My favorite directors:

Danny Boyle
Terry Gilliam
Wes Anderson
John Schleisinger (sp?)
Sidney Lumet
Julian Schnabel
Alfonso Cuaron
Clint Eastwood
Milos Forman
Sam Mendes
Francis Ford Coppola

Because they're all artists and don't really fuck around. They make movies of varied subjects and produce films that are the complete package.

My list of favorite movies, well, it's damn long. I guess my essentials would be:

Children of Men
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
Sling Blade
Road to Perdition
Raging Bull
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Eraserhead
Midnight Cowboy
Dog Day Afternoon
Amadeus
The Godfather 1 & 2

Shit, the list would just go on and on. I don't really like lists of favorite movies, because it's too vague. Ask me about one of the movies on that list, and I'll tell you exactly what's great about it.

--
I showed up at his house and he opened up the door and put a gun in my face. turned out to be a nice guy, just dangerously negligent with firearms -`AxD

~DAMusicForum Recreating the highschool experience. This time we're the cool kids.

Awesome

Danny Boyle, Clint Eastwood and Francis Ford Coppola are all great too.


I forgot to put Sam Mendes in.
Nevermind.

What do you like so much about Children Of Men?

For me it's the ambitious, extremely long takes,
the dystopian setting,
an original plot,
and just the great directing by Alfonso Cuaron.

What about you?

Well right off the bat I'm a sucker for anything Orwellian in nature, so...

He's just an amazing director. For instance, the scene where Julian dies in the car, he had a rotating camera inside the car, hanging down from the roof. That kind of innovation demands recognition. You probably don't notice how the camera circles from person to person, but that's how it was done. Also, as far as the "ambitious, extremely long takes" that as well. I'm sure by writing that you're aware that the entire sequence of Theo and Key escaping from the border patrol guard and then all the way up to them escaping the firefight was done IN ONE SINGLE TAKE. That's just amazing.

One thing that is also notable is the great casting. Clive Owen is a terrible actor, yet his role as Theo is dead-on. Not a thing I would change about it. Also, casting Michael Cain was great (he modeled Jasper after John Lennon, fyi)

As far as "original plot," the movie itself is based off of a book by PD James, but the book (I thought) sucked. The movie illustrates a much better picture and is more engaging.

Cuaron is a great director because his visuals tell the story. Lots of people are lazy movie-goers and don't get a lot of things, but if you watch (literally watch) the movie everything is explained through visuals (except for why women are infertile, which is explained through a joke ) for example, who Jasper's wife is and who he is and why they're in the position they're in.

Furthermore, Cuaron's visual aesthetics are amazing. He really captured the world that Theo lived in with the visual setting.

Plus, he uses great symbolism.

Oh, man. I could go on and on. Just a great movie! Glad you appreciate it. It should've won best picture. Have you seen Y Tu Mama Tambien?

--
I showed up at his house and he opened up the door and put a gun in my face. turned out to be a nice guy, just dangerously negligent with firearms -`AxD

~DAMusicForum Recreating the highschool experience. This time we're the cool kids.

I think Pan's Labyrinth should have won best picture, but Children Of Men ties with it

It really was the mexican director's year: 2006.

Alfonso Cuaron - Children of Men
Guillermo Del Toro - Pan's Labyrinth
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - Babel

And yes, I did know about the rotating camera and the extremely long single take.
It's fantastic

I haven't seen Y Tu Mama Tambien, but I am planning to buy it, along with several other DVDs when I have some cash.

Is it as good as Children Of Men?

Didn't Pan's Labrynth win best Foreign?

Y Tu Mama Tambien isn't really comparable. They're different movies. Both wonderful. I like Children of Men better (personally) but Y Tu mama Tambiem is not short feat.

--
I showed up at his house and he opened up the door and put a gun in my face. turned out to be a nice guy, just dangerously negligent with firearms -`AxD

~DAMusicForum Recreating the highschool experience. This time we're the cool kids.

Sadly not, but it did get a nomination for Best Foreign, within its 6 nominations.

It won Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography & Best Makeup.

I shall purchase Y Tu Mama Tambien soon then.
Thanks for the info.

Guillermo Del Toro- Cronos
Terry Gilliam- Brazil
Jean-Pierre Jeunet- City of Lost Children
Takashi Miike- Audition
Darren Aronofsky- Pi
Alfonso Cuaron - Children of Men

This is far from a complete list, but i decided to stop here because i have other stuff i need to do! I don't necessarily know how they influenced my artwork, since i'm mainly just a concert photographer. Pi really cemented my love of black and white and high contrast. And also not being afraid to have noticeable film grain.

I have Cronos on DVD but I have yet to watch it.
I think I'm scared that I will not enjoy it, as I will inevitably compare it to Pan's Labyrinth, or The Devil's Backbone.

Darren Aronofsky uses such amazing visual techniques to create an unorthodox atmosphere.
I love his films

I think film grain can work in a directors favour, if they are looking for a hyper-realistic, Kitchen-sink realism quality to the film.

If you like foreign films I recommend The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Julian Schnabel. Better than y Tu Mama Tambien.

Not only the best Foreign I've ever seen, it's one of the best movies I've ever seen, period. (adding an actual period at the end of this would be redundant, but for effect I will)

--
I showed up at his house and he opened up the door and put a gun in my face. turned out to be a nice guy, just dangerously negligent with firearms -`AxD

~DAMusicForum Recreating the highschool experience. This time we're the cool kids.

I have heard of it, but know very little about it.
Is it something about a man who has a stroke, and then can only communicate through his eye?

From what I remember, it sounded quite moving.

I think I will have to purchase it soon.