IMQ #2 - People in Film - Most Overrated Director

[Chaplin]

This was a hard one to come up with an answer. I want to say Raoul Walsh or Frank Capra, but I think it's worth going a bit more recent and saying:

Ridley Scott

He had a really solid early career and even though I adore Gladiator, his more recent stuff has been hit and miss, maybe more miss than hit. I'm looking at you, Robin Hood and Prometheus.

 

[Dback Jon]

Woody Allen. Can't think of a movie of his I liked.

 

[Chaplin]

Woody Allen. Can't think of a movie of his I liked.

That's a shame. I think he's a terrific director and one that I should have put on my list of runners-up for Favorite.

 

[Dback Jon]

That's a shame. I think he's a terrific director and one that I should have put on my list of runners-up for Favorite.

If we all had the same tastes, life, and movies would be boring

 

[Chaplin]

If we all had the same tastes, life, and movies would be boring

True dat

 

[AZ Native]

Tim Burton

 

[Cheesebeef]

oh man... Woody Allen is a good one Jon!

But i'm going with the guy who makes THE most monotone "prestige" pictures that everyone fawns over for some reason:

Clint Eastwood.

The idea that that guy has won multiple directing oscars is beyond me.

 

[Chaplin]

oh man... Woody Allen is a good one Jon!

But i'm going with the guy who makes THE most monotone "prestige" pictures that everyone fawns over for some reason:

Clint Eastwood.

The idea that that guy has won multiple directing oscars is beyond me.

So you didn't like Unforgiven? I can see Million Dollar Baby not deserving, but Unforgiven is a damn good movie.

 

[AzStevenCal]

With Woody and Ridley taken, I'll go with Peter Jackson. The Frighteners notwithstanding, I think he typically takes diamond sources and turns them into movies of coal.

 

[Cheesebeef]

So you didn't like Unforgiven? I can see Million Dollar Baby not deserving, but Unforgiven is a damn good movie.

Didn't say I didn't like Unforgiven. That was a good movie... that came out 26 years ago. He's only made ONE great movie since, surprisingly Letters From Iwo Gima.

Everything else in the last 25 years has ranged from meh to drek, while garnering praise and nominations galore during that period, which is why I say he's overrated.

 

[Chaplin]

With Woody and Ridley taken, I'll go with Peter Jackson. The Frighteners notwithstanding, I think he typically takes diamond sources and turns them into movies of coal.

You can still pick someone that already chosen, but that said, I definitely don’t agree with your choice. I liked the third Hobbit movie and all 3 of the LOTR movies. Dead Alive is the best gorefest I’ve ever seen and Heavenly Creatures has a great early performance from Kate Winslet.

 

[AzStevenCal]

You can still pick someone that already chosen, but that said, I definitely don’t agree with your choice. I liked the third Hobbit movie and all 3 of the LOTR movies. Dead Alive is the best gorefest I’ve ever seen and Heavenly Creatures has a great early performance from Kate Winslet.

I liked the Lord of the Rings movies but at no time did I feel he really succeeded with what was available to him. He hit a double with home run material and then he butchered King Kong and the Hobbit movies. He was given a free-er rein (I believe) following The Frighteners and it's from that point onward that he earned my low rating.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Micheal Bay

 

[Chaplin]

Micheal Bay

I'd be interested to hear why you think he's overrated. The only reason he has the clout he has is that his movies make more money than anyone else's. I don't see anyone really overrating him as it applies to his skills as a director.

 

[Dback Jon]

I'd be interested to hear why you think he's overrated. The only reason he has the clout he has is that his movies make more money than anyone else's. I don't see anyone really overrating him as it applies to his skills as a director.

Beat me too it.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd be interested to hear why you think he's overrated. The only reason he has the clout he has is that his movies make more money than anyone else's. I don't see anyone really overrating him as it applies to his skills as a director.

I was going to say something similar. It reminds me of Dennis Johnson's stay in Seattle. For 4 years he was constantly mentioned as the most underrated player in the NBA. I argued frequently with a friend that at some point, the person that everyone on the planet calls most underrated has to stop being considered as underrated. Bay is one of the most negatively critiqued directors among those of us that might watch a movie based on the director.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Sure his movies make money, but they're just 'blow 'em up' movies for the most part. I can't think of one of his movies that would be considered a "classic." Maybe The Rock, but for the most part they're the types of movies that people complain about with Hollywood.

