The Directors Project: #30 - Edgar Wright

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

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.

EDGAR WRIGHT

Years Active: 1993-present

Films as Director: 5

Oscar Wins: 0

Who: When it comes to modern British cinema, there isn't any filmmaker who is as authentically kinetic as Wright. Mixing genre films with loving homages and subversive wit, he has made a career out of making films that are highly original, yet appeal to the modern nerd. With a known history of watching a lot of movies, he applies his knowledge and his techniques to providing unique experiences of American film making, but often set in English cities. With a stable of actors, he continually challenges the medium by evaluating tropes and hidden Easter eggs that make each and every one of his films worth watching multiple times. More than any other director on this list, he is a director who understands his audience and interacts with them in a way that manages to make his work feel more personal and passionate. Given his already keen eye for fast moving, highly intelligent work, it is easy to see why he is one of the standout directors currently working in British cinema today.

Scene from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

-- Shaun of the Dead (2004) --

Flickchart Ranking: #121 (800 points)

IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)

Perks: The Cornetto Trilogy (Combined 10 points)

Total: 870 points

-- Hot Fuzz (2007) --

Flickchart Ranking: #156 (750 points)

IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)

Perks: The Cornetto Trilogy (Combined 10 points)

Total: 820 points

-- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) --

Flickchart Ranking: #236 (700 points)

IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)

Perks: None

Total: 770 points

-- The World's End (2013) --

Flickchart Ranking: #327 (600 points)

IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)

Perks: The Cornetto Trilogy (Combined 10 points)

Total: 670 points

OVERALL TOTAL: 3130 points

WHY DO I LOVE?

Scene from The World's End

More than any other director, Wright feels like he is doing something ambitious with the self-referential culture that currently dominates cinema. He is aware of his passions that clearly influence each and every scene, but they aren't derivative rehashes, either. Along with some of the quickest editing, he manages to make for cinema that at worst is tolerable and best a euphoric journey into something new. With a stable of actors, he finds humor and life in each of his performers and adds weight to his scenes. He knows how to use a camera and isn't afraid to tear genres apart. He is exciting and thanks to his ability to interact with fans on a personal level, he is an unmatched director whose craft is just as high as his gratitude towards his audience as well as his peers.

UP NEXT: The master of modern Americana with stories of Midwest culture the encapsulates a more organic side of the country.