TOTAL Film Magazine's Top 100 Directors (1/2)

Ooooh, Lists, I love lists. Even though i haven't had a list of my own - making lists is hard, there's always one or two things peeking in the corner, maliciously grinning, 'You haven't included me, bozo!' and forcing me to rewrite the list -, it should be noticed that i had a certain penchant to comment on other's lists. Now, here's another lists which i deemed worthy to at least take a peek. It should be noted that even though the original list consists of 100 names, i only mentioned the top-11, since of course, it is rather futile to lists them all here in one post.

11. Akira Kurosawa
The samurai master
Rashômon alerted the world to the riches of Japanese cinema – and to the tigerish energy of Toshiro Mifune. But it was Seven Samurai, with its bravura action sequences and melancholy, that sealed Akira Kurosawa’s reputation. Yojimbo added a gleeful dose of black comedy, while Ikiru, set in modern-day Tokyo, revealed Kurosawa’s gentler, elegiac side. His love of Shakespeare inspired Throne Of Blood as well as the majestic late Lear adaptation, Ran.
Picture perfect Seven Samurai. Poetry in motion.

When i first decide to dive nose-first to a world of cinemas as more than just a pleasurable killing time experiences, Akira Kurosawa was my first choice to do some exploration. Thus, I had seen many of his works, probably more than any other old classic directors. I've seen all the films listed in the above paragraph, for instance. My favorite Kurosawa however, not Seven Samurai, even though the film's rain scene was simply breathtaking even with rather old-fashioned sword-battling coreography (but, old-fashioned as it is, it still felt more real than most modern sword-battling coreography). My favorite samurai tale from Mr.Kurosawa was the no-name bodyguard tales, Yojimbo and Sanjuro. Both features Toshiro Mifune, and both was simple, quick, and explosive in the end. A fun flick to watch. Alas, my most favorite Kurosawa was not even a Samurai flick. Ikiru (pictured) ever stands as one of my favorite films of all-time, probably because i took root on drama as my genre preference in film, but i still remembered Takashi Shimura gaunt and longing faces as he realized that he's got no longer than three months to live. Classic.

10. David Fincher
The perfectionist
“Some people make movies so they can have a big house,” says Fincher. “Some people do it so they can date Swedish models... If I wasn’t making movies I would be drunk and homeless.” The MTV auteur who segued from Rolling Stones’ and George Michael vids to the fascinating failure of Alien3, Fincher’s do-or-die vision eventually delivered the seminal Se7en, mirrored this year by Zodiac’s more muted but no less intelligent take on fractured masculinity, obsession and loneliness (and, oh yeah, a serial killer). Hardly prolific, but Fincher’s smarts, wit and eye are unsurpassed in his generation; even his popcorn pictures (The Game, Panic Room) are a different league. Always pushing the technical envelope, he matches his meticulousness with mordant humour and a growing sense of humanity. Expect third Pitt hook-up, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, to stun you. Kubrick has an heir.
Picture perfect Fight Club. A beautiful and unique snowflake.

He's probably the reason i was a fan of Brad Pitt. Yep, Brad Pitt. When it comes to celebrity, i often distinguished myself from the crowd by NOT becoming a fan of a popular known actors (or artists). Well, it's just... habit. But Mr.Pitt was there. His taste in clothing in the Ocean's trilogy series has been one that i would like to copy from. The film Se7en that sealed the fact. I had seen Se7en for the first time in 1995 - 1996 when i was about to graduate from Junior High School. It quickly become my favorite film of many years to come. Ahh, the good old days. I remember, i had stunned with the film, from opening to finish, and from the way Kevin Spacey cocked his head sideways, and muttered a slow, true but frightening words, "Oh, he doesn't know". Scary. I was shaking to boots when i saw how the words shaken Brad Pitt's calmness. But, to be at #10-spot, surpassing Mr.Kurosawa? i don't think so. Come to think of it, his decent movies are Zodiac, Se7en, and Fight Club, in that order, where Fight Club being and still my favorite Brad Pitt's film. Further, there's an intriguing point in that article that he was going to be Kubrick's heir. Now, that was strectching a bit more. But, check this out. According to imdb, in 2009, he's going to made Rendezvous with Rama, which based on Arthur C. Clarke's sci-fi story that sets on space. And Kubrick, 41 years earlier had made 2001: A Space Odyssey, also a sci-fi story sets in space, also based on Arthur C. Clarke's story. Interesting.

