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This is a list of the 10 best directors who made their first full-length, at least somewhat widely released film, within the past 15 years. So with apologies to Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, David Fincher, Cameron Crowe, Alfonso Cuaron, and Ang Lee lovers (I <3 them too and they would be high on the list), they and other directors missed the cutoff with films that preceded 1993.
I was amazed after I compiled the list just how international the directors are. While not all of them were raised in the respective countries they were born in, we have two Americans, two Brits, two from France, one Australian, one Brazilian, one from Mexico and one from India.
That said, I tried to pick directors over their body of work, not just who is hot at the moment. Many of the honorable mentions in the next paragraph have at least one excellent film, but probably didn't crack the list because of a smaller sampling size to judge or erratic projects that I haven't seen or wasn't widely seen.
The Honorable Mentions:
Marc Forster, Guy Ritchie, George Clooney, Paul Greengrass, Spike Jonze, Darren Aronofsky, Alexander Payne, Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, Sofia Coppola, Judd Apatow, Danny Boyle
Marc Forster, Guy Ritchie, George Clooney, Paul Greengrass, Spike Jonze, Darren Aronofsky, Alexander Payne, Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater, Sofia Coppola, Judd Apatow, Danny BoyleThe TOP 10
10. M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN
Shyamalan has a bad rap these days. It almost seems like ancient times that he was the golden boy of Hollywood after The Sixth Sense and the criminally underseen Unbreakable. Even with his worst films, they are derided because of Shyamalan's promise as a director, not because they are outright terrible. There are still some definite pieces of his newer films that he can bring himself back together to make another cohesively commerical and critical hit, but time will tell.
Shyamalan has a bad rap these days. It almost seems like ancient times that he was the golden boy of Hollywood after The Sixth Sense and the criminally underseen Unbreakable. Even with his worst films, they are derided because of Shyamalan's promise as a director, not because they are outright terrible. There are still some definite pieces of his newer films that he can bring himself back together to make another cohesively commerical and critical hit, but time will tell.Selected Works:
Wide Awake (1998)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Unbreakable (2000)
Signs (2002)
The Village (2004)
Lady In The Water (2006)
The Happening (2008)
9. GUILLERMO DEL TORO
Like many on this list, del Toro gives us an uncompromised vision of what he enjoys in filmmaking, and yet at the same time usually rewards his audience with a good story. Anyone that can make a sequel to Blade better than it should be deserves some props. It will be interesting to see if del Toro can contend with The Hobbit, following the sterling work of Peter Jackson, but at the same time knowing his unusual penchant for the macabre creatures he dreams up, it should be a treat in its own way.
Like many on this list, del Toro gives us an uncompromised vision of what he enjoys in filmmaking, and yet at the same time usually rewards his audience with a good story. Anyone that can make a sequel to Blade better than it should be deserves some props. It will be interesting to see if del Toro can contend with The Hobbit, following the sterling work of Peter Jackson, but at the same time knowing his unusual penchant for the macabre creatures he dreams up, it should be a treat in its own way.Selected Works:
Mimic (1997)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone) (2001)
Blade II (2002)
Hellboy (2004)
El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) (2006)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
The Hobbit (2011)
8. FERNANDO MEIRELLES
Finding his way through the movie system of Brazil, Meirelles worked on experimental films and children's television before he and his friends' production company made Domesticas (Maids) in 2001. This afforded him to film Cidade de Deus (City Of God) in 2002, which with it's gritty but almost authentic storytelling became an international hit and earned him a rare Best Director nomination for a foreign film from the Academy Awards. Meirelles got more acclaim on his first English language feature The Constant Gardener, and from there he is all but destined to become a top-line Hollywood director.
Finding his way through the movie system of Brazil, Meirelles worked on experimental films and children's television before he and his friends' production company made Domesticas (Maids) in 2001. This afforded him to film Cidade de Deus (City Of God) in 2002, which with it's gritty but almost authentic storytelling became an international hit and earned him a rare Best Director nomination for a foreign film from the Academy Awards. Meirelles got more acclaim on his first English language feature The Constant Gardener, and from there he is all but destined to become a top-line Hollywood director.Selected Works:
Domesticas (Maids) (2001)
Cidade de Deus (2002)
The Constant Gardener (2005)
Blindness (2008)
7. FRANK DARABONT
This French-born director can be considered Stephen King's personal book-to-screen adaptater, but assuming he's made all of King's most critical films, there's nothing wrong with it. King's books have usually been hit or miss, with many of them ranging from ultra campy to middling, so with Darabont's take on The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, it's easy to see the disparity. As a screenwriter Darabont wrote horror films in the 1980s, including A Nightmare On Elm Street 3, The Blob, and The Fly II.
This French-born director can be considered Stephen King's personal book-to-screen adaptater, but assuming he's made all of King's most critical films, there's nothing wrong with it. King's books have usually been hit or miss, with many of them ranging from ultra campy to middling, so with Darabont's take on The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, it's easy to see the disparity. As a screenwriter Darabont wrote horror films in the 1980s, including A Nightmare On Elm Street 3, The Blob, and The Fly II.Selected Works:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Green Mile (1999)
The Majestic (2001)
The Mist (2007)
6. MICHEL GONDRY
The former music video autuer turned movie director, Gondry's films can be said to veer largely off the mainstream path. The Frenchman has also taken flak for being lost in a world of quirky and surreal imagery, but no heart without a script by Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman. But it's undoubtedly true that he has an unique vision and feel for the camera that many directors would give their entire lives for.
