No Country for Old Men
It ’s generally accepted that for be an auteur , a director must have a warm mode that ’s immediately recognizable as " theirs " . 2022 has so far seen some very clear examples of this phenomenon , but perhaps the clearest one is David Cronenberg ’s forthcoming body horror filmCrimes of the Future , which looks to be decently up his skittle alley .
But there have been plenty of fourth dimension when a filmmaker known for dumbfound to a special vogue or genre goes in a completely new direction . Sometimes a drastic change does n’t pay off , but when it does , the result movie can be a work of wizard that stands out as one of the director ’s dear .
Holes (Andrew Davis)
Louis Sachar’sHolesis a beloved coming - of - age novel that ’s good for the whole family , so it must have seemed unmated to find out that directing duties on the movie were give to Andrew Davis ofUnder SiegeandThe Fugitive . While Davis in his heyday was a solid managing director , all of his well known film were action thrillers , which could sometimes get quite violent .
Despite being out of place in his filmography , Holesstands out alongsideThe Fugitiveas one of his near films , being smart , funny , and even spectacular when it needs to be . Both the present - day story of wrongfully accused Stanley Yelnats and the flashback revealing how Camp Green Lake amount to be make for skilful amusement that ’s a baseball swing above the distinctive young - adult film .
Ghost (Jerry Zucker)
As one of the members of the famous Zucker , Abrahams , and Zucker trio , Jerry helped impart hilarious spoofs likeAirplane!andThe Naked Gunto the screen . However , his solo debutGhost , a romantic fantasy film about how beloved carries on even after end , could n’t have been more unlike from the wacky comedies he made his name on .
as luck would have it , the gamble paid off , withGhostbeing a huge critical and fiscal success , even becoming one of the fewromantic movies to win an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay . Part of what make the picture show so memorable is the chemistry between Patrick Swayze , Demi Moore , and Whoopi Goldberg , who all act their persona brilliantly and make a story boast ghosts , psychic , and fiend feel believable .
Matchstick Men (Ridley Scott)
Although it was n’t a box office smash , Matchstick Menis a very good heist film , featuring one of Nicolas Cage ’s most underrated performances as con man Ray Waller , who is sympathetic and wildly over - the - top in equal touchstone . It ’s also a shock coming from Ridley Scott , a smaller , more humbled - key picture show to contrast against his heavy budget epics .
Matchstick Menis perhaps best bed for Cage ’s meme - suitable line during his panic attack , but viewers watching the film for the first time might be surprise by its intricate plot and how it treats phobias and mental disorder . They ’re not play for cheap laughs , and the film deserves credit for playing OCD and tourette ’s syndrome more realistically that most others at the time .
Nightmare Alley (Guillermo del Toro)
A visionary in fantasy filmmaking , Guillermo del Toro ’s most recent movie is also arguably the most atypical in his whole filmograpy . Nightmare Alleyis a period thriller about a carnival psychical defraud his room to fame and fortune , and although it features mountain of macabre imagery , its only fantastical elements are a few parlor legerdemain .
AlthoughNightmare Alleywas a commercial failure going up againstSpider - gentleman’s gentleman : No Way menage , it ’s still a great homage to ' 40s noir photographic film that feels authentic and genuine . It overstretch no punches in impersonate protagonist Stan Carlisle as a scumbag out for a quick sawbuck , and the story has winding and turn that make the route to its tragic conclusion an engaging slow - tan .
No Country For Old Men (Coen Brothers)
The account of a man on the run from a ruthless orca after the former take a mysterious suitcase full of money , No Country for Old Menis a bright neo - westernwith an suitably relentless tone and great performances , specially from Javier Bardem . It ’s also a drastically dissimilar film from typical Coen brothers menu , trade their stylemark black comedy for unrelenting bleakness .
While Coen fans know they could do great work with stories of hapless felon played for dark laughs , No Country for Old Menfeels almost like a deconstructionism of their usual body of work . The handwriting , adapted from Cormac McCarthy ’s acclaim novel , take almost as if it plopped one of their character into the existent world , where law-breaking story almost never end mirthfully .
An American Werewolf In London (John Landis)
John Landis gifted audiences around the world with some of the in force clowning of the tardy ' seventy and ' 80 , withAnimal House , The Blues Brothers , Trading Places , andComing to Americaall being hugely popular film that are still loved today . He ’s also the man behindAn American Werewolf in London , a horror comedy with a firm emphasis on the former .
It ’s a testament to Landis ' power as a director that the film can both have scenes of David ’s horrific transmutation , and a darkly funny sequence of him hallucinating let the cat out of the bag to all his victims , and they both work perfectly , with neither smell at all out of place . It proves that sometimes the funny people truly are the best at craft shuddery stories .
Lorenzo’s Oil (George Miller)
George Miller ’s flick generally come in two varieties : post - apocalyptical natural process picture show likeMad Max , or syndicate adventures likeBabe : Pig in the CityandHappy Feet . But arguably his most underrated pic isLorenzo ’s Oil , a hard drama about two parent urgently search for a remedy for their Logos ’s almost certainly fatal disease .
Lorenzo ’s Oil ’s was a box seat part dashing hopes , but those who saw it bed it , leading to Oscar nominating speech for Susan Sarandon and Miller himself . What makes the film study so well is that , while inspirational , it never get too sentimental , realistically showing just how ugly a condition like ALD can be , and the emotional toll it takes on a patient and their family members .
A Simple Plan (Sam Raimi)
With Sam Raimi back in the limelight withDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , fans are probably keep by revisiting his previous superhero or revulsion movie . While theSpider - ManandEvil Deadtrilogies are certainly essential viewing , hard-core Raimi fans should n’t skipA Simple Plan , a crime thriller that shows off the auteur ’s surprising range .
A Simple Plantells the tarradiddle of brothers Hank ( Bill Paxton ) and Joe ( Billy Bob Thornton ) , whose travail to keep a shipload of missing money lead their family to destruction . Among its good qualities are its great performance from Paxton and Thornton , as well asits cold , snowy Minnesota settingthat effectively add to the coloured , cynical tone .
Hugo (Martin Scorsese)
In addition , Hugois also a love varsity letter to the history of cinema from one the field ’s most attentive educatee . Filmmaking pioneer Georges Méliès is an important character , and the report of his rise , fall , and rediscovery is a tragical but uplifting narration for all who check moving picture close to their heart .
The Straight Story (David Lynch)
Of all the times a directorwent out of their comfort zone , David Lynch’sThe Straight Storymight be the most striking . hail from a filmmaker known for some of the most surreal narratives ever bring to cover , the unproblematic narration of a man who take a road trip on a tractor to make restitution with his estranged brother is shock in how well it wreak .
While hardcore Lynch buff may lose his signature bizarreness , The Straight Storyis a loving portrayal of life sentence in the often forgotten rural midwest . It ’s also a wonderful showcase for Richard Farnsworth , whose terminal Cancer the Crab at the time of production only pass water his dedication to his trade more impressive .
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