He's not a bad director, but overrated imo.

Edit: I am a fan of The Island.

 

[Chaplin]

Sure his movies make money, but they're just 'blow 'em up' movies for the most part. I can't think of one of his movies that would be considered a "classic." Maybe The Rock, but for the most part they're the types of movies that people complain about with Hollywood.

He's not a bad director, but overrated imo.

Edit: I am a fan of The Island.

I think you might be describing the fact that the MOVIES he makes are overrated (which for the most part I agree with), but the director himself?

 

[BillsCarnage]

I think you might be describing the fact that the MOVIES he makes are overrated (which for the most part I agree with), but the director himself?

But doesn't that ultimately fall back on the director? He's the one putting the script to film.

 

[Chaplin]

But doesn't that ultimately fall back on the director? He's the one putting the script to film.

Hmm, yes, the fact that a movie is bad is on the director. But does that make him overrated? That's what I'm not understanding. Who is overrating him? I know the movies are overrated, doesn't mean he is overrated.

Look at it this way -- talk about a movie like, say, Life Aquatic. I think that movie is underrated, does that mean Wes Anderson the director is underrated? I don't think he is, I think he's very highly thought of in film circles.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Hmm, yes, the fact that a movie is bad is on the director. But does that make him overrated? That's what I'm not understanding. Who is overrating him? I know the movies are overrated, doesn't mean he is overrated.

Look at it this way -- talk about a movie like, say, Life Aquatic. I think that movie is underrated, does that mean Wes Anderson the director is underrated? I don't think he is, I think he's very highly thought of in film circles.

It's a subjective based question to begin with, so we can agree to disagree

To me, there's nothing about a Bay movie that stands out. When was the last time you said to yourself, "Self, I want to watch a Micheal Bay movie." Most of his movies are one-and-done watchings. I think a good director creates a movie that you want or need to watch again to see what you missed the first time.

But, as a director his eye for vfx is questionable at best. Sure there might be budget constraints, but his fallback is on big explosions. His selection of actors is questionable too and how many of those performances are memorable?

If you want to make typical big budget Hollywood movie, Micheal Bay is your guy. If you want to make a move that is endeared by the audience and stands the test of time, Bay is not the best option.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think Woody Allen and Eastwood are good ones. Don't get me wrong, they both have made films I like but definitely overrated.

 

[Chaplin]

It's a subjective based question to begin with, so we can agree to disagree

To me, there's nothing about a Bay movie that stands out. When was the last time you said to yourself, "Self, I want to watch a Micheal Bay movie." Most of his movies are one-and-done watchings. I think a good director creates a movie that you want or need to watch again to see what you missed the first time.

But, as a director his eye for vfx is questionable at best. Sure there might be budget constraints, but his fallback is on big explosions. His selection of actors is questionable too and how many of those performances are memorable?

If you want to make typical big budget Hollywood movie, Micheal Bay is your guy. If you want to make a move that is endeared by the audience and stands the test of time, Bay is not the best option.

I pretty much agree with all of this, but IMO the definition of being overrated is having tons of accolades thrown at you and you not deserving them. Michael Bay doesn’t really have any accolades as a director.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It's a subjective based question to begin with, so we can agree to disagree

To me, there's nothing about a Bay movie that stands out. When was the last time you said to yourself, "Self, I want to watch a Micheal Bay movie." Most of his movies are one-and-done watchings. I think a good director creates a movie that you want or need to watch again to see what you missed the first time.

But, as a director his eye for vfx is questionable at best. Sure there might be budget constraints, but his fallback is on big explosions. His selection of actors is questionable too and how many of those performances are memorable?

If you want to make typical big budget Hollywood movie, Micheal Bay is your guy. If you want to make a move that is endeared by the audience and stands the test of time, Bay is not the best option.

No one argues with any of the above. So, how is the guy "overrated" if everyone universally knows and agrees over exactly what he does?

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think Woody Allen and Eastwood are good ones. Don't get me wrong, they both have made films I like but definitely overrated.

agreed.

I'm going to put one of my early heroes in here also... Wes Anderson.

You couldn't find a bigger fan of the guy through his first three movies. Bottle Rocket to Rushmore to Tannebaums is just coming out hitting dingers. But almost everything else I've found so "Wes Anderson" and not nearly as entertaining. He seemed to become a one trick pony. and yet is still lauded as an auteur.