JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton9 Great Directors Under-Discussed Gems
April 27th 2007 10:27
9 Great Directors less recognized Cinema Triumphs
After the success of last weeks simple post 10 Popular Directors 10 Best Films, John Doe thought he would do another list.
This is a snapshot of 9 of his favourite Directors lesser discussed jewels (In no order or rank). Films by influential Directors that in JD’s eyes are every bit as satisfying as their most accomplished filmography enteries.
Equus DVD Cover
Sidney Lumet’s Equus(1977)Peter Schaffer’s story of a psychiatrist who must face the challenge of analysing a screwed up lad who loves horses way to much….and I mean way to much. Undeniably powerful and infinetly disturbing this dark film is flawed but still a bold and thoughtful work.
Recently Harry Potter took on the lead in this complex stage play, but this Richard Burton version from the 70’s still carries a disturbing weight John Doe has never shaken off.
Sorry no footage because there is only Potter versions online, and no one wants to see that, do they?
Best known for The Hill, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Fail-Safe
John Frankenheimer’s Seconds (1966)
Released a decade before David Lynch’s Eraserhead, this is the challenging study of a man out of his time. Attempting to connect with a world he no longer knows this sci fi horror shocks with surreal cinematography and a dream analyis style of narrative. Also features the usually shallow Rock Hudson playing against type with astounding skill.
John Frankenheimer is best known forThe Manchurian Candidate, Grand Prix, Ronin, 7 Days in May and The Birdman of Alcatraz
Watch the haunting and influential lensing of the Saul Bass designed opening credits to the film
Here is the trailer for Seconds to give you a further taste of the surreal sci fi mind game.
George Roy Hill’s Slaughterhouse 5 (1972)
With the recent passing of author Kurt Vonnegut Jnr it seems an ideal time to revisit this ingenious adaptation of a difficult novel. A young battle scarred WWI G.I named Billy Pilgrim becomes unglued to linear time and travels to far away places while also reliving the horrors of Dresden.
George Roy Hill is best known for Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, The Sting, Slapshot, The Little Drummer Girl
A travesty, there is no footage to be found online for this great movie so I strongly urge those interested to order the DVD from the states.
Below you can see an interview with the author where he briefly discusses adapting his work to the screen.
William Friedkin’s To Live and Die In LA (1985)
Puposefully adopting a more artificial/stylised approach to the cop film the Director of The French Connection creates a grandiose saga of obsession and morality as vigilante cop Dick Chance (Will Petersen) attempts to nab conterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem DaFoe). Famous for a high speed chase down the LA freeway against traffic.
Director William Friedkin is best known for The Exorcist, The French Connection, Cruising
Drenched in the music and fashion of the 80’s, watch the trailer below
Ridley Scott’s The Duellists (1977)
Based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel are two Napoleonic French officers who end up spending their lives in pursuit of honour through combat with each other. This is gorgeous to look at, insightfully acted and a thoughtful study of redundant violence that replaces emotion and morality.
Ridley Scott is best known for Blade Runner, Alien, Gladiator
Watch the Duellist trailer below
Francis Ford Coppolla’s The Conversation(1974)
I know that there are plenty of you out there who love this film with an equal fervour to JD, but there are still abundant film-goers who have yet to discover this paranoia inducing conspiracy thriller that rattles today with a prophetic wisdom.
Best Known for The Godfather I & II, Apocalypse Now, Dracula
Here is the audio/visual trailer
Steven Soderburgh’s The Limey(1999)
Harking back to the days of Mike Hodges Get Carter and John Boorman’s Point Blank, The Limey is the third part of an unofficial Soderburgh’s crime trilogy that began with The Underneath and Out of Sight. This is a gritty crime drama about a father looking for redemption of a life filled with neglect and violence.
Best Known for Traffic, Sex Lies and Video Tape
Check out an amusing scene where Terence Stamp explains a little bit of what he’s thinking.
David Cronenburg’s Existenz(1999)
How far are humans willing to go to escape reality and remain interactively entertained. Physically violating, Existenz is the PS3 of the future that demands penetration of the flesh, plugs directly into the spine and allows the user a completely sensory illusion in a conviningly real universe.
Best Known for Videodrome, Scanners, A History of Violence, The Fly
Here is a psycho sexual Japanese trailer for the film that may deceive some viewers.
John Carpenter In The Mouth of Madness(1995)
A rich and intelligent mind game that pulls you into its web of horrific mystery, the Director aims a little higher and achieves a different kind of thrill ride. This is a deeper and more complex narrative than JC usually tackles and he pulls it off with flair and manages to leave his indelible mark on every moment.
Johnny has saved the best clip for last on this Friday evening.
Here is the first part of an interview that seats David Cronenburg beside John Carpenter and John Landis. Better still they are talking horror films and censorship.
If you liked the first part, then sink your teeth into this deeper discussion on the horror gore and FX. (Warning: Includes the chilling transfromation scene from American Werewolf in London)
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Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
I've seen a lot of these, like Equus and American Werewolf In London, which I thought was a great flick..funny, but kinda spooky...The Fly rocked, as did Scanners and Videodrome...
It's a shame that some of these flicks had to become cult classics in order to be recognized!
Great post!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Mouth of Madness freaked me out! But I must admit most of these flicks have been on my "To See" list for quite some time...
So many films, so little time, dagnabit!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Dont feel bad, its a list of less recognized triumphs. If you haven't sen any of the listed Directors works, I suggest starting with one of their best known films first to sample their style.
Good to see you Nick of Time...,
Cool youve seen a few of the well known flicks from these Directors. They are all individual visionarys that offer something memorable in their films.
Hi Yoda,
In the Mouth of Madness is a great headscrew isnt it?
No matter how many films you see their is always a ton more that needed to be quested out.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I gave you a link on the Post of the Day
Man, I might try to get my hands on Slaughterhouse 5 when I go to America next week...
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
I saw most of these and loved them. Got to see John Frankenheimer’s Seconds, looks incredible!
(sigh) Over to Amazon..
P.S.--Ever see "It came from Hollywood" (Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Cheech and Chong)? A sort of review/documentary of old horror films?
-Or Terry Gilliam's "Brazil"?
- Or any of the "Mystery Science Theatre" series?
Oh, there's just too much to talk about...
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
AAAgh, stop me!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I love that my work is inspiring others to seek out these films, its why I started the blog!
Brazil is my fave Gilliam (Check out Johnny's list of Popular Directors Top 10)
Both Mystery Science Theatre movies were fun, (Im big on Twilight Zone and Outer Limits)
Bertolluci's The Conformist is another gem, good work.
Always a pleasure chatting...
It Came From Hollywood I saw late one night on cable, amusing.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Don't know if you get "Family Guy" (cartoon) over there..do you? I'm thinking not since it's pretty rude at times. Makes wicked fun of typical Americans. Anyway, I was watching it the other night and--this is really nerdy--in the background was a theatre marquee that had "Rock Hudson" in "Seconds". Apparently the show's creator always slips in little bits of his favorite movies...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
So cool that you got a copy of "Seconds", I still only own the VHS....been planning on picking up the US edition for a while now....crazy movie isnt it?
Yep, we get Family Guy down under, I actually have the first 5 seasons on DVD....didnt notice Seconds in the background though, which episode was it?