The former music video autuer turned movie director, Gondry's films can be said to veer largely off the mainstream path. The Frenchman has also taken flak for being lost in a world of quirky and surreal imagery, but no heart without a script by Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman. But it's undoubtedly true that he has an unique vision and feel for the camera that many directors would give their entire lives for.Selected Works:
Human Nature (2001)
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Block Party (2005)
La Science Des Reves (The Science Of Sleep) (2006)
Be Kind Rewind (2008)
5. MEL GIBSON
All jokes aside, let's face it; the man knows how to make a movie. He commandeered himself to great heights in Braveheart, and then crafted the most widely scrutinized religious movie ever released. Some may claim his filmmaking is sensationalism and bombastic, but even so Gibson has a flair for the powerful and dramatic. His acting and his off-screen troubles have hindered his chance to be a steady director, which may have increased his respectability as a director.
All jokes aside, let's face it; the man knows how to make a movie. He commandeered himself to great heights in Braveheart, and then crafted the most widely scrutinized religious movie ever released. Some may claim his filmmaking is sensationalism and bombastic, but even so Gibson has a flair for the powerful and dramatic. His acting and his off-screen troubles have hindered his chance to be a steady director, which may have increased his respectability as a director.Selected Works:
The Man Without A Face (1993)
Braveheart (1995)
The Passion Of The Christ (2004)
Apocalypto (2006)
4. SAM MENDES
Mendes came out of pretty much nowhere (London stage, but Variety doesn't really report that) to blow critics away with American Beauty in 1999, his directorial debut in film. His films tend to paint a stirring portrait of the behind-the-scenes of everyday life, whether it's in suburban homes or on a foreign battlefield. He has since popped up every three years with films that have gone on to be at least above average in reviews, and looks poised to make a big run at the awards in 2008 with the Leonardo DiCaprio film Revolutionary Road. Mendes also is done filming his first true comedy, Farlanders, set for 2009.
Mendes came out of pretty much nowhere (London stage, but Variety doesn't really report that) to blow critics away with American Beauty in 1999, his directorial debut in film. His films tend to paint a stirring portrait of the behind-the-scenes of everyday life, whether it's in suburban homes or on a foreign battlefield. He has since popped up every three years with films that have gone on to be at least above average in reviews, and looks poised to make a big run at the awards in 2008 with the Leonardo DiCaprio film Revolutionary Road. Mendes also is done filming his first true comedy, Farlanders, set for 2009.Selected Works:
American Beauty (1999)
Road To Perdition (2002)
Jarhead (2005)
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Farlanders (2009)
3. WES ANDERSON
Some critics of Wes Anderson's works will point out the striking similarities in themes and texture in almost all of his films. Paternal abandonment, greedy children, damaged and forbidden love. Some claim that, like the works of Michel Gondry, Anderson's movies are never as fully realized without the script help of his favorite star, Owen Wilson. But for every critic who has tired of Anderson's so-real-it's-fake French-inspired retro vintage chic world of snappy, obscure pop songs, there are plenty more like myself who enjoy them.
Some critics of Wes Anderson's works will point out the striking similarities in themes and texture in almost all of his films. Paternal abandonment, greedy children, damaged and forbidden love. Some claim that, like the works of Michel Gondry, Anderson's movies are never as fully realized without the script help of his favorite star, Owen Wilson. But for every critic who has tired of Anderson's so-real-it's-fake French-inspired retro vintage chic world of snappy, obscure pop songs, there are plenty more like myself who enjoy them.Selected Works:
Bottle Rocket (1996)
Rushmore (1998)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
2. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
This lifelong filmmaking Londoner got a running start in 1998 with the short, gritty British neo-noir crime drama Following, and from there patchworked a resume that escalated from small, critically acclaimed thrillers to ones that changed the whole way of how superhero movies should be looked at. His other films are also considered mini masterpieces by most people as well. When Insomnia is the weakest link of your mainstream career, you know you're a good director indeed.
This lifelong filmmaking Londoner got a running start in 1998 with the short, gritty British neo-noir crime drama Following, and from there patchworked a resume that escalated from small, critically acclaimed thrillers to ones that changed the whole way of how superhero movies should be looked at. His other films are also considered mini masterpieces by most people as well. When Insomnia is the weakest link of your mainstream career, you know you're a good director indeed.Selected Works:
Following (1998)
Memento (2000)
Insomnia (2002)
Batman Begins (2005)
The Prestige (2006)
The Dark Knight (2008)
1. PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
If there's been any director that resembles Stanley Kubrick in the department of haphazard scheduling of work but garnering instantly classic praise, Anderson would win hands down. PTA has only crafted 5 full length films in the past 12 years, 2 in this decade. But with each release his films have tended to be more focused, ekeing out some of the best performances of his stars' lives. With it, more kudos and scrutiny. He is also one of the few directors working that gets to write and produce every script he directs, a rarity in films that get a chance to ascend the independent realm.
If there's been any director that resembles Stanley Kubrick in the department of haphazard scheduling of work but garnering instantly classic praise, Anderson would win hands down. PTA has only crafted 5 full length films in the past 12 years, 2 in this decade. But with each release his films have tended to be more focused, ekeing out some of the best performances of his stars' lives. With it, more kudos and scrutiny. He is also one of the few directors working that gets to write and produce every script he directs, a rarity in films that get a chance to ascend the independent realm.Selected Works:
Hard Eight (1996)
Boogie Nights (1997)
Magnolia (1999)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
2 comments:
Thats a great great list and I agree with most of them, but I do however think Mel Gibson should be lower. Even though hes a good director, I cant see him being higher than MICHEL GONDRY and FRANK DARABONT
This is wonderful post. I completely agree with you that all the directors deserve to be in the top 10 list. They all did fabulous work. I just love the movie The Happening and Mimic. These directors gave excellent movie to the industry. Thanks for the post. Keep it up.
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