Evil Dead is a really good explanation of what makes movies fun and interesting (talented artists with a stylistic/thematic POV) and what makes them demoralizing (Corporate IP Slop). You can basically figure out which of the movies are good based on how each of them got made. Here is how I rank them.
Ben Affleck has directed five feature-length films so far. I ranked them all here. If he directs more, I’ll add them. He has had an interesting (if very inconsistent) career behind the camera so far.
6. Argo [2012] Continue reading Ranking the Ben Affleck Films
Heiny Srour is one of the coolest people alive. If you ever have a chance to see her talk, you should do so. If you have a chance to read her book, you should do so. And obviously, you should watch all of the films she has made and pray she somehow gets to make more. She is a true artist.
Of all the legendary director/lead pairings, it seems to me that John Huston’s work with Humphrey Bogart is a bit unheralded all things considered. I suppose author Danny Ledger thought the same thing and wrote a book about their work together: ‘A Reasonable Amount of Trouble…’ – The Films of John Huston & Humphrey Bogart. This article only discusses and ranks the films Huston directed. Huston also wrote a couple of films that Bogart was in.
Continue reading Ranking the Humphrey Bogart/John Huston Collaborations
Still Need to Watch: Angels of Sin, Diary of a Country Priest, A Gentle Woman
Bresson has been an incredibly rewarding artist to explore. He tackles some of the themes that speak to me the most in art. I hope all of his films are added to Criterion soon.
Wong Kar-wai seems to hold an infamous status with many fans of film. I am here to report that I mostly think – after diving through every feature film of his – I think he’s mostly way too much bark and not nearly enough bite. He has got a great visual sense, but its impact is dulled over time. Many of his films feel like they are less than sum of its parts. It has been interesting and rewarding to go through all of his films, but I do doubt I will rewatch many of them. So it goes.
Jane Schoenbrun is an extremely talented filmmaker. I am though at the moment concerned they are on an artistic downward trajectory early in their career, but I remain optimistic that their talent will win out.
Brian De Palma is one of the greatest directors ever. After years of dismissing him out of hand due to a bad early impression his films made on me, I have thankfully and finally re-visited him and seen the light. He has made some of the most sincerely fascinating and compelling films that I have ever seen.
Ang Lee is a pretty interesting filmmaker for a few reasons. He followed the classic late eighties/early nineties path of making small indie movies before increasingly being able to make bigger and bigger movies. On the surface, many of his films seem very different, but they are almost always very thematically connected. He has won multiple Best Director Oscars. And perhaps most importantly, his films show that he is one of the very few filmmakers in the world who can consistently make stories outside his comfort zone and manage to capture truth. Continue reading Ranking the Ang Lee Films
“Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.”
Christopher Nolan is a fascinating director. He is perhaps best understood by comparing his first film (Following) and his most recent film, at the time of original publication (Tenet). Both films best capture what he seems to value most in movies: mood & atmosphere. He is not a plot-detailed oriented director. At least, there is little to no evidence to suggest he values that. He cares about the feeling watching a movie gives you. The story of his films is the pull between that desire to pursue focusing on a film’s vibes and Hollywood conventions that focus more on plot and traditional means of characterization. The results have been mixed to say the least but rarely boring. Continue reading Ranking the Christopher Nolan Films
