Favorite Auteur (or filmmaker)?
dcfaithful
Posts: 13,076
I recently had to write an extensive essay on an auteur.
If you are unsure what an auteur is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur
I chose Martin Scorsese, who I knew was director of some of my most favorite films. Upon doing a lot of research, and watching a good deal of his films from a stand-point of analyzing style, technique, and consistencies I learned a lot about the auteur theory, and Scorsese as being one.
The ultimate auteur, in my eyes, is Alfred Hitchcock. When you watch a Hitchcock film, it is obvious it's a Hitchcock film. Tarantino, Tim Burton, and Spielberg are other notables.
Based upon the theory, and the fact that when you place it next to certain names who are considered auteurs... it slowly becomes obvious as to how/why they are. James Cameron is also an auteur, as well as Clint Eastwood.
So, anyone have a favorite?
Mine is easily Scorsese. A lot of his films are my favorites, and many themes and elements in his films are closely related to his life experiences. I also think that Raging Bull is easily one of the greatest films to ever be made. It goes so much further than the story. When you learn about eveyrthing that was behind the scenes in that film, it is mind-blowing. The intricate details of the filmmaking and how each boxing scene was carefully storyboarded and took six weeks to shoot, when really, the boxing scenes are a minimal part of the screenplay. De Niro's method acting is masterful. The Academy did something right when awarding him with Best Actor for the film, because he certainly deserved it.
Taxi Driver is another great Scorsese film, which Martin himself admittedly said that Travis Bickle was inspired and closely based aroudn the way him, and writer Paul Schrader were feeling about the world and themselves at that time in their lives.
Goodfellas, Gangs Of New York, Mean Streets... Martin Scorsese has really made some fantastic films.
Let's discuss auteurs, or in general, film and filmmakers.
If you are unsure what an auteur is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur
I chose Martin Scorsese, who I knew was director of some of my most favorite films. Upon doing a lot of research, and watching a good deal of his films from a stand-point of analyzing style, technique, and consistencies I learned a lot about the auteur theory, and Scorsese as being one.
The ultimate auteur, in my eyes, is Alfred Hitchcock. When you watch a Hitchcock film, it is obvious it's a Hitchcock film. Tarantino, Tim Burton, and Spielberg are other notables.
Based upon the theory, and the fact that when you place it next to certain names who are considered auteurs... it slowly becomes obvious as to how/why they are. James Cameron is also an auteur, as well as Clint Eastwood.
So, anyone have a favorite?
Mine is easily Scorsese. A lot of his films are my favorites, and many themes and elements in his films are closely related to his life experiences. I also think that Raging Bull is easily one of the greatest films to ever be made. It goes so much further than the story. When you learn about eveyrthing that was behind the scenes in that film, it is mind-blowing. The intricate details of the filmmaking and how each boxing scene was carefully storyboarded and took six weeks to shoot, when really, the boxing scenes are a minimal part of the screenplay. De Niro's method acting is masterful. The Academy did something right when awarding him with Best Actor for the film, because he certainly deserved it.
Taxi Driver is another great Scorsese film, which Martin himself admittedly said that Travis Bickle was inspired and closely based aroudn the way him, and writer Paul Schrader were feeling about the world and themselves at that time in their lives.
Goodfellas, Gangs Of New York, Mean Streets... Martin Scorsese has really made some fantastic films.
Let's discuss auteurs, or in general, film and filmmakers.
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6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
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His vision was trail-blazing and paved the way for everyone else who followed his
lead.
He certainly was quite the innovator. :geek:
I see you have used a poster for one of his films as your avatar?
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
old school - it would have to be sergio leone
I love the Coen Bros stuff too.
Never watched any Leone, but I definitely know who he is. Recommend any titles in particular?
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
besides the obvious (eastwood movies)... i would say "my name is nobody" ... one of my favourites ...
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Gallipoli (1981)
The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
Witness (1985)
The Mosquito Coast (1986)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Green Card (1990)
Fearless (1993)
The Truman Show (1998)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
The Way Back (2010)
I love the cinematography in that film. It's still amazing to this day.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Rear Window is my favorite Hitchcock film out of the ones I've seen.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
he's probably not an auteur but he is probably my favorite film maker
eastwood, scorsese, lumet, pakula...there are many others
Crowe's a good one. He was included on the hand-out given to me by my professor, so I'll consider him one.
Ingmar Bergman is a notable originator too.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
hitch is great and rw is my favorite...in my 1 of only 2 film classes in college, we were asked to analyze a movie...i decided on rw...sure, you're 19 no problem analyzing hitch :roll:
Hitchcock has a plethora of auteur characteristics to analyze, it couldn't have been too bad.... but for a partying 19 year old, I can see the difficulties that may arise.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
His camera technique using interesting use of the shot/reverse shot that often parodied classicism to underlay the tone of the sequence is truely superb.
and of course, the tracking shots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCeBeS_OGso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJSFItosn7s
Both sequences uses the characters realationship with the space he finds himself in to provoke a response from the audience. In the Shining it is to show how small Danny is and mirrors the threatening aspect of the hotel by using a low-angle shot while he travels through this maze. The maze I guess is a reflection on the pysche as the characters go through their pyschological change and this also happend when Jack is chasing Danny at the end the same comparisons can be drawn. The Clockwork Orange shows Alex in all his confidence and it looks like he 'owns' the space he occupies.
You could probably spend 3 hours discussing the use of music in his films too
The most amazing thing about Kubrick that his films spanned most genres and he made masterpieces in each field. Period drama, war, comedy, horror etc.
One of best sequences you are likely ever to see in cinema
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8Q3X5Gw5I4
Crowe
Coen bros
Scorcese
Tarantino
Kubrick
but no love yet for David Lynch or Darren Aronofsky???
one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time was directed by Darren Aronfsky - Requiem for a Dream
good topic DC... finally something thought provoking!!
This forum needed some artistic and mental stimulation.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
I was waiting for you, my fellow film buff.
Ah, the beloved tracking shot. A staple in Scorsese's techniques, along with slow-motion shots, and freeze-framing.
I haven't watched much Kubrick, but what I have seen is very distinct.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Music is the engine to my Imagination and Pearl Jam is the fuel for that engine.
I'm a big Hitchcock fan though, hard to pick a favorite. Shadow of a Doubt is pretty great. Vertigo, too.
Dr Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange, Space 2001 are all essential viewing. Full Metal Jacket is fantastic too.
I need a rewatch of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull soon, it's been a while.
Other Autuers not mentioned yet are:
Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, delicatessen, A very long engagement)
Powell and Pressburger (A matter of life and death, The red shoes, The life and death of colonel blimp, Black Narcissus)
Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien)
Park Chan-Wook (Sympathy for Lady Vengence, Oldboy, Thirst)
David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai)
and probably my favourite, Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Rashomon, Kagemusha)
David Lynch is definitely an auteur. 'Eraserhead' is one messed up film about male parental horror
blake edwards
and
the farrelly brothers
RED ROCKS 6-19-95
AUGUSTA 9-26-96
MANSFIELD 9-15-98
BOSTON 9-29-04
BOSTON 5-25-06
MANSFIELD 6-30-08
EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
BOSTON 5-17-10
EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
PJ20 9-3-11
PJ20 9-4-11
WRIGLEY 7-19-13
WORCESTER 10-15-13
WORCESTER 10-16-13
HARTFORD 10-25-13
James Cameron
How could I forget David Lean? And Powell and Pressburger - I just saw Black Narcissus on TV recently and it's so good. (I've never seen Col. Blimp though...)
Ghost in the Shell
Although no one beats Hayao Miyazaki for animation.