Even the best directors have one misfire in their resume. Sometimes it's early on but in the two cases I mention, it was not.
I am thinking of two: LADYKILLERS by the Cohn brothers and PRET A PORTER by Robert Altman.
Can you top those?
I recently saw Hitchcock's Frenzy again, which I hadn't seen for at least 25 years, and I was shocked at its ugliness--in both its simultaneously dingy and lurid visuals and in its misogyny (which Hitchcock had previously managed to tamp down through a combination of censorship and working with top-notch actresses). And the storyline was sloppy too--the main character was supposedly a former RAF fighter pilot in WWII, but he's clearly about 30 years old in what is clearly the early 1970s--what was he, the first infant to fly a bombing mission? A very disappointing film from one of the greats.
Funny about not knowing a director. To those who believe in the auteur theory, the director is paramount. To those born in the first half of the 20th century, the stars are paramount. To me, it's the writers. I don't know who directed HOOK. Will have to check. And Hudsucker would be my third worst Cohn film with the one with Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand coming in second.
You ask a question this time that I have no answer, not being one to pay attention to most directorial credits. I will say about HOOK, however, it has a very good soundtrack.
I'm a huge David Lynch fan, enough so that I don't really think he can do much wrong. I could live without DUNE, perhaps, but there are parts I really like.
Reiner and NORTH were what I had in mind when I got into that "who is a great director?" question earlier. He's done good movies. I don't think of him in the pantheon of great directors.
I recently saw Hitchcock's Frenzy again, which I hadn't seen for at least 25 years, and I was shocked at its ugliness--in both its simultaneously dingy and lurid visuals and in its misogyny (which Hitchcock had previously managed to tamp down through a combination of censorship and working with top-notch actresses). And the storyline was sloppy too--the main character was supposedly a former RAF fighter pilot in WWII, but he's clearly about 30 years old in what is clearly the early 1970s--what was he, the first infant to fly a bombing mission? A very disappointing film from one of the greats.
ReplyDeleteDeb
His last films were bad indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with CONVOY by Sam Peckinpah. A hit at the time but no where on the level of THE WILD BUNCH or THE GETAWAY.
ReplyDeleteHow about 1941 by Steven Spielberg.
ReplyDeleteWas that as awful as I remember. Almost willing to watch again to see.
ReplyDeleteI never saw CONVOY. And guess I won't.
Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who liked The Ladykillers. Perhaps there's something wrong with me.
ReplyDeleteI hated Hudsucker Proxy.
ReplyDelete1941 was not good but I've seen a lot worse. What about Hook?
Jeff M.
I hated Hudsucker Proxy.
ReplyDelete1941 was not good but I've seen a lot worse. What about Hook?
Jeff M.
I typically have no idea who directs films. I never pay attention.
ReplyDeleteFunny about not knowing a director. To those who believe in the auteur theory, the director is paramount. To those born in the first half of the 20th century, the stars are paramount. To me, it's the writers.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who directed HOOK. Will have to check. And Hudsucker would be my third worst Cohn film with the one with Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand coming in second.
HOOK was directed by Spielberg.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the one with Brad Pitt (BURN AFTER READING) was disappointingly stupid.
Of course, we could have a discussion about who fits onto our "great director" lists.
I agree that the late Hitchcocks were both bad and nasty.
Jeff M.
1941 was a misfire but BURN AFTER READING was really, really bad. The only remotely sympathetic characters end up dead.
ReplyDeleteYou ask a question this time that I have no answer, not being one to pay attention to most directorial credits. I will say about HOOK, however, it has a very good soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteIf you took film classes in college at a certain time, all they talked about was the director. But I still can't always name one.
ReplyDeleteTim Burton's BATMAN with Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne.
ReplyDeleteUgh!
ReplyDeleteJohn Huston directed ANNIE and Sidney Lumet directed THE WIZ. Coppola directed JACK.
ReplyDeleteWhich says , stick to your genre.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge David Lynch fan, enough so that I don't really think he can do much wrong. I could live without DUNE, perhaps, but there are parts I really like.
ReplyDeleteHow about Rob Reiner's NORTH?
ReplyDeleteReiner didn't direct a good movie after North either.
ReplyDeleteReiner and NORTH were what I had in mind when I got into that "who is a great director?" question earlier. He's done good movies. I don't think of him in the pantheon of great directors.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Patti hasn't mentioned Woody Allen....
Jeff M.
Too many to choose from.
ReplyDelete