Best Directors/Film makers/Other crew

[Springs]

Since we've had actor threads, I'd like to put down my favourite film crew members, those that often don't get enough credit or recognition as actors do. Some work tirelessly on films for many years and that earns them great respect in my eyes.

Directors:
I enjoy the works of Stanley Kubrick, Terrence Malick, Peter Jackson, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo Del Toro and Hiyao Miyazaki very much.
I also think Clint Eastwood has done a great deal for movies in general as an actor and director, but I feel he makes too many movies and some aren't as good as they could be.
Darren Aronofsky and David Fincher are two others I usually enjoy.
Lars Von Trier is another I would like if half his films weren't softcore porn.

Writers:
Unfortunately writers often get criticised for bad movies while being looked over for good movies. I still think Matt Damon's best role was writing the script for Good Will Hunting. The Coen Brothers are two brilliant writers as are many comedians that are known more for their acting, like John Cleese and the other Pythons.
I love the way Jackson, Walsh and Boyens brought the Lord of the Rings to the screen and Frank Darabont is another writer whose films I love.
I also like Charlie Kaufman, Quentin Tarantino, John Logan, Paul Thomas Anderson and the writers from Breaking Bad.

Special effects:
Can't go past the teams from WETA and Pixar, love their work.

Cinematographers:
Favourites are Andrew Lesnie and Emmanuel Lubezki. Also like Wally Pfister's ability to keep up with Nolan's visions.
Also really liked Manuel Alberto Caro's work on Melancholia.

Composers:
Music is a big part of the movie experience for me. A lot of films, particularly epic or sad films, wouldn't be the same if not for music.
Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings), Hans Zimmer (Pirates, Batman, Lion King, Thin Red Line), Thomas Newman (The Green Mile), James Horner (Titanic, Braveheart), James Newton Howard (Unbreakable, The Village), John Williams (Schindler's List), Shiro Sagisu (Evangelion) and Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) are my favourites.

 

[hrundi99]

Miyazaki is my favourite director.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Akira Kurosawa. Greatest ever IMO

John Woo, Takashi Miike, Christopher Nolan & Martin Scorsese.

Quentin Tarantino probably my least respected director. I like some of his films but anybody who justifies stealing other peoples work is f**ked.

 

[Big Pete]

Currently I look forward to works by Chris Nolan, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Rian Johnson, David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky & the Coens.

When I'm looking through old directors I'll give Lynch a chance, Hitchcock's work still unsettles me at times & Capra provides that warm cinema going experience that's often missing.

Interested to see how Marc Webb goes with Amazing Spiderman, (500) Days of Summer was a bunch of fun and he's been involved with a few interesting music vids.

Speaking of Spike Jonze is probably my favourite director when we're exclusively talking about music videos. Alongside Sophie Muller.

 

[WYD]

Quentin Tarantino probably my least respected director. I like some of his films but anybody who justifies stealing other peoples work is f**ked.

My biggest problem is with the fanboys, this Tarantino worship is a plague, and not even a doctorate in film can save most people.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Tarantino's best work was Natural Born Killers imo although like the rest of his films I'm sure he's stolen it from other sources I just don't want to know about it. Reservoir Dogs & Kill Bill especially are tainted. As a director it's really only Pulp Fiction that I think is great although I do enjoy Jackie Brown.

I forgot to add Robert Rodriguez to my list of favourite directors.

What do people think of Speilberg? I used to always think he was overrated and had great budgets at his disposal making life easy but for me Duel shows he has quality and I'd argue purely from a director point of view that was his best work.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

I forgot to add Robert Rodriguez to my list of favourite directors.

From Dusk till Dawn?

Awesome film.

Coen brothers for mine, I can't even think of a film of theirs I didn't like.

 

[Godz Illa]

Edward Knott is my favourite Key Grip.

 

[Generalzod]

Oliver Stone is my favourite director: JFK/ Natural Born Killers/Platoon Screen play for Scarface
Vangelis/ Williams are my favourite composers, Williams for Superman and Vangelis for his work on Blade runner.
Special Effects WETA for the work on PROMETHEUS

 

[Karl]

Tim Burton, Elfman, Depp, Bonham Carter. Seem to be a good set of collaborators.

 

[Springs]

Tarantino's best work was Natural Born Killers imo although like the rest of his films I'm sure he's stolen it from other sources I just don't want to know about it. Reservoir Dogs & Kill Bill especially are tainted. As a director it's really only Pulp Fiction that I think is great although I do enjoy Jackie Brown.

I forgot to add Robert Rodriguez to my list of favourite directors.

What do people think of Speilberg? I used to always think he was overrated and had great budgets at his disposal making life easy but for me Duel shows he has quality and I'd argue purely from a director point of view that was his best work.

Spielberg is one of the greatest of all time but I don't think he has made any brilliant films since Saving Private Ryan. Sometimes it seems he focuses on too many things at once or makes too many films and series. I think he would be better sticking to dramatic projects and less War of the Worlds and Crystal Skull like films.

Tim Burton, Elfman, Depp, Bonham Carter. Seem to be a good set of collaborators

They used to be, until they were together in every f**king film. Their last 5 films aren't anywhere near their best, with Depp playing a whacky, pale-faced, weird haired character in every one. Of all the films they have done together the only one where Depp didn't have a pale face and weird hair was Ed Wood, and I would consider that their best.
Bonham Carter's best films are the ones she doesn't do with her husband.
Burton needs to mix it up a bit, all his later films have the same dark style and over the top characters.