9. Peter Jackson
The ring master
A bashful, only child growing up in Pukerua Bay, New Zealand, Peter Jackson latched onto the 8mm camera he was given at the age of eight, forging a small talent that became big.

Jackson’s early work – camp splatter movies Bad Taste and Braindead, influenced by George A Romero – segued into the rapturous, teen-lesbian murder tale Heavenly Creatures and the mature, visionary storytelling of The Lord Of The Rings. “It was a giant undertaking,” says Jackson of his three-film, five-year odyssey, “but I consider it a personal film – my film of a lifetime.”

Maybe so, but now that he’s finally laid to rest his obsession with King Kong, a liberated Jackson can funnel his extraordinary filmmaking talents into more intriguing artistic-multiplex synergies – including, he says, a return to his gorehound roots.

First up, Alice Sebold’s ghost-child drama Lovely Bones, the perfect vehicle for his rhapsodic blend of visceral emotion and transporting fantasy.
Picture perfect The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Eleven hours of pure cinematic majesty.

Ah, who doesn't know The Lord of the Rings? Stop reading if you don't, go back to your mother's womb, or whatever cave you're in for this past five-six years. No comment from me on the subject, but, as the article point out, i believe that Peter Jackson had some unique traits in making horror film, i truly enjoyed The Frighteners. Especially during the scene where the Grim Reaper swinging his deadly scythe between passing cars. I really wanted to see he's back on his horror root. And again, number 9 spot? He's good, but NOT that good. My comment by the way.

8. Stanley Kubrick
The recluse
Even in death – it’s still hard to believe he’s gone – Kubrick remains a semi-mythic figure, hidden behind a thicket beard, monolithic intellect and the front gates of his Xanadu-like mansion. Bizarrely, he’s greater than any one of his 13 truly unique films. After WWI trench-tragedy Paths Of Glory, Kubrick became less interested in humans than humanity itself, driving actors to hundreds of identical takes in his obsessive search for perfection. Even Dr Strangelove (an original, brilliant, terrifying nuclear comedy that equates military might with big, swinging dicks) and Lolita (sex and power again) reach us through a God-like POV that belongs to him and none of his characters. He fish-eyed Big Questions through some of the most unforgettable spectacles in cinema: 2001’s celestial enigma; The Shining and A Clockwork Orange’s mesmerising horrorshows; Full Metal Jacket’s clinical destruction; Eyes Wide Shut’s end-of-century sign-off. Daring, demanding and unique.
Picture perfect 2001: A Space Odyssey. To infinity and beyond.

Along with Mr.Kurosawa, he was one of the director i picked during my transformation days (from entertainment to edutainment) and so, i was pretty knowledgable regarding his works. And 2001: A Space Odyssey remains one of my most painful experience in watching films, i watched the film thrice, and thrice i fell asleep during the Ray of Lights scene. But, other than that, despite of what Stephen King had said, The Shining remains one of the most frightening films i've ever seen. The tricycle scene, the tennis-ball scene, they had no weird, made-to-surprise sound effects, but nonetheless, it's just plain scary. But, my favourite of Kubrick, was Barry Lyndon. A three hour more of a tale contemplating the life of a noble. Now that i tried to remember the film, it short of remind me to Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. But with huge distinction that i liked Barry Lyndon, and i despised Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette.

7. Ingmar Bergman
The confessor
“At times, the demons can be helpful. But you have to beware. Sometimes they will help you along to hell.”

Ingmar Bergman knew what he was talking about. Survivor of a cracked faith and four broken marriages (a fifth ended when his wife died of stomach cancer), the Swedish auteur made a career out of “the ability to attach my demons to my chariot” (The Seventh Seal, Shame, Scenes From A Marriage, Autumn Sonata, Fanny And Alexander).

And if his chariot’s wheels occasionally threatened to come off, that only helped Bergman work through his crises of creative confidence in movies like Persona and Hour Of The Wolf, positing the artist as charlatan.

