[Cinema]Clutchfans Movie Directors Tournament First Half of First Round

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick - No Contest.
16 - Amy Heckerling

8 - Cecil B. DeMile
9 - Victor Fleming- Edge by The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind.

5 - Sidney Lumet - no contest. He directed all-time classics vs a chick flick director.
12 - Nancy Meyers

4 - Orson Welles - easily.
13 - M. Night Shyamalan

6 - Ang Lee - I've not seen most of Curaon's films but Lee's got amazing range.
11 - Alfonso Cuaron

3 - Ridley Scott - Tony made some great, entertaining films, but Ridley's movies changed film as we know it.
14 - Tony Scott

7 - Steven Soderbergh
10 - John Hughes - Heavy influence on the culture of his era. His movies are as rewatchable as any director's

2 - Coen Brothers - by a length. Boyle was seeded -way- too low and is a top 5 in this bracket. Both great directors, but the Coens just have done more, better.
15 - Danny Boyle

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg - by a mile. I've only heard of one of Cukor's films.
16 - George Cukor

8 - George Lucas
9 - Ron Howard - Giving it to Howard because this is a -director- contest. Lucas only -directed- six films, total.

5 - Clint Eastwood - based on his directorial merits, easily. Another lopsided hammering vs a chick flick director.
12 - Mike Nichols

4 - David Fincher - His movies are amazing, period. Polanski has had some home runs but Fincher wins this one.
13 - Roman Polanski

6 - Tim Burton - This is a tough one and another one where I think one of the directors (Lee) is seeded too low. Slight edge to Burton, but very very slight.
11 - Spike Lee

3 - James Cameron - this one was tougher than expected. Friedkin directed The French Connection, The Exorcist and To Live and Die in LA, all amazing films.
14 - William Friedkin

7 - Frank Capra
10 - Ingmar Bergman - He was a true auteur and his films were amazing. Capra directed some notable films but overall I think they've aged out of contention.

2 - Quentin Tarantino
15 - George Miller - If you look at his entire filmography you'll see he the more rounded director. He won an academy award for best animated feature for Happy Feet and was nominated for Mad Max Fury Road. I like Tarantino and some people consider him the best ever, but you know what you're getting with him; long-winded speeches between bouts of gratuitous violence. Great to watch but not a top 8 director IMO. Miller was seeded -way- too low in this bracket and Tarantino too high.

 

Which region will the Farrelly Bros be in?

 

I'm going to be difficult and save the careful analysis for later rounds and just go with the people whose films resonated the most with me on a personal level. Yes, there are some upsets.

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick vs. 16 Amy Heckerling
8 - Cecil B. DeMile vs. 9 Victor Fleming
5 - Sidney Lumet vs. 12 Nancy Meyers
4 - Orson Welles vs. 13 M Night Shyamalan
6 - Ang Lee vs. 11 Alfonso Cuaron
3 - Ridley Scott vs. 14 Tony Scott - Believe it or not, this was not an easy choice. Tony made some great popcorn flicks and no doubt would've made many more
7 - Steven Soderbergh vs. 10 John Hughes
2 - Coen Brothers vs. 15 Danny Boyle

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg vs. 16 George Cukor
8 - George Lucas vs. 9 Ron Howard
5 - Clint Eastwood vs. 12 Mike Nichols
4 - David Fincher vs. 13 Roman Polanski
6 - Tim Burton vs. 11 Spike Lee
3 - James Cameron vs. 14 William Friedkin
7 - Frank Capra vs. 10 Ingmar Bergman
2 - Quentin Tarantino vs. 15 George Miller - Young Quentin would tell you that Elmore Leonard had a huge influence on his writing and that he didn't know two ***** about directing or movie making -- but he could explain to others what he was going for and that proved to be enough. Today's Quentin would kill me for saying that.

 

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick
8 - Cecil B. DeMile
5 - Sidney Lumet
4 - Orson Welles
11-Alfonso Cuaron
14 -Tony Scott
10 John Hughes
2 - Coen Brothers

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg
9 -Ron Howard
5 - Clint Eastwood
13 -Roman Polanski
6 - Tim Burton
3 - James Cameron
10-Ingmar Bergman
2 - Quentin Tarantino

 

