10 Best Directors (According To Me)

The following list is highly debatable since its the source and judgement coming from me, and me only so feel free to criticize or burn me. I want to be a director someday and this list is a homage to the director I respected. It's only from the modern age, so don't expect Kurosawa or Hitchcock or Kubrick. For the record, I'm a blockbuster kinda guy. Counting down now, also with my personal favorite films from each director.

10. Zack Snyder
This is the most debatable entry on this list, I assure you. But the reason is, I saw Snyder as a genius. He combined visual and audio greatly with the soundtrack (Watchmen and Sucker Punch). His timing is perfect and his vision is, as advertised, visionary. One of the two Warner Bros' directors who had been given an opportunity to develop their own ideas (the other one being Nolan). Guardians of Ga'Hoole is boring for an animated film, but he makes it interesting with incredible owl-action and 3D. As for his latest Sucker Punch, he may have crossed the line but it's still a lot of fun. His biggest film maybe 300, but my personal fav is Watchmen.

9. Matthew Vaughn
A diverse director with only four films to date (Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass, and X-Men First Class). See the titles? See how he diverse he is? He is one of the promising director at the moment. With First Class getting raves he could end up doing some great films in the future. Fav: X-Men: First Class





8. Clint Eastwood
The oldest man on the list. Proves that age is not a matter at all. With recent films of quality and boldness, I wish he would never stop making films. His genre is diverse, makes him a multi-talent. He could handle every genre, thriller (Changeling), drama (Invictus), war (two Iwo Jima films) and even supernatural drama (his latest Hereafter). He may be the baddest cowboy back then, but now he is one of the baddest director. Personal faves: Gran Torino and Million Dollar Baby





7. Tim Burton
The master of gothic cinema. Every dark gothic movie must be judged by it's Tim-Burton-ness. His Alice in Wonderland was a bit of a miss, and it's not like a Burton film. It's the films like the dark and violent Sweeney Todd or the absurd Charlie & The Chocolate Factory that defines Burton. He is one of the people that introduces superhero to cinema with two Batman films. Personal fav: Big Fish




6. Danny Boyle
What I love from Danny Boyle films is that he brings us to a whole new world; exotic locations and alternate universe. It's an eye-opener really. His 28 Days Later set new standards for zombie films, it's not only jump-scare moments but also humanity, the survival. The Beach starring Leo DiCaprio is also great only to be let down by the film's third act. 127 Hours could be boring too, people dont want to see a guy just being stuck. But Danny did it (i'm on first-name basis) and it's brilliant and compelling. Personal fav: Slumdog Millionaire



5. James Cameron
One word: vision. He is so visionary and incredibly creative (ambitious too) that leads him to the title King of the World. Two films combined to $4 billion? Damn. He is creative and unique, yes with films like Terminator and The Abyss. But it's the colossal nature of his films that paid off. $200 m for Titanic paid with $1,8 billion and another $200m-ish for Avatar paid back with $2 billion? Creativity. He is an exceptional director with brilliant imagination. Personal fav: Avatar (watched it 3 times in cinema; 3D, normal and special edition, with combined ticket cost of Rp 80k)


4. Quentin Tarantino
What is not to love from Tarantino? His films are fun and thrilling. His influence from many things (which most of them I don't understand) is a great thing for his films. It's very interesting to know trivia about Tarantino movies like American pop culture he put in Pulp Fiction or that yellow Bruce Lee suit in Kill Bill. Also his films included intelligent dialogue about people and stuff (the Superman bit from Kill Bill vol. 2 is kinda good), for example "Do you Americans speak any other language than English?" the satire that's from the Oscar-nominated masterpiece Inglourious Basterds. The craziness in his movies is a plus point too, (Nazi massacre in Basterds or the whole Grindhouse feature). Personal fav: Kill Bill Vol 1


3. Steven Spielberg
This is a treason. I'm putting him on number 3 because he is my favorite director of all-time. But I also have my reason. Spielberg put the summer in summer films. It matters with his blockbusters like Jurassic Park, E.T., Indiana Jones saga and many more. He may not be as active as he did but he became a godfather for many blockbusters and quality films, like this year's Super 8. He is the world's famous director and Hollywood is nothing without him. Really am excited for Tintin at the end of the year. Personal fav: Jurassic Park, a classic.


2. David Fincher
At first the idea of making a Facebook film seemed crappy and boring. I mean, what is interesting about some geek in front of his laptop? But David Fincher made it exceptional, this year's Oscar should be his (sorry Tom Hooper). One thing for sure, he is a perfectionist. He made Jodie Foster's Panic Room very engaging where it could only be an average hostage thriller film. Benjamin Button too; it's a highly boring film but thanks to Fincher it became a quite pleasant drama. His filmography is also excellent having quality movies such as Fight Club, Seven and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake for Christmas 2011. Personal fav: Fight Club

1. Christopher Nolan
Who doesn't know his name after last year's hit Inception? He is a genius. His films are intelligent and requires the audience to think like The Prestige and Inception. So instead of giving us in-your-face explanation, he wants us to make our own interpretation. The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, which were directed by him, proves that superhero movies have some depth instead of only action. It's also set new standards for the genre. Also don't forget his first hit Memento starring Guy Pearce in the lead; it's mind-boggling and smart. I've watched all of his film except for his first feature, Following. Personal fav:   The Dark Knight (just a bit ahead of The Prestige)

Some honorable mentions are Peter Jackson (LOTR Trilogy), Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Coen Brothers (No Country For Old Men), Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) and Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum). I was thinking I'd put Michel Gondry but his Green Hornet was in the way.