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Scene from Cinema Paradiso
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With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.
ROBERT ZEMECKIS
Years Active: 1972-present
Films As Director: 16
Oscar Wins: 1 (Best Director - Forrest Gump)
Who: If there is one blockbuster director who has unassuming range, it is Zemeckis. His films don't always play as these big set pieces, though they often rely on a spectacle mixture of character dramas and cutting edge special effects. In a way, he is the humble equivalent to James Cameron or Ridley Scott, choosing to rely on premiere actors giving top notch performances and dealing with complex issues ranging from time travel to romance. Even if his films have often waned in quality, he is a reliable director when it comes for testing the limitations of technology and then pushing them forward, whether through video insertion or narrative alterations. It is strange to imagine a world without Zemeckis and his gift for making the average into something extraordinary. He continues to impress and his filmography, while sometimes feature dated effects, show the potential for what special effects can do when they're not blowing up buildings.
POINTS TALLY
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| Scene from Contact |
-- Forrest Gump (1994) --
Flickchart Ranking: #313 (600 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 670 points
-- Castaway (2000) --
Flickchart Ranking: #318 (600 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 670 points
-- Contact (1997) --
Flickchart Ranking: #416 (500 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 560 points
-- Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? (1988) --
Flickchart Ranking: #448 (500 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 570 points
-- Back to the Future (1985) --
Flickchart Ranking: #575 (450 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 510 points
-- Death Becomes Her (1992) --
Flickchart Ranking: #818 (200 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 260 points
OVERALL TOTAL: 3240 points
WHY DO I LOVE?
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| Scene from Castaway |
One of the most unassuming things that has happened in the wake of The Directors Project is that I have recognized my love for blockbuster directors more than I had initially believed. Even then, my affection for Zemeckis was clearly undervalued and I didn't notice his charm until compiling what films he actually has done. In an impressive fashion, I have noticed that he is a unique big budgeted director in that he mixes some impressive technical feats with some of the best performances in blockbuster movies to date. He is unrelenting and compelling in exploring all regions of the world and that results in some fascinating results. What makes him great is the unassuming special effects, which are often in the more insightful of his films. I like that despite his often troubling work, he is continuing to try new and curious things, if just to notice the limitless potential of the medium.
UP NEXT: An AARP director who got his start in westerns before moving onto political character studies.
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