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Which director’s weakest film is better than any other director’s weakest film?
- Thread starter Scullibundo
- Start date
Miyazaki's had some tremendous highs with Porcco Rosso being one of the greatest animated films of all times but the last 3 films were pretty awful in particular I felt like Ponyo's entire cast was largely unlikable
I mean why does Ponyo's dad look and act like a meth addict?
I think the focus is on the kids and I REALLY must compliment Miyazaki for making a movie entirely out of a kid's perspective. I think he struck gold when it comes to true and impulsive hopes and fears of a kid's mind. I watched it when my daughter was 2 or 3 years old and I could relate both from a parent's perspective and my experiences with my daughter and her first steps into life. I think it's totally brilliant. Ponyo's dad is a kid himself.
I'd love to say Matt Reeves, but there's the problem of The Pallbearer, which is at such odds with the res tof his filmography, everything else he has done has been nothing short of incredible.
So I'll cheat and say Dan Trachtenberg muhahaha
10 Cloverfield Lane
Prey
So I'll cheat and say Dan Trachtenberg muhahaha
10 Cloverfield Lane
Prey
I didn't like Eyes Wide Shut but that might just be a me thing, I don't know. In general he is great though.
Alice Rohrwacher comes to mind, even if she has only three feature length movies
I have to catch up on Nolan's work because I haven't watched anything of his since Interstellar, and up through TDKR, I'd say his "weakest" was Following, which was such a cool small project of his.
Eyes Wide Shut is great. Maybe give it another chance. Fear and Desire is trash though.
I'd put Avatar up there, to be honest as his worst. It's not a shit film(seeing at how much money it made), it's just super divisive.
but again, it's just me.
Kubrick or Tarkovsky seem credible options.
Fairly short list of main films, all are highly critically appreciated and have lasting impact and neither has a weak film to their name really. Not sure about Tarkovsjy but Kubrick also has the interesting trait of really strong work where it was divisive initially almost always as it pushed past what many expected then they all became classic GOATs in their respective trilogy. Also with Paths of Glory, 2001, Clockwork Orange and Doctor Strangelove as his core "on fire" films I can't think of a single other director who could touch those for impact and how each is arguable the best in genre (yes still!).
Bergman is also obvious choice although he has much larger resume and I haven't seen it all so more chance there's something weaker in there.
Fairly short list of main films, all are highly critically appreciated and have lasting impact and neither has a weak film to their name really. Not sure about Tarkovsjy but Kubrick also has the interesting trait of really strong work where it was divisive initially almost always as it pushed past what many expected then they all became classic GOATs in their respective trilogy. Also with Paths of Glory, 2001, Clockwork Orange and Doctor Strangelove as his core "on fire" films I can't think of a single other director who could touch those for impact and how each is arguable the best in genre (yes still!).
Bergman is also obvious choice although he has much larger resume and I haven't seen it all so more chance there's something weaker in there.
Do streaming movies count or are those just really short TV shows?
Cary Fukunaga seems to be a real dirtbag but you could argue that his worst movie is at least still one of the stronger movies in the Bond franchise.
Cary Fukunaga seems to be a real dirtbag but you could argue that his worst movie is at least still one of the stronger movies in the Bond franchise.
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Bergman has a fair number of bad ones. Mostly earlier films but some later too. All These Women is real bad. Not a single joke even approaching funny. With that amount of movies directed, it's impossible for all to be hits.
His worst film is probably Howl's moving castle which is kind of a mess. Can't really fit it here.
Haven't seen Kinetta either but I thought Alps wasn't that great. He's easily one of the best modern directors though.
I think it was Robert Altman who said of Kurosawa that most great artists have one or two masterpieces, Kurosawa had like eight.
My Top 5 for Miyazaki would be:
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Castle of Cagliostro
Princess Mononoke
Ponyo
I don't know what you all are smoking, thinking that Ponyo is his worst film.