Honing his uncluttered style over 60 years and 50-odd films, he shoots his tortured protagonists in looming, luminous close-up, his camera performing keyhole surgery to extract tumorous lies. It is, as critic David Thomson puts it, a “cinema of the inner life”, revelatory in every sense.
Picture perfect Persona. Bergman’s silent scream.

Sadly, i need more of him. His only flick that i've seen so far is The Seventh Seal. His depiction of Death is, for lack of better words, personal. And the final scene where Death led the characters jolly-walking on a hill, shots from a far, really really subtly frightening. There's no doubt about it that he, who just recently passed away, is one of the greatest director.

Fiuw, that's a post too many for today actually, so i'm going to conclude this posts with the rest of the list next Monday, enjoy your weekends, i think i'm going to see The Brave One, i've always had a soft-spot for Jodie Foster that even her worst i deemed enjoyable, and the revenge flick has been garnered positive reviews around, and Disturbia which finally, after a few agonizing months (it has been released far earlier in the US) of waiting, i could finally laid eyes on what they said among the better thriller released. Again, have a nice weekend.

Was: The Wachowski Brothers

Via Cinematical, best known as one of those brothers who brought forth the Matrix trilogy, Larry Wachowski had completed his sex change operation. Yikes. Yes, Larry now will be known as Lana.

In Retrospect: Michael Mann

When i went back in time, to 1995 to be precise, i remembered an experience worthy to mention regarding the path of film-buffs which i had chose to embrace for these last 4 years. I was born and grew in a small city where the only theater in town would only play Indonesian film (you who went through 90's would surely knew what kind of Indonesian film that been released at the time), Indian film, or any B-film features Jean Claude Van Damme. So, not much of a choice if you asked me. But during that time, thanks to some (though barely enough) reading materials, i managed to get myself acquainted with some of better films out there. Well, enough to know that Van Damme's film aren't worthy of my money.

Sometime in 1995, i've got my hands to two films which become somewhat of a starting point of my path. Se7en and Heat. Se7en was particularly intriguing in itself that i dont need to mention its importance. I mean, for a kid who had never seen a decent film before, given a film that not only entertains but gave a little tease to te brain, with stellar acting from Mr.Kevin Spacey who easily become one of my favourite actor until now, it surely blows.

However, Heat was an entirely different story. For one, i certainly doesn't expect that the film would be three hour long, features less gun-fights, and many talks which at the time, was a source of boredom to me (really, i was 14, and i watched the film entirely without subtitles). In fact, i was able to appreciate the film, even tagged it with a word 'masterpiece' after three viewings. First time in 1995, second time in 2000, and finally, in 2004 where Heat become one of the film that i held high above many others.

The film has proven to stand the test of time and remains in my shortlist of great films that i could enjoy watching again and again. When i saw it last time, i held my breath when Al Pacino and Robert De Niro exchanging casual conversations over coffee even that they were actually nemeses to each other.

As this entry's title suggest, by the way, i want to talk about Michael Mann, the director who gave birth to that masterpiece called Heat. In 2004, Michael Mann directed Collateral, which easily become one of the best film in 2004, and arguably features the best performance from Mr.Tom Cruise ever since 1999's Magnolia. And in mid-2006, not so long ago, he directed Miami Vice which even though that only receives lukewarm reviews from his fan (even some mentioned that it was his weakest work), i could enjoy. Even though, obviously, not as much as the previous two.

Now, Heat, Collateral, and Miami Vice. If i was allowed to draw a red-line between the three, i had some distinct conclusion that all three films shared the same trait, and even why Miami Vice doesn't work that well compared with the other two.

Both Heat, and Collateral features a single character, a menace to society, a lone-wolf in otherwise tamed environment (Robert De Niro's character and Tom Cruise's character). And we went through the film through this character. We felt its estranged-ness and finally even though that both of the characters were naturally an antagonist, we could give our sympathy and even felt at loss when we're depart with those characters. Well, at least that's what i felt, and that's what i think that gave both of the films their respective stellar qualities in my short-list.

Now, what's wrong with Miami Heat? Mind you, i dont think that there was anything wrong with Miami Heat, i loved the cinematography, i loved how the camera works, and i especially loved the sense of 'being-there'. And maybe, just maybe, i mingth named Miami Heat as one of the best film in 2006. Definitely one of the best in summer. But, during the lengthy film, i was mostly lost. I've got nobody on screen to attach my feeling to. It felt just like watching porn compared to actually doing it. You still get excited, but it just wasn't the same.

