I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. Demille
While this poll didn't receive half the votes that we got for the virgin into vixen poll, I was still pleased with what turned out to be a very respectable total. We can't do "t and a" themes every day, but we will try to get them in there as often as we can.
The biggest dreamer in Dreamworks won by a healthy margin and while he was not my choice (I chose Scorsese), I think he is a deserving winner. He has brought us some of the most memorable moments in movie history. The rolling boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Normandy invasion in Saving Private Ryan, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex eating the snake, um, lawyer, in Jurassic Park are just a few examples that come to mind. These three sequences alone give him consideration. In fact, he had had so many, I think we could do a poll on that subject.
Some critics maintain that he is responsible for bringing about the downfall of the modern movie. The argument goes that since Jaws was released, studios want an "event" instead of a movie. This argument is not without merit. Looking at crap like Wild, Wild, West and Godzilla, you would almost have to agree. However, Spielberg's event movies are usually his best movies. Granted, he has made his stinkers and will likely make some more. But he is THE director in Hollywood and his place on top in this poll is justified.
Scorsese finished second and I thought a reader had an excellent point about him. He said that Spielberg himself would vote for Scorsese as best director. He is inventive, honest, and very human. All of these qualities jump off the screen when you see his movies. Goodfellas and Raging Bull will absolutely stand the test of time as masterpieces.
Rounding out the top five were the Coen brothers, Kevin Smith, and David Fincher. I like all of these guys. The Big Lebowski sucked the big one but Raising Arizona is still as funny today as it was when I was in high school. The Coens seem to create totally self contained environments in their movies better than almost anyone else. Their plots and characters are so well developed that it is weird when a "normal" person comes into the story. That's exactly what happened with Frances McDormand's character in Fargo. She was normal in an insane (and all too realistic) world.
Kevin Smith has excellent characters and dialogue. Chasing Amy was hysterical because he wasn't scared to be brutally honest about our insecurities in relationships, both romantic and platonic. I think everyone has known someone like the guy from the convenience store who tells the "fingercuffs" story. And Jay and Silent Bob absolutely kill me.
David Fincher is truly fucked up. I heard that one critic said that the title of Seven referred to the number of light bulbs they used while filming it. His movies are gorgeous in a sort of crazy way. The Game was vastly underrated in my opinion. Did you know that he got his start directing music videos? He directed Madonna's "Express Yourself" and "Vogue" as well as Aerosmith's "Janie's (Got a Gun)". If you ever see them, you can tell that he directed them. They have that Fincher feel to them.
Okay, crow eating time. I received a ton of emails about this poll and everyone had a valid point. Some obvious directors I didn't include were Barry Levinson, Clint Eastwood, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, David Lynch, and Robert Altman. Especially Altman, if for no other reason than we can thank him for finding out that Julianne Moore doesn't color her hair. Some more obscure choices that were nonetheless valid were John Sayles, Atom Egoyan, Anthony Minghella, Mike Leigh and Zhang Yimou.
New poll is the companion to the very first poll in the Fun House (I'm getting misty just thinking about it). Who is the best actress born after November 22, 1963? Lot of choices in this one so I shouldn't receive as many emails but I am willing to bet that I left someone out that one of you will be pissed about.
Comments and suggestions for polls to lawdogusc@hotmail.com. I actually got two great poll ideas from emails recently and they will be in the Fun House very soon. Thanks for those ideas and keep them coming.
total=433