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick vs. 16 Amy Heckerling - Kubrick has three or four movies where the direction is much more significant that any of Heckerling's works (Shining, 2001, Full Metal Jacket, Dr. Strangelove).
8 - Cecil B. DeMile vs. 9 Victor Fleming - For me Wizard of Oz edges out the biblical movies of DeMille
5 - Sidney Lumet vs. 12 Nancy Meyers - 12 Angry Men is alone enough to put him over Meyers
4 - Orson Welles vs. 13 M Night Shyamalan - I just don't like Welles's work. Beautiful but plodding and overwrought. Just boring, IMO.
6 - Ang Lee vs. 11 Alfonso Cuaron - I didn't care for CTHD and Hulk was a disaster. Meanwhile, Gravity and Children of Men are both stunning, though in sort of opposite ways.
3 - Ridley Scott vs. 14 Tony Scott - Tony Scott is a really fun director, but he didn't make Alien or Blade Runner or anything close to them.
7 - Steven Soderbergh vs. 10 John Hughes - I like more of Hughes movies better, but that is more on the writing. The direction of the Oceans movies especially is just really fun and rewatchable.
2 - Coen Brothers vs. 15 Danny Boyle - I think Danny Boyle was seeded too low, the Coens were a buzzsaw here that were going to take someone out.

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg vs. 16 George Cukor - I look at the best of what directors do, not an average or something. The best Spielberg has done is going to beat pretty much anyone else. Jaws? Indiana Jones? E.T.? Jurassic Park? Saving Private Ryan? Come on. Cukor did some fine movies, but My Fair Lady is not stacking up.
8 - George Lucas vs. 9 Ron Howard - Lucas didn't even direct the best Star Wars movies. He was more a hinderance than a help at the helm.
5 - Clint Eastwood vs. 12 Mike Nichols - I love the Graduate, but Clint just has more and better
4 - David Fincher vs. 13 Roman Polanski - FIncher has a string of great movies that are all better than anything by Polanski EXCEPT Chinatown. Also (and this did not swing my vote) Polanski is a child molester.
6 - Tim Burton vs. 11 Spike Lee - Burton is all style, little substance to me. His movies are distinctive and visually stunning, but they suffer as a cohesive whole. Spike is the better storyteller.
3 - James Cameron vs. 14 William Friedkin - I really like Friedkin. I rewatch The Hunted and Rules of Engagement ever few years. James Cameron made The Terminator and Aliens. This is no contest.
7 - Frank Capra vs. 10 Ingmar Bergman - I am not a huge fan of either, they come from an era I don't particularly love. I would at least watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington again though.
2 - Quentin Tarantino vs. 15 George Miller - The Mad Max movies are the only Miller movies I care for, and they just aren't on the level of a Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction.

 

I forgot but did you include Kathryn Bigelow in the field? WOuld've been interesting pairing her against James Cameron as they were married.

 

only one of those directors did point break.

 

fun! thanks for putting this together manny. im going to n/a where i dont know enough about the directors. and if i have to look up what they did then that means i dont know enough about them to make a fair vote. that being said, i dont know who the f*** george cukor is, but im pretty sure spielberg is a better director.

damn you manny for making me vote for a rapist, but polanski made chinatown and that other dude didnt.

george miller up against tarantino is tough for miller - he deserved to go another round!

i hope 2nd half of first round includes some of the classic western directors - john ford, anthony mann, sergio leone

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick
8 - victor fleming
5 - n/a
4 - Orson Welles
6 - Alfonso Cuaron
3 - Ridley Scott
7 - Steven Soderbergh
2 - Coen Brothers

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg
8 - George Lucas
5 - Clint Eastwood
13 Roman Polanski
6 - Tim Burton
3 - James Cameron
7 - n/a
2 - Quentin Tarantino

 

Winner bolded:
East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick vs. 16 Amy Heckerling - I had to remind me of who Amy Heckerling was so this is a pretty easy choice. Why I liked Fast Times at Ridgemont high not really a fan of the other ones and European Vacation was the weakest movie of the franchise.
8 - Cecil B. DeMile vs. 9 Victor Fleming This is a good pairing as both have directed some huge movies and both are so historical. I admit I always thought that David O. Selznick was the director of Gone with the Wind but I see it was Victor Fleming. I have to give the edge to DeMille as "DeMille" has almost become an adjective to describe a type of movie.
5 - Sidney Lumet vs. 12 Nancy Meyers - This is a tough one as the only Sidney Lumet movie I'm familiar with is Dog Day Afternoon which is a great movie. In this case I'm giving it to Nancy Meyers because while she's directed a lot of lighter fare her quality is pretty consistent.
4 - Orson Welles vs. 13 M Night Shyamalan - Easily Welles. Not just his outstanding film making but for War of the Worlds and his personal presence. M Night Shymalan is a frustrating director for me. There are shades of brilliance there but he keeps on getting in his own way.
6 - Ang Lee vs. 11 Alfonso Cuaron - A tough one. Ang Lee is a very good director but the amount of tension that Cuaron can generate in Children of Men and Gravity edges it for me.
3 - Ridley Scott vs. 14 Tony Scott - An easy one for me. Ridley is the vastly superior Scott brother.
7 - Steven Soderbergh vs. 10 John Hughes - Another tough one for me. While I like Soderbergh more the influence that John Hughes has had, especially on my generation is very big.
2 - Coen Brothers vs. 15 Danny Boyle - I know this is a 2 v 15 but I find it a harder choice as I like of what Danny Boyle has done and think he should be ranked higher. The style and influence of the Coen Brothers though is undeniable.