Colin Farrell was supposed to be the lone-wolf, but he lacks the charisma, and his peer, played by Jamie Foxx, failed to compensate for the lack. Thus, i failed to sympatize with both Mr.Farrell's and Mr.Foxx's characters and devoid to any emotional feeling he might have on screen. It was a big question to me since Mr.Foxx was a surperb screen-duo for Mr.Cruise back in Collateral.



Anyway, though many would still considers Miami Heat is one of the director's pretentious and self-important works to date, i could still enjoy it, and given the right time, i wouldn't mind to spare another three-hours of my time to embrace the great visuals that is Miami Heat. And still i hope, that in the future, Michael Mann would made another film in coherence with his current films theme, a lone-wolf. Can't hope for another masterpiece though, since in my opinion every director should've been entitled to only one masterpiece through his career. And in my opinion, Heat was still Michael Mann's masterpiece.

More on Daniel Craig's Issues as Bond

A while back, some 'purist' created this site and even suggest a boycott for Casino Royale. Now, after the relative success of the film, and generally accepted new-wave of Bond, AND not to mention general agreement of film critics worldwide to Mr.Craig, see what said site has to offer. Heh. Bunch of morons.

Zack Snyder

In 2004, Dawn of the Dead caught me by surprise. I was ready to bashed the film when i set the disc inside the DVD player. Because, 1. It's a horror remade from the cult-classic George A Romero's Dawn of the Dead 2. This film was Zack Snyder's first and 3. The casts. No immediate charismatic star that attract this man's interests were listed in the bills. And so that's that. With a cup of coffee, dim light, and maximum volume, i watch the film.

To my surprise, i liked the film. I would put the film's up to top-half of my 'best-horror-films in the year 2004' and certainly, this film was on no.1 spot of my 'best-horror-films remake'. Mind you, i haven't seen The Hills Have Eyes yet. So, the statement still holds true at the time this post published.

Anyway, his next film, due 9 March 2007, was 300 which based on Frank Miller's graphic novel (see also: Sin City). And the first trailer is up. Go check it out. It's awesome. 300 told about the event of the Battle of Thermophylia where 300 Spartans held-off thousands of Persians in ancient Greek. Okay, that sounds a lot like Gladiator. But, uh, i dont know, check the trailer. The difference is evident. And the trailer has generated enough buzz for me to suredly stand in line coming next March.

This post, anyway, was about Zack. After 300, he was ready for Watchmen. Should the project really off-the-rumor-grounds, it would be yet another comic book adaptation. This time from an Englishman who is not friendly (as apparent with his disapprovals on films based on his works so far) with Hollywood, Alan Moore (see also: V for Vendetta). All geek who knows Alan Moore would surely loved the Watchmen, i'm not claimed my self as geek per se, but i've read Watchmen (of course), and comparing it to V for Vendetta, i prefered the latter. Watchmen was a little bit too phiplosophic for my taste. Though of course, to think about it as less than great pinnacle achievement in comic would be an understatement.

Up next, come Rainbow Six as his announced project. Rainbow Six had a distinction in my book of life as the only (yes, the only) Jack Ryan's story-line by Tom Clancy that i didn't own its paperback. It also spawns several self-titled video game in many platforms.

For a relatively new director, he has made an impressive filmography so far. Euh, and one more thing, he's seldomly used high-profile actors in his films (at least so far).

*PS: This is one lame post, i should ask for forgiveness as i wrote it in relative haste, in order to keep this blog updated.

Important Peoples on the News

Suri Cruise's first images. Duh, talking about some high class highly publicized person. My sympathy goes for her. Really. Ever since the birth, this little daughter has been in the eye, ears, and mouth of celebrity lovers. Even some weirdo dedicated some web-site that doing some countdown to when would Suri be considered legal (18? 21?).Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a famous deathseeker animal lover, Steve Irwin, whose i bet most of you knows him by looks on TV, met his end at the tail of a Stingray which ironically, an animal whose general nature was far from aggressive. From what i read, even if threatened, a Stingray usually swim away rather than defend itself. And that, in my opinion, was ironic because Steve, on his show, often boldly, even almost recklessly deal with far more dangerous animals than a Stingray.