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbor Totoro
Castle of Cagliostro
Princess Mononoke
Ponyo
I don't know what you all are smoking, thinking that Ponyo is his worst film.
I haven't seen all of his movies so I can't say which is the worst, but Makoto Shinkai (Your Name) seems like it would work here. Even if you don't like a particular plot, every single one of his movies is entertaining purely based on the fact that they're all drop-dead gorgeous.
Also Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt through Time).
Also Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt through Time).
I just wanna say I love the variety on some of these "worst" movie picks.
Brick as the worst Rian Johnson film?!
Howl's Moving Castle as the worst Miyazaki!?
Jackie Brown as the worst Tarantino?!
It's definitely a testament to the strength of these directors. Picking a weakest is hard when the creators are this good.
Brick as the worst Rian Johnson film?!
Howl's Moving Castle as the worst Miyazaki!?
Jackie Brown as the worst Tarantino?!
It's definitely a testament to the strength of these directors. Picking a weakest is hard when the creators are this good.
There's definitely a few out there that really didn't make a bad film (Kurosawa, Kubrick)
It's also interesting to think about it the other way. Hitchcock, Scorsese, both made the odd genuinely weak movie. Carpenter too if we're looking at genre directors. It's interesting how few of the landmark directors can say that they were truly great, even at their worst.
It's also interesting to think about it the other way. Hitchcock, Scorsese, both made the odd genuinely weak movie. Carpenter too if we're looking at genre directors. It's interesting how few of the landmark directors can say that they were truly great, even at their worst.
Tarantino doesn't count because Death Proof and Kill Bill just straight up suck, so his worst is pretty well below other directors' work.
Also I will not stand for this Howl's Moving Castle slander.
Also I will not stand for this Howl's Moving Castle slander.
There are some SPICY takes here and I love it.
There was a director I had in mind and was surprised that no one said him yet, but I'll throw his hat into the ring: John Hughes.
Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
Weird Science
Ferris Beuller's Day Off
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
She's Having A Baby
Uncle Buck
Curly Sue
She's Having A Baby is probably his "weakest" film, but it was still enjoyable, so he's my pick. I love him. Was a good mold for my sense of humor in the 80's.
There was a director I had in mind and was surprised that no one said him yet, but I'll throw his hat into the ring: John Hughes.
Sixteen Candles
The Breakfast Club
Weird Science
Ferris Beuller's Day Off
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
She's Having A Baby
Uncle Buck
Curly Sue
She's Having A Baby is probably his "weakest" film, but it was still enjoyable, so he's my pick. I love him. Was a good mold for my sense of humor in the 80's.
Kurosawa was going to be my pick but then I remembered he apparently hated Shanshiro Sugata 2, and the first one already isn't supposed to be that great.
Looking at my favorites, anyone who would qualify I haven't seen their entire filmography yet so I can't speak to it (Rian Johnson) or they only have two films so far (Jennifer Kent).
I will add on Satoshi Kon counts, though the circumstances for it are a bit depressing due to him dying so young.
I am here for these kinds of takes.
They wouldn't be my picks.
But still worth it. Even Shinkai's worst looking movie, is still amazing looking.
One day the world will see what I do when it comes to Intolerable Cruelty.
But what about Martin McDonough?
In Bruges was perfection
Seven Psychopaths it's great, right?
Three Billboards is my least favorite of his, and it's the Academy Award winner
Yeah that's what I figured. I've seen his classics which are obviously great but I know he's got a very large number of films and work I haven't seen but laws of averages some had to be fairly weak or bad.
Granted I haven't seen Hard Eight, but PTA, QT and Cuaron immediately came to mind.
Yeah, tbh I haven't seen Hard Eight
This is the best pick thus far I think, incredible lineup of movies.
Jonze is a pretty inspired pick, unfortunately he's only given us 4 movies in his long spanning career.
Yeah, tbh I haven't seen Hard Eight
Coens have a few movies much worse than hail Caesar.
OP
OP
Let the record show that the Baron has identified Rex Rexroth as the silly man!