This is a post about the most influential directors (for me).
I think I can safely say most people may not agree with this list. The list
will be updated every day with each director and a set of recommended works
that I have seen.
Top Directors: No 1 –
David Lynch
The controversial No.1 spot on my list has to go to David
Lynch. Lynch is known for his surrealist, noir and neo-noir films. He has developed his own
cinematic style, which is often dubbed as “Lynchian”. Most of his films exhibit
a non-linear narrative, which is not easy to comprehend for a first time
watcher but is similar to what you can find in films of Nolan, Tarantino and
the likes. Other distinctive traits of “Lynchian” films are the dream imagery,
apt sound design, extreme use of symbolism and mysterious nature.
“Mulholland Drive” was the first Lynch film that I have
seen. The brilliantness of this film is that although it seemed like any normal
film, the last part of the film really work me up and I had to see it a couple
of times to fully understand and notice all the intricacies portrayed in it.
So it’s safe to say that from Lynch’s films only, that I
started to clearly notice everything in a film, even a minor object or dialog
could help in understanding the film. Lynch doesn’t tell a story through a
film, rather give some suggestions and let the viewer to interpret the story in
their ways. As such most Lynch films can have multipleinterpretations and it
doesn’t help when Lynch never comments on the meaning or symbolism of his
films. DVD releases of Lynch film’s do not have chapters as Lynch believes, one
should watch his films from end to end.
A 25 year old Lynch began studying film making at the AFI
Conservatory in 1971 (he was studying for a career as painter before this).
After five years of work, his first film (aided by grant from AFI and money
raised from friends and family) “Eraserhead” was released in 1977. It is a
surrealist horror film depicted in black and white.
Next up was mainstream success through the film “The
Elephant Man”, based on true story. This film starred Antony Hopkins and
achieved huge critical and commercial success. The film was also nominated in
eight categories for Academy Awards.
The most different film by Lynch is “The Straight Story” -An
old man makes a long journey by tractor to mend his relationship with an ill
brother based on a true story. Lynch comments that this is his most
experimental movie. It is strikingly a linear film, even shot in chronological
order based on the actual route taken by ‘Alwin Straight’.
After that came “Mulholland Drive” in 2001 which earned
Lynch the Best Director prize at the Cannes film festival.
His next film, “Inland Empire” from 2006 went one level
higher from the previous film. A three hour long film, much like “Mulholland
Drive” and “Lost Highway” did not follow a traditional movie structure. Titled
‘A woman in trouble’, takes the unsuspecting viewer on for a journey of their
lives.A highly nonlinear film with multiple stories / dreams / realities
intertwining. It was shot with actors getting freshly written dialogue each
day!
Recommended Films:
Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, Inland Empire and The Straight
Story.
He also co-created a
TV Series called “Twin Peaks” and a follow up film “Twin Peaks: Fire walk with
me”.
Top Directors: No 2 –
Stanley Kubrick
Perfectionist.
That’s how you describe arguably the greatest director of
all time. His films are noted for their unique cinematography (Kubrick started
out as a Photographer), attention to detail and usage of innovative techniques
and technologies. In his almost 50 year career as a director, it is an
astonishing fact that he has directed only 13 feature films. It is mostly due
to the fact that he does most of the research, screenplays, editing and other
aspects of a film. He has the complete artistic control over films that he
makes. And in those films he has covered a wide variety of genres which
includes war, satire, romance, horror, epics etc.
The most famous of Kubrick’s films should be the epic
science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Released in 1968, it was a very
innovative film with ground breaking special effects, portrayal of future,
philosophical content, human evolution, artificial and extra-terrestrial
intelligence.This film is truly a modern masterpiece and epic.
At this rate, I would have to write about each and every one
of his films and the specialty and finesse on them. So I will cut short on
that.A most fact to add is for the film “The Shining”, Kubrick was satisfied
after around 150 takes for a certain scene. So much is Kubrick’s demand for
perfection and attention to detail.
He has only one Oscar award to his name – Best Special
Effects for “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Sadly, at the age of 70, four days after
the screening of a final cut of his last film “Eyes Wide Shut”, Kubrick passed
away from a heart attack on March 7, 1999.
Recommended Films:
2001: A Space Odyssey, the Shining, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, Dr.
Strangelove and Full Metal Jacket
Top Directors: No 3 –
Ingmar Bergman
The great Swedish director-writer is next on my list. Of
almost his 40 films, I have but seen only 3 up until now. But they are
excellent examples of the quality of this great film artist. His values film as
an art rather than a commercial point of view.
The first film that I’ve seen was “The Seventh Seal” which
tells the story of a medieval knight and a game of chess he plays with the
personification of Death. The film explores themes of God, faith, and how
everyone becomes equal before death. There is a great artistic touch to the
film in each scene. Thisfilm helped Bergman establish himself as a world-class
director.
The second film that I saw was “Wild Strawberries” which is
about an old man recalling his past. The film investigates questions about life
and thought provoking themes like self-discovery and human existence. There are
instances of the past and present co-existing as if reliving a memory which are
quite extra ordinary.
And the film that made the greatest impression on me, yet, is titled “Persona” – one could conclude that this
is a simple film owing to being just 83 minutes running time, and only 4
characters of which only 2 appear for more than a minute of which one does all
the speaking. It would seem to be boring, but is considered to be Bergman’s
most important work.
“A nurse is put in charge of an actress who can't talk and
finds that the actress's persona is melding with hers.”-is what imdb says as a
description for the film. The film follows a three act structure.The main
characters can be seen as representing extremes. Both deliver stunning
performances and there is brilliant cinematography by Sven Nykvist, a long term
collaborator of Bergman’s.
There is extreme contrast in the imagery of most scenes.
There is strong use of duality and symbolism throughout.
Recommended films:
The Seventh Seal, Persona, Cries and Whispers
Top Directors: No 4 –
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan has to be an under rated director in the
modern times (as in under rated by the Oscar Committee). The first film which I’ve seen directed by Nolan is “Memento”. It was my introduction to the unusual
narrative in films, most notable non-linear. I had to see it multiple times, stop and think about the
story lines that progressed in parallel and in reverse to make out the story. He went one
better with “The Prestige” which is my favorite Nolan film.
What I like so much about Nolan is the way the stories and
characters are developed and introduced to the viewer. Intricate plot elements are
introduced to the viewer in subtle ways such as in “Inception”.
The dialogues play an important part in his films and the
actors casted always play their roles to perfection. He frequently casts some actors in most of his films, like Sir Michael Caine. His brother, Jonathan Nolan is involved with the story for most of his films.
Nolan leaves some part of the
film for the user’s imagination and interpretations (e.g.: Ending of Inception, Dark
Knight Rises). Nolan is simply one of the most talented and exceptional film makers in working today.
Recommended films:
Memento, Inception, The Prestige, Batman Trilogy
Top Directors: No 5 –
Sir Alfred Hitchcock
His most famous work has to be the psychological thriller “Psycho”.
Although I felt a few of his films had similar plot like “Strangers on a Train”
and “Dial M for Murder”.
He made around fifty films and is regarded as the greatest
British filmmaker.
Recommended Films: Psycho,
Vertigo, Rear Window, and Rope.
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