Know Your Director: Introduction

It is a travesty that the directors of film often get less credit than the cast does. The public seems to identify a movie much more by the faces in front of the camera than the crew behind it. In trailers, movies will often proclaim, “From the director of …” instead of just mentioning a person’s name. Understandably, actors and actresses get more recognition because they’re so much more visible. It’s somewhat like looking at a sculpture and admiring the quality of the bronze while ignoring the artist who formed it.

At GP, we feel that it’s really the director who can make or break a film and that the best actors in the world often flounder under poor direction. As an illustration, consider the movie Mad Dog and Glory. The film stars three actors with a proven track record of excellence on screen; Robert DeNiro, Uma Thurman and Bill Murray. So, one might reasonably imagine that Mad Dog and Glory might be a good film. It wasn’t (no need to wait for that review). It sucked. Badly. So, why was DeNiro great in The Good Shepherd, Thurman fantastic in Pulp Fiction, and Murray hilarious in Rushmore, but not in this movie? Answer: direction. Mad Dog and Glory was directed by John McNaughton whose body of work consists largely of television episodes. Nothing can ruin the performance of three skilled actors like poor directing.

With that said, GP would like to introduce a new feature dedicated to the most talented, creative and exceptional people in the director’s chair. Know Your Director will profile a specific man or woman each time, focusing on the aspects that make their films stand out. Each one has a certain style that defines their work, favorite cast members and familiar titles. So, next time you’re seeking a new experience at the theater (or the rental store, or the On Demand menu) Know Your Director may be a good place to start.