Day 27 - My Favorite Directors

I'm into lists right now. They make things quick, easy and fun.Not to mention that my wife bought me a great book for Christmas - 501 directors (a giant list of some of the best directors of all time)

A great movie is made by a number of different people (producers, actors, DOP, etc.) but often it falls on the directors shoulders. He's the QB of the film and they can make or break an incredible film.

Here's a few of my favorite directors in no significant order.

Martin Scorsese Scorsese is pure genius. He's put out a lot of the latest and greatest movies, but he has a number of old ones on my TO SEE LIST. A few of his greats - The Departed, The Aviator, Gangs of New York and Goodfellas. He has a real edge to his films and I love the depth he puts into his characters.

M. Night Shyamalan He got his first moment of fame with the movie Sixth Sense. Some people would say he hasn't made a great movie since then, but I disagree. I loved Lady in the Water, Unbreakable and The Village. I had a hard time swallowing The Happening, but I think we can expect great things from this amazing director.

Clint Eastwood Mr. Eastwood is an amazing director. I first started paying attention to him as a director when I saw Mystic River. From there I fell in love with his style of film making - Unforgiven, A Perfect World, Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, and Gran Torino - I'm excited to see his latest film to be released - Invictus.

James Cameron I love James Cameron. With his latest release of Avatar he has stepped into the lime light again... a long time since his last big release that sunk it's way to the top - Titanic. Cameron has a unique style of film making that often depicts the struggle of man and technology (Terminator 1 & 2, The Abyss and Aliens) I love Cameron and his scornful approach to doing what he loves. One of the simple facts about Cameron that I love is that at one time he was a truck driver, when he saw Star Wars, he discovered what he wanted to do with his life.

There's a few of my favorite directors. I could still mention the Coen brothers, the Scott brothers, Spielberg, Tarantino, Oliver Stone and more. Who are your favorites and why?

Cheers, Matthew A. Hawkins