Bob PeryeaHow vital is a Director to a film's Quality?
June 3rd 2008 01:11
OK, I realise that the heading is pretty loaded, so let me explain. Certain directors have a very distinct style that makes them unique, Tarantino's work, for example, is full of stylized violence. Also I'm talking here specifically about respected and quality directors, I don't doubt the Uwe Boll could turn any classic script into a steaming pile of crap.
But much of the time content seems to be one of the major differences between directors. Scorsese for example has a hard on for Gangster/Underworld movies, both Italian and Irish-American (and who can blame him), see Taxi Driver, The Departed, The Goodfellas, Gangs of New York etc. Peter Jackson (at least his Hollywood work, I don't know his old stuff) is all about epic scenes, as demonstrated by the Lord of the Rings', King Kong and his interest in doing Halo and Temeraire). The Wachowski brothers do crazy computer special effects laden pop-culture epitaths.
But how much better or worse would say the Godfathers have been if Scorsese directed them? Or if Jackson had directed Star Wars? What if James Cameron did Jaws or Speilberg did Aliens?
Again I realise certain directors with very distinct stylistic preferences could significantly alter a movie, but for a quality director with a quality script how much would really change?
But much of the time content seems to be one of the major differences between directors. Scorsese for example has a hard on for Gangster/Underworld movies, both Italian and Irish-American (and who can blame him), see Taxi Driver, The Departed, The Goodfellas, Gangs of New York etc. Peter Jackson (at least his Hollywood work, I don't know his old stuff) is all about epic scenes, as demonstrated by the Lord of the Rings', King Kong and his interest in doing Halo and Temeraire). The Wachowski brothers do crazy computer special effects laden pop-culture epitaths.
But how much better or worse would say the Godfathers have been if Scorsese directed them? Or if Jackson had directed Star Wars? What if James Cameron did Jaws or Speilberg did Aliens?
Again I realise certain directors with very distinct stylistic preferences could significantly alter a movie, but for a quality director with a quality script how much would really change?
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Personally, I'm a huge fan of filmmaking by directors that submerge themselves into their work.
Big budget Hollywood movies are not as free, unfortunately, as the producers and marketers often have a lot of control over the final product... as witnessed by the god-awful, blasphemous remake of "I Am Legend".
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Comment by David O'Connell
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There are promising young directors getting bought by Hollywood all the time, now making films that anyone could make in exactly the same way - they don't have any control over the final product anyway, and if they think they do, then it's only an illusion of control.
Look at Bryan Singer's early work as one example - Public Access, The Usual Suspects and even Apt Pupil - as compared to his made-by-committee movies XMen, X2 and Superman Returns. Personally I think his talents are being wasted and he's not the only one.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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actually in all seriousness you only have to look at film sequels to see the impact a director makes . . .
Ridley Scott made Alien a sci-fi suspense drama while James Cameron made Aliens into a high octane action flick
David Fincher (The Game, Seven, Fight Club) did Alien 3 and it is dark and grusome
Alien 4 was practically a comedy
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Geoff Egan
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Morgan, despite how excellent Seven and Fight Club are, Alien 3 sucked epically. Epically.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i agree, alien 3 wasnt much chop compared to the original
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