Most overrated directors

**soxfan**[$] · #1 07-14-2002, 11:25 AM

Thinking about overrated actors also made me think of some overrated directors.

As much as I hate to say so, I think Woody Allen has been a disappointment in recent years. A friend of mine says that Allen (as a director, at least) has refused to grow up; his audience has matured, but his material hasn't.

Kenneth Branagh's problem isn't lack of material to work with (can't beat the Bard). But he tends to go waaaaay over the top. Folks like Baz Luhrmann can pull that off without losing viewers (at least this one), but Branagh couldn't in either Hamlet or Love Labour's Lost.

Ailsa

kurt_messick · #2 07-14-2002, 12:16 PM

I've always thought Woody Allen was over-rated, too. There are only a handful of his films that I like, and they tend to be the ones lesser regarded generally. However, credit where credit is due -- the films I like I really like.

I tend to think Ridley Scott and James Cameron are also over-rated. They've had some great films, yes, but also some dullards, and I usually get a sinking feeling when the media seems to be emphasising their presence as directors over other aspects of the films.

brian_igo · #3 07-14-2002, 12:40 PM

I have to preface this by saying I don't think this director being overrated is entirely his fault...

So, the name that leapt to mind was Steven Speilberg.

For decades Hollywood refused to take him seriously as a director. But since Schindler's List they have taken him far too seriously. His last three films have been analyzed and hyped as Speilberg artistic statements at least as much as they have been judged on their merits. And all three movies have suffered from Speilberg's heavy-handed efforts at profundity. He no longer demonstrates the simple joy of movies that made his early work so engaging.

Brian
...who already knew he'd never eat lunch in this town again.

CurtisEdmonds · #4 07-14-2002, 01:47 PM

Woody Allen. I wish you could act at movie theaters the same way you can act at basketball games, because I would be leading the chant after "Hollywood Ending": "O-ver-ra-ted. O-ver-ra-ted."

"American Beauty" was the most overrated movie of the last five years; I haven't seen Road to Perdition yet but would bet that I'd be leading the same chant for Sam Mendes.

**MrsNormanMaine**[$] · #5 07-14-2002, 11:54 PM

I did suffer through 'Road to Perdition' tonight. Sam Mendes definitely belongs on the list.

My least favorite is Michael Bay who seems to think everything can be made to work if you just add a few more decibels and explosions.

MNM !queen

CurtisEdmonds · #6 07-15-2002, 01:09 AM

I liked Road to Perdition quite a bit more than American Beauty, which is not saying much. I don't, however, think that the movie deserves the accolades it's getting, or that Mendes is as talented as people seem to think.

Other overrated folks out there:

* Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line)
* Kevin Smith (everything)
* John Woo (everything after Face/Off)
* Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters was just too long ago)