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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.
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Years Active: 1997-present
Films as Director: 8
Oscar Wins: 0
Who: For modern cinephiles, there are few names as reliable for big blockbusters with brains as that of Nolan. With his gritty take on superheroes and his mind-bending sci-fi films, he has made some of the most iconic films of the past decade. While there are arguments that his films have a cold calculation, they have a formula that is packed with provocative imagery and characters that while broad, have a deeper impact on their social constructs. He is an enviable voice as a director, as he manages to skirt between doing franchise films and original properties with so much regularity that each of his films manage to come packed with built in anticipation. He raises the stakes and with kinetic energy manages to make films that work on the level of escapism in ways that are smart and give him a sort of superior clout in the process.
POINTS TALLY
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| Scene from The Dark Knight Rises |
-- The Dark Knight (2008) --
Flickchart Ranking: #27 (900 points)
IMDb Rating: 8/10 (80 points)
Perks: The Dark Knight Trilogy (Overall 10 points), Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 980 points
-- Inception (2010) --
Flickchart Ranking: #82 (850 points)
IMDb Rating: 8/10 (80 points)
Perks: Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 930 points
-- Memento (2000) --
Flickchart Ranking: #153 (750 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 820 points
-- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) --
Flickchart Ranking: #181 (750 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: The Dark Knight Trilogy (Overall 10 points), Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 820 points
-- Insomnia (2002) --
Flickchart Ranking: #299 (650 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 710 points
-- Batman Begins (2005) --
Flickchart Ranking: #422 (500 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: The Dark Knight Trilogy (Overall 10 points), Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 570 points
-- The Prestige (2006) --
Flickchart Ranking: #688 (350 points)
IMDb Rating: 5/10 (50 points)
Perks: Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 400 points
-- Following (1998) --
Flickchart Ranking: #906 (100 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: Complete Filmography (Overall 50 points)
Total: 210 points
OVERALL TOTAL: 5440 points
WHY DO I LOVE?
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| Scene from Memento |
It could come with being "the right age," but in terms of filmmakers who make films that get people excited, Nolan is most often the top choice. While his earlier psychological thrillers remain an underrated proportion of his filmography, his take on Batman has become the definitive version for this generation, even influencing how cinema would be presented. He is darker and grittier and makes films that serve as events full of intense action and thought provoking scenery. While he isn't the greatest, he is one of the most unifying when it comes to films that raise discussion and debate among my peers. To say the least, The Dark Knight and Inception remain two of the most memorable theater experiences in my life, and that is no easy feat. He is a director of the people and while he can be argued on if he is "smart," he does make convincing packages around them.
UP NEXT: A world building movie referencing nerd whose films inspired me to be a pop culture writer.
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