[Cinema]Clutchfans Movie Directors Tournament Sweet 16

Stanley Kubrick vs. Orson Welles - I've seen a lot more of Kubrick, but his work is iconic so I don't think it is unreasonable that he would beat out Welles
Ridley Scott vs. Coen Brothers - This is a tough one. Both have put out a lot of different types of movies that are great. I'm going with Coen Bros because I feel like theirs age the best, and stick with me the longest.

Steven Spielberg vs. Clint Eastwood - I'm not as big of a fan of Eastwood as others here, but probably also not as big a fan of Spielberg as many. But he wins out over Clint here based on his best work, which is definitely better than Eastwood's best work.
James Cameron vs. Quentin Tarantino - Ugh, such a difficult vote. I hate voting against Tarantino but I do feel like Cameron's best is better than Tarantino's best, even though I think Quentin's more consistent.

Alfred Hitchcock vs. John Ford - Tough one because I haven't seen much of either. But since there was so much noise about Ford being underrated I'll vote for him here.
Michael Mann vs. Francis Ford Coppola - I like a handful of Mann's films very much, but his best work doesn't approach Coppola.

Martin Scorsese vs. Brian DePalma - In a "Which one of these doesn't belong" type quiz, DePalma would totally get called out in this round. He's a notch below pretty much everyone else that made it to the Sweet 16.
Mel Brooks vs. Christopher Nolan - Huge Nolan fan. Brooks is funny but that's about all he is. Nolan is much more rounded.

 

Stanley Kubrick vs. Orson Welles - I can't believe Orson Welles keeps winning
Ridley Scott vs. Coen Brothers - based purely on direction, writing is doing more lifting in the case of the Coen Brothers than Scott. Very close choice

Steven Spielberg vs. Clint Eastwood - as beautiful as something like Gran Torino was, it can't compare to the majesty that Spielberg brings in his best work
James Cameron vs. Quentin Tarantino - I love Tarantino as a filmmaker, but like the Coen Brothers, part of that is to the writing. Purely on directing, I have to go Cameron

Alfred Hitchcock vs. John Ford - two that I didn't have making it through last round. Both made great movies in the before times, but I would say Hitchcock had the distinctive style that I appreciate more
Michael Mann vs. Francis Ford Coppola - I would much rather watch the frenetic Heat or Last of the Mohicans than the plodding Godfather

Martin Scorsese vs. Brian DePalma - neither is really my favorite, but I will go with Scorsese. The Untouchables might be my favorite in terms of the direction of all their combined films, but Scorsese has more really great films at least near that level like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and the Departed.
Mel Brooks vs. Christopher Nolan - I love Mel, but Nolan is more visionary as a director. Like the Coens and Tarantino, Brooks's writing is doing some of the lifting, and Nolan is the better pure director.

As expected, some really tough matchups in the later rounds. Strangely, I think the next round will have much easier choices for me.

 

kubrick although imo welles has the single best movie b/t the two of them.
coen brothers
spielberg
tarantino
hitchcock
coppola
scorsese
nolan

 

Stanley Kubrick vs. Orson Welles-- Kubrick

Ridley Scott vs. Coen Brothers-- Scott

Steven Spielberg vs. Clint Eastwood-- Spielberg

James Cameron vs. Quentin Tarantino-- Tarantino

Alfred Hitchcock vs. John Ford-- Hitchcock

Michael Mann vs. Francis Ford Coppola-- Francis

Martin Scorsese vs. Brian DePalma-- Scorsese

Mel Brooks vs. Christopher Nolan-- Nolan

 

What do I win?

 

Yeah, basically nah. I got kicked out so am urinating on the stadium doors now.

 

(write in for Abel Ferrara?)

 

Stanley Kubrick vs. Orson Welles: Welles is the Home Run Baker of movies, the first to do some things. Kubrick built on that legacy and we all remember Babe Ruth more than Home Run Baker.

Ridley Scott vs. Coen Brothers: Tough call, but the Coen Brothers have their own little branch of the movie history tree.

Steven Spielberg vs. Clint Eastwood: Not close.

James Cameron vs. Quentin Tarantino: Tarantino could have made this closer but he bought into the idea of being Quentin Tarantino instead of pursuing his craft. Plus, I hate the shoddy history of some of his movies. Just bad.

Alfred Hitchcock vs. John Ford: I'll be a bit contrary here and look at American culture instead of just movie history. John Ford created iconic images that are still powerfully used today in everything from commercials to politics to history to education and civic life to the idea of America. Our emotional reliance on American exceptionalism would not be quite as deep without John Ford movies. On the merits, Ingemar Bergman called Ford the best director in the world, and Kurosawa had similar praise. David Lean borrowed his cinematic style in making Lawrence of Arabia. Peter Bogdanovich wrote a book about him. Here's one example of his craft:


Hitchcock was great, but no American politician is going to bathe themselves in Hitchcokian imagery.


Michael Mann vs. Francis Ford Coppola: Not close. Godfather 1 and 2 are just amazingly good.

Martin Scorsese vs. Brian DePalma: More quality, more originality.

Mel Brooks vs. Christopher Nolan: I don't like Nolan that much, so this is not based on merits but personal taste. Besides, when did you ever hear a Nolan reference at a poker game or during a round of golf? Springtime for Hitler puts Mel over the top.

 

fify OP

 

Some could make the case that Terry Gilliam could've been on the lists.