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Best Mob/Gangster Filmmaker?
#188405
10/07/04 12:00 PM
10/07/04 12:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 159
QTN
OP
Made Member
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OP
Made Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 159
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The nominees are...
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
Why? - He wrote/directed the first "modern" great gangster film in THE GODFATHER and actually made a sequel that was very superior. What mob movie after GF 1 and 2 haven't been in the shadow of them? Also made the 3rd other movie masterpiece that is APOCALYPSE NOW and the pretty good 70's movie THE CONVERSATION.
Why Not? - Coppola also made a so-so/decent mob movie in the infamously record over-budget 80's flop THE COTTON CLUB, and THE GODFATHER PART 3 was a lackluster conclusion to that trilogy in terms of quality. Also, he directed the Robin Williams gagging movie JACK and the so-so forgettable RAINMAKER with Matt Damon. Do I need to mention PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED?
MARTIN SCORSESE
Why? - Made what many consider to be the best mob movie of the 1990's in GOODFELLAS. Same guy also made one of the best crime or "street life" films of the 1970's with MEAN STREETS, and the other good 90's mob flick CASINO. Multi-time Oscar nominated filmmaker that also made cinema fame with classics like TAXI DRIVER and RAGING BULL(one of the great movies of the 1980's). Also has done many genre-movies from comedy(AFTER HOURS) to religion(THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST), 19th century costume-drama(AGE OF INNOCENCE), a popcorn-fluff thriller(CAPE FEAR), larger-than-life epic film(GANGS OF NEW YORK), a musical(NEW YORK NEW YORK) and so on. Besides, he and DeNiro were an unequaled cinematic wrestling tag-team, yo!
Why Not? - many box-office duds(GANGS OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK NEW YORK, RAGING BULL) and not to mention that he'll probably never come close to getting Coppola's six Oscars(for "Marty" has ZERO). Besides, anyone ever seen KUNDUN or BOXCAR BERTHA?
BRIAN DEPALMA
Why? - Directed what are possibly among the two best gangster films of the 1980's, if not the kings of the decade, with stuff like the legendary SCARFACE and the popcorn-fluff gangbusters box-office hit THE UNTOUCHABLES. Same guy directed other good flicks like CASUALTIES OF WAR, FEMME FATALE, DRESSED TO KILL, CARRIE, HOME MOVIES, and MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE and CARLITTO'S WAY.
Why Not? - MISSION TO MARS sucked. Not to mention the one connection of his that has haunted DePalma....his love/homaging for Alfred Hitchcock. Not to mention that the awful comedy that was BONFIRES OF THE VANNITIES and the Diet SCARFACE cola movie that was CARLITTO'S WAY. Finally, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE anyone?
QUENTIN TARANTINO
Why? - The man of the 90's masterpiece PULP FICTION who also made great impact with RESERVIOR DOGS, JACKIE BROWN, and the KILL BILL movies. Not to mention all these films actually making a good gross theatrically(domestic and foreign) and on Home Video/DVD. Besides, hes an Oscar-winner(w/ Roger Avary for Best Original Screenplay for PULP FICTION).
Why Not? - He talked trash against Francis Ford Coppola, saying he got "too old and burned out", not to mention the main reason many folks hate to like his movies....Tarantino himself. Seemingly a movie-coholic geek fan, yet seemingly a pretentious artist that has talked smack against other flmmakers like FFC but also Spike Lee. Besides, If it wasn't for MIRAMAX willing to fund and let QT have all that creative control, who thinks he could have actually made it has he did in Hollywood? Anyone?
JOHN SINGLETON
Why? - Oscar-nominated for Best Director for BOYZ N THE HOOD and also directed the semi-praised BABY BOY.
Why Not? - Directed the god-awful 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS and the lame SHAFT remake.
If there are other filmmakers anyone wants to nominate, go right ahead and give give pro/cons as to why they are the best.
Finally, I'm not sure if to name this filmmaker be the best AT making "mob movies" or just the best period....help?
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Re: Best Mob/Gangster Filmmaker?
#188408
10/07/04 04:26 PM
10/07/04 04:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,543
Gateshead, UK
Capo de La Cosa Nostra
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,543
Gateshead, UK
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Scorsese, for me.
Tarantino shouldn't even be made a candiate. Kill Bill is far from a gangster film, nor is Jackie Brown for that matter.
Coppola made two of the greatest films of all time with The Godfathers, but these are both romanticised views of the Mafia, not coming anywhere close to Scorsese's insight.
De Palma is, to me, one of the most overrated directors. The Untouchables was a bit too Hollywood-ish for my liking. It's an odd way to think, but little things such as the inappropriate score and comic acting do it little justice. Scarface was a mess.
Singleton directs what he knows best--similar to Scorsese in that sense--but fails to grip me with Scorsese's visual bravura.
Your cons need revised, I think, mate. YOu can't hold Jack against Coppola when it is anything but a mob movie. We should only be taking into consideration their mob movies here.
Mick
...dot com bold typeface rhetoric.
You go clickety click and get your head split.
'The hell you look like on a message board
Discussing whether or not the Brother is hardcore?
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Re: Best Mob/Gangster Filmmaker?
#188410
10/07/04 09:19 PM
10/07/04 09:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,249
Desolation Row
Don Sonny Corleone
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,249
Desolation Row
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Scorsese, no questions asked. Mean Streets,Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, not to mention Taxi Driver and After Hours.
FFC- His claim to faim was the Godfather Trilogy and Apoxalypse Now
QT- Haha One word-Overrated
DePalma- The Untouchables sucked, havent seen Carlito's Way,Scarface though an entertaining flick, isnt about the mob.
If winners never lose, well, then a loser sure can sing the blues.
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