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg vs. 16 George Cukor - A pretty easy one. Given the time difference between the two directors history isn't Cukor's friend.
8 - George Lucas vs. 9 Ron Howard - Another tough one as I don't think George Lucas is that good of a director but his vision and influence is huge. If it's just directorial skill I would say Ron Howard wins but for overall cultural impact it's Lucas easily.
5 - Clint Eastwood vs. 12 Mike Nichols - Nichols is a very good director but Eastwood has really come on as one of the greats. Unforgiven, Gran Torino, Million Dollar Baby, etc.. It's telling that a movie that was made almost as an afterthought, Letters from Iwo Jima, was nominated for Best Picture.
4 - David Fincher vs. 13 Roman Polanski - It's hard separating Roman Polanski's movies from his personal life but he did make some great movies. Fincher takes this one though.
6 - Tim Burton vs. 11 Spike Lee - This is a tough one. I think Burton might be the better director with a very distinctive and influential style. Spike Lee has also been very influential and this is one that I think he has more of a cultural influence than Burton.
3 - James Cameron vs. 14 William Friedkin - James Cameron can have me rolling my eyes a lot and like Lucas I think his getting good performances out of actors and dialogue isn't that good. It's hard to deny how much success he's had and influence. The Exorcist is a great movie but the hit parade that Cameron has is hard to argue with.
7 - Frank Capra vs. 10 Ingmar Bergman - Bergman seems like he's more of a director's director but Frank Capra has done for more influential movies.
2 - Quentin Tarantino vs. 15 George Miller - This is one I'll admit I'm making out of purely personal pique and also since it's likely that Tarantino wins this easily. Tarantino just bugs me a lot. He's a brilliant director with some very successful influential movies but I just find a lot of them smug and self-congratulatory. I also love the Mad Max franchise.

 

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick
9 Victor Fleming
5 - Sidney Lumet
4 - Orson Welles
11 Alfonso Cuaron
3 - Ridley Scott
7 - Steven Soderbergh
2 - Coen Brothers

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg
9 Ron Howard
12 Mike Nichols
. 13 Roman Polanski
11 Spike Lee (seeding?!)
3 - James Cameron
10 Ingmar Bergman
15 George Miller (in a blowout, an original destroys an idea pirate)

The 2nd half of the first round will start at noon tomorrow and also last 48 hours.

 

I will say that my basis for voting is on what I think of their best works, not so much how little I think of their lowest. That may sway things somewhat but I think just about every director has made some clunkers.

My votes:

East
Kubrick
Cecil B DeMille
Sidney Lumet
Orson Welles
Alfonso Cuaron
Ridley Scott
Soderbergh
Coen Brothers

Midwest
Spielberg
Lucas
Eastwood
Fincher
Burton
James Cameron
Capra (I've only seen one movie between these two so I guess It's a Wonderful Life wins it out -- even though it's not a Christmas movie)
Tarantino (I wish Miller had been matched up with less of a powerhouse)

 

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick
8 - Victor Fleming
5 - Sidney Lumet
4 - M Night Shyamalan
6 - Alfonso Cuaron
3 - Ridley Scott
7 - John Hughes
2 - Coen Brothers

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg
8 - Ron Howard
5 - Clint Eastwood
4 - David Fincher
6 - Tim Burton
3 - James Cameron
7 - Frank Capra
2 - Quentin Tarantino

 

jon(tro) favreau should get a nod for starting the avengers franchise

 

IMO the Russo Brothers are the best director(s) for the MCU, but I hadn’t even thought of Favreau, he’s a good director and might crack this list in a decade if he keeps making good movies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Favreau

 

well most of his movies are schitte cept for man of iron and iron chef. just saying, the mcu might be totally different if john woo or mike bay directed man of iron

 

This is tough.

 

East Regional
1 - Stanley Kubrick
8 - Cecil B. DeMille
5 - Sidney Lumet
4 - Orson Welles
6 - Ang Lee
3 - Ridley Scott
7 - 10 John Hughes
2 - Coen Brothers

Midwest Regional
1 - Steven Spielberg
8 - . 9 Ron Howard
5 - Clint Eastwood
4 - 13 Roman Polanski
6 - Tim Burton
3 - James Cameron
7 - Frank Capra
2 - Quentin Tarantino