My Favourite Directors

Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Film: There Will Be Blood
Worst Film: The Master



Paul Thomas Anderson is a cinema fiend, as much a fan of the medium as the audience who watch his movies. He has devoted much of his life to studying the great directors, feeding off of their brilliance and in the process building his own resume of cinematic classics. The phrase "if I have seen further it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants" describes PT Anderson perfectly. This is a man who is a self confessed film buff and like Spielberg and Scorsese before him, he has studied the best of the past to become one of the best directors of the present.

All great directors have their trademarks, for Spielberg it is his close up on the surprise of his characters, for Peter Jackson it is his large, vast spanning visuals and for Anderson it is an almost constant movement of the camera. This suited his masterpiece, There Will Be Blood perfectly, the desert landscape was as much a character as Daniel Plainview, HW and Eli.

As I have already mentioned, I find 'Blood to be Anderson's greatest work, his masterpiece, the crowning jewel of a slowly growing empire in film. Everything that Anderson had ever done before culminated in his 2007 classic. The pacing, the lighting, the scope, the ability to coax Daniel Day Lewis greatest performance, out of an actor who was his generations best and to give the new kid Paul Dano his chance to shine against such a veteran. These are all shines of a man at the top of his craft.

In recent times, Anderson has faltered a little with The Master, which is by no means a bad movie but it lacks the breath taking splendour of 'Blood, the cool ease of Hard Eight or the emotional depth of Magnolia. PT Anderson is still a director to watch, with his upcoming movie a crime mystery set in the 1960s. PT Anderson is a student of the arts, who understands his product because he understands what it means to be a fan.

Gone with the Wind, adjusted for inflation, may just be the most financially successful movie of all time; add to that a slew of Oscars and you have a universally recognised hit, something Victor Fleming was already familiar with. He was THE epic director of his generation, pushing the boundaries of what could be done within the technical confines of early 20th century cinema.

Like all great directors, Fleming wasn't just a one hit wonder, bringing children the world over one of their most enduring films, The Wizard of Oz. The movie has entertained millions of kids in all generations of Western society, has any movie ever had such an impact?

So, why was Fleming so successful? It was his ability to combine epic film making with excellent story telling, something Spielberg and Jackson are great at in modern day Hollywood but they may never have reaches such heights if it hadn't been for the pioneering Fleming. And that's what he was, a cinematic pioneer.

I've listed Treasure Island as his worst movie, not because it's bad but simply because it just doesn't compare with the scope, elegance and interest of 'Oz and 'Wind.

The man who is credited with creating the summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg is a living legend. Few directors have had as much critical and financial success as he has and in doing so he has stitched together possibly the best resume in all cinema. His movies range from straight up, big budget popcorn fare, to deeply thoughtful and heartfelt dramas.

I know it's a bit of a cop out listing so many movies as the best from Spielberg but how could I leave the likes of Jurassic Park, Raiders and Schindler's list off my list. It's obvious that the likes of Nolan and the new breed of Hollywood blockbusters have been influenced by Spielberg's work. He was the man who brought heart and cohesive story telling to big budget action movies.

Add to that an almost endless supply of great works such as the aforementioned Schindler's List, Amistad, Catch Me If You Can and Saving Private Ryan, and who have one of the most complete film makers in history.