Any great director has fans and detractors, lovers and haters. But few filmmakers inspire division as extreme as comic book, movie maestro, Zack Snyder. Frivolous hack, or pop art genius? Stylist without substance, or masterful cinematic storyteller? Even Snyder’s critics admit that what he does well, he does better than anyone. Snyder’s kinetic action sequences can… Continue reading Zack Snyder’s Directing Style and Visual Style Breakdown
Super heroes. Zombies. Extreme close-ups. Blue and yellow visual tones. Over the years, Zack Snyder has developed a style completely his own. Some hate it, some revere it. Truth is, most people fall in the middle. There’s no denying that Snyder’s style of filmmaking is unique. And for that – at the very least –… Continue reading Best Zack Snyder Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked
Andrei Tarkovksy was a director’s director. Ingmar Bergman called him “the greatest.” Lars von Trier dedicated a movie to his honor. Claire Denis said Stalker made her heart feel like it was going to stop. Suffice to say, Tarkovsky earned the respect of his colleagues. But despite his enormous impact, Tarkovsky only directed seven feature… Continue reading Best Andrei Tarkovsky Movies — 7 Cinematic Masterpieces
If Nicolas Winding Refn is known for any one thing, it’s style. Each of the Danish director’s films is imbued with a powerful, coherent aesthetic which guides viewers through a dark social underworld. Ranking Nicolas Winding Refn’s filmography, therefore, is a practice in ranking the effectiveness of his style. At its worst, it overcomes the… Continue reading Nicolas Winding Refn Movies — The Entire Filmography Ranked
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the all-time great auteur filmmakers. His films can be explained in the simplest of terms: You know it when you see it. Over 55 years, Alfred Hitchcock directed dozens upon dozens of films, some of which have joined the pantheon of the greatest movies in cinema history. In this article,… Continue reading 30 Best Alfred Hitchcock Movies Ranked for Filmmakers
With over 40 years of experience working as a feature cinematographer, Robert Richardson has lensed movies for director’s like Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. He’s worked on everything from 65mm film to stereoscopic 3D and has won the Academy Award for cinematography three times (for his work on JFK, The Aviator and Hugo)!… Continue reading Robert Richardson Style — Tarantino, Scorsese’s DP Techniques
The aesthetic of Wes Anderson can be seen from miles away. His directing style is delicate but deliberate, and his eye for color and set design is undeniable. Quirky character after quirky character, they all remain strangely original. Each costume seems to be tailored to their personalities, and the extraordinary little performances we experience in… Continue reading Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked
The John Carpenter filmography is widespread and diverse. Although many of his peers may have matched or exceeded his output, few directors evoke as specific an aesthetic by name alone. Anyone who’s seen a few John Carpenter films would recognize his affinity for practically created monsters, rich concepts, and sick synth-rock inspired soundtracks composed by… Continue reading Best John Carpenter Movies — The Master of the Macabre
The best movie directors of all time — the idea of such a list sparks immediate debate. Rather than try to impose any sort of definitive or objective best directors list, consider this more of a celebration of the entire medium. Woefully underrepresented on this list are women. While women have been an integral part… Continue reading 55 Best Movie Directors of All Time and Their Greatest Films
It’s time to stop underrating James Cameron movies. He’s not perfect but he’s better than he gets credit for. Cameron is an auteur working at the highest level of the studio system, like a proto-Christopher Nolan. His budgets are record-breaking but so are the box office returns.Continue reading James Cameron Movies: Ranked with the Filmmaker… Continue reading James Cameron Movies: Ranked with the Filmmaker in Mind
One of the most, if not the most, iconic and influential directing duos of all time, the Coen Brothers have secured a place in the zeitgeist and in the annals of film history. From Blood Simple to The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen Brothers’ filmography has been both eclectic and distinctive. In this post,… Continue reading Who Are the Coen Brothers — Bio, Early Work and Film Style
Tim Burton is a curious talent. From the start of any of his movies, you instantly have the thought, “Oh yeah, this is a Tim Burton movie.” He has a unique aesthetic, showcasing the beauty in the morbid. His career has been a rollercoaster of quality. From classics to clunkers, Burton’s unique filmmaking style has… Continue reading 19 Best Tim Burton Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked
There’s no denying that Terry Gilliam’s films have left an indelible imprint on the landscape of cinema. Gilliam got his start as a cartoonist in L.A. before joining the Monty Python. While with the Pythons, Gilliam worked as an animator, writer, director, and actor. After the group went their separate ways in the early 1980s,… Continue reading The Best Terry Gilliam Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
Throughout film school, one is inundated with a list of “the masters.” Your Kubricks, your Scorseses, and your Tarantinos. And while they all have their rightful place in the pantheon of auteurs, I’ve always wondered why one name has yet to reach the list. Sex, lies, and videotape debuted 30 years ago, and ever since… Continue reading Best Steven Soderbergh Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
When it comes to blending the boundaries between monster and man, no one does it better than Academy Award-winning director, Guillermo del Toro. Whether he’s directing a superhero film or a gothic romance, he brings his unique visual flair to any story he’s at the helm for. What do you think his best film is? Do you… Continue reading Best Guillermo del Toro Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
Most filmmakers likely know Denis Villeneuve for bursting onto the scene with 2013’s Prisoners. However, the truth of the matter is that he’s been directing excellent movies for well over 20 years now. With Dune just around the corner, it’s time to look at the best Denis Villeneuve movies of all time. There’s really no… Continue reading 9 Best Denis Villeneuve Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
Denis Villeneuve, director of such modern classics as Blade Runner 2049 and Sicario, has yet to make a bad movie. His first two features might be flawed but they are still fresh and exciting. Between his 2nd and 3rd features, Villeneuve took a nine-year break but, since he’s been back, he’s never missed the mark.… Continue reading Denis Villeneuve ⏤ Directing Style and Techniques
Since his feature-length debut in 1986 with She’s Gotta Have It, Spike Lee has remained one of the most important and innovative voices in the film industry. No one has had their pulse on the zeitgeist quite like Lee, and even when he flounders, you can’t help but be impressed with what he manages to… Continue reading Best Spike Lee Movies and TV Shows, Ranked for Filmmakers
