cameron with Aliens
Quentin Tarantino with Pulp Fiction
Franci Ford Coppolla with The Godfather
Martin Scorsese with Taxi Driver
Sam Raimi with Darkman and maybe Army of Darkness (Took him two times)

Carpenter crossed this bridge with Christine and then turned around and went back the other way. He never grew or evolved from that whereas the filmmakers listed above continued thier rise as autuers and major forces in filmmaking

Now, I totally dig BIG TROUBLE and THEY LIVE and I found MEMOIRS an enjoyable (if not terribly memorable) experience. But for me Carpenter is:

The Fog
Halloween
The Thing
Escape from New York
Assault on Precinct 13
Christine

Great take, John. I can see you've thought a lot on this subject. I'd like to throw Starman into that list, too. I still think he hit his homerun with Halloween.

[seejay1031]

For Peter Jackson I'm going with Dead Alive... best take on momma's boy since Psycho.

Sam Raimi ... A Simple Plan

[chromeboy007]

Leone = Once Upon a Time in the West
QT = Jackie Brown
Mann = Last of the Mohicans
Kubrick = The Shining

Just want to comment that Once upon a time is great, but I think there is some emotional attachment to it that elevated its status since it is often considered as his last great western (or sometime "the last great western", period). It is also marred by some technical/editing /dubbing issues. I think overall, Good Bad Ugly is better... it certainly has a better climax.... On the other hand... Once upon a time is a "deeper" movie. You feel something out of it when the credits roll... hmm.. I don't know any more...

Jackie Brown is underrated. She is the only lead character in all of his movies that I really actually rooted for.

While the rest of the movie is just above average, every frame of the climax of Last of the Mohicans is pure cinema (helped definitely by that sensational score but nonetheless...)

It's hard to discuss Kubrick in this thread cuz a number of his films are often considered to be his best...

[SPZ]

Spielberg- A.I (I loved it. The best of Spielberg with added sensibility from Kubrick)

Baz Luhlrmann- Moulin Rouge, over Romeo and Juliet and Strictly Ballroom

Igmar Bergman- Persona

Lars Von Trier- Europa over his Dogma phase (I really liked Breaking The Waves and Kingdom Hospital)

David Fincher- Fight Club (Over Seven- pretty close, tough. But I just feel its a very relevant in your face story for our times)

David Lynch- A Straight Story- simply beautiful movie.

Wong Kar Wai- In The Mood For Love- my favourite film.

Guy Ritchie- Snatch. I think it was the better movie, compared to Lock Stock. Great performances from the "A" listers. Fantastic Editing.

Tim Burton- Big Fish. ( Of course not the one that represents his style better, but has the best overall "feel")

Fun thread!

[jpeck]

TGTBATU has far worse dubbing issues. Such an amazing movie, such terrible dubbing.

[Blaine]

TGTBATU has far worse dubbing issues. Such an amazing movie, such terrible dubbing.
Well, the thing about Spaghetti Westerns is that you know the dubbing is going to be bad going in. It is what it is. Once you get past that, you can really enjoy them for what they are. Sergio Leone wasn't the only great Sergio in Italian westerns. Sergio Corbucci had Django and The Great Silence, both excellent in their field. Of course he made a lot of bad movies, too. It just seems like everytime we talk about Spaghetti Westerns, the only person we talk about is Leone.

[Hairy Lime]

Bergman - The Virgin Spring

Kurosawa - Rashomon

Soderbergh - Out of Sight

Kubrick - Lolita

Jarmusch - Dead Man

Burton - Ed Wood

Polanski - Repulsion

Payne - About Schmidt

Welles - Touch of Evil

Stone - Natural Born Killers

Gilliam - The Fisher King

DePalma - Carrie

[The Machinist]

It just seems like everytime we talk about Spaghetti Westerns, the only person we talk about is Leone.

sort of like how when people talk about the Apostle's its usually Peter and Paul.

I too would consider TGTBaTU to be Leone's best. I love OUaTitW (especially the "2 too many" line) but GBU has three iconic characters and a much better story arch in my opinion.

I've heard people argue that the film meanders along and follows random tangents but i disagree. In a way i think of it as the Apocalypse Now of Westerns. You have this chaotic time period in American history and that chaos is reflected in the story's progression. TGTBaTU isn't just a Western it IS the Old West.

Not to mention one of the greatest finales of all time.


http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/9866/1156173020.jpg

[Blaine]

I like BOTH, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly AND Once Upon a Time in the West. Which one I like best probably depends on which one I saw last. That said, for me, both these movies were miles ahead of A Fistful of Dollars AND For a Few Dollars More.

[The Machinist]

One of my favorite things about a Few Dollars more was the villain.

Indio was fantastic and i loved the implementation of the lullaby locket. Made for some very tense showdowns.

[Filmjunkie677]

I love Leone's films but my favorite spaghetti western is Sergio Corbucci's The Great Silence.

It blows them all out of the water.

Also, Who here has seen Cutthroats Nine???

[chromeboy007]

Not to mention one of the greatest finales of all time.



The first time I saw it I got high. no booze, no drugs.... pure cinema!

[chromeboy007]

TGTBATU has far worse dubbing issues. Such an amazing movie, such terrible dubbing.

really? haven't seen it in a while but Once Upon has story continuity issues....

[jpeck]

Check out the dubbing on the old DVD for TGTBATU($5), it is really bad and in its original state. I recently saw it on TV and noticed how bad it was also. The updated DVD actually had parts redubbed by Eastwood and was reworked, much better overall.

[The Machinist]

Check out the dubbing on the old DVD for TGTBATU($5), it is really bad and in its original state. I recently saw it on TV and noticed how bad it was also. The updated DVD actually had parts redubbed by Eastwood and was reworked, much better overall.

Mos def.

What makes me laugh however is the notoriously poor dubbing on the added scenes. Especially that cookfire scene between Tuco and his mexican posse. Classic.

[jpeck]

Mos def.

What makes me laugh however is the notoriously poor dubbing on the added scenes. Especially that cookfire scene between Tuco and his mexican posse. Classic.

yah :crybaby: