Who are your favorite auteurs?

It would be a shame to start this group and not start my favorite topic of discussion. So here's my list:

Wes Anderson - the man can do no wrong in my estimation.
Sofia Coppola
Charlie Kaufman - a fine example of the writer auteur, even though he is getting into directing now.
Wong Kar-Wai
Tim Burton - probably my first favorite auteur, though I've been lukewarm about the films he has made in recent years.
Wim Wenders
Paul Thomas Anderson

Permalink Reply by SunnyCheeba on August 18, 2008 at 6:59pm: I love:

- Wes Anderson :)
- Jean-Pierre Melville
- François Truffaut
- P. T. Anderson (recently saw his first movie, Hard Eight [aka: Sydney], and it was fantastic!)
- Alfred Hitchcock
- The Coen Brothers

Just to name a few.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richie Millennium on August 19, 2008 at 6:56am: Do you have any particular recommendations for those of us unfamiliar with Melville? Unless I'm mistaken I haven't seen anything of his.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SunnyCheeba on August 19, 2008 at 2:01pm: Indeed, I do. My first (and you will see that I recommend this movie often) is Le Samouraï.

Others are:
Le Cercle Rouge
Army of Shadows
Bob Le Flambeur
Un Flic

He loved American films and was very influenced by them, but claimed his own minimalistic style and voice, drawing a lot from his war and post-war experiences (he was very involved in the French Resistance during WWII).

I think with your affinity for auteurs, you'll appreciate Melville. Let me know what you think if you watch any of these. :) Be sure to get the bonus discs if they're available...they contain a wealth of information and are worth a look.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NewfMom on August 19, 2008 at 2:26pm: I added Le Samourai into my queue - it will be my first Melville's.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SunnyCheeba on August 19, 2008 at 2:29pm: Yay! Let me know what you think.

And try not to be distracted by the perfect specimen of a man that is Alain Delon. ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NewfMom on August 19, 2008 at 2:40pm: I remember him being a heart throb when I was a little kid... I will do my best *&:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Srujan on October 7, 2008 at 5:36pm: U could also try .. other Melville's other masterpiece... Army of Shadows my fav .... about men and women of steel nerves .. which I personally think is better than Le Samourai; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Will on February 15, 2009 at 3:51am: Agree whole-heartedly about Hard Eight; big PBH fan.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richie Millennium on August 20, 2008 at 5:42pm: I've seen Ridley Scott mentioned as an auteur before, but I've also seen declarations that he is definitely not an auteur. It could be interesting to examine the breadth of his work looking for that thing that might unify his many films.

Welcome to the group, brave Tim!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John on September 22, 2008 at 2:50pm: For me, there is Ingmar Bergman, and then a wide gap down to the rest of my top auteurs.

The rest would include Bunuel, Malle, Scorsese, and Hitchcock. Of those working today, or who are more modern, I'd go with Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, Lars von Trier, PT Anderson gets into the conversation with There Will be Blood , and I guess something needs to be done with Tarantino as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richie Millennium on September 22, 2008 at 6:55pm: I've been slowly acquainting myself with Ingmar Bergman, starting with some of the usual suspects: The Seventh Seal, Fanny and Alexander, and Through a Glass Darkly. Have you any recommendations for other Bergman movies that I should pay attention to?

Regarding PT Anderson: I had largely disregarded him because I thought Boogie Nights was merely an object of hype and Magnolia was pointless. But since that time I was mesmerized by Punch Drunk Love and I really enjoyed Hard Eight as well, and on subsequent viewings I even became captivated by Magnolia. It seems that There WIll Be Blood will no doubt prove to be his masterwork.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John on September 23, 2008 at 6:46am: Re: Bergman, I'd highly recommend Winter Light. Persona is fantastic... but very artistic as well (which may be good or it may be bad depending on your tastes). Probably his lightest fare is Smiles of a Summer Night. Honestly, I've seen every Bergman film on Netflix (and some that aren't on Netflix) and the only one that I would recommend against is The Serpent and the Egg.

Re: PT Anderson, I loved the first 8 hours of Magnolia but the ending just really made me angry. I was so impressed by There Will be Blood, and I enjoyed Boogie Nights. I really need to check out the rest of his films.; ▶ Reply to This