Auteurs

[mank!]

As part of my film coursework I am doing some research into auteurs.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines an auteur as: 'a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their author'. Another definition - taken from Dictionary.com is: 'a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp'.

Using these definitions, what directors/filmmakers would you consider to be auteurs and why?

Cheers.

 

[yaruar]

As part of my film coursework I am doing some research into auteurs.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines an auteur as: 'a film director who influences their films so much that they rank as their author'. Another definition - taken from Dictionary.com is: 'a filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp'.

Using these definitions, what directors/filmmakers would you consider to be auteurs and why?

Cheers.

Hitchcock definately, one of the most influential directors of all time, all his films bear his mark, developed numerous filming techniques as well and had a strong control of visual elements and effects to heighten the feeling of his films. I'm especially thinking of Vertigo here.
Kubrick because his films were always unique in their style and visual/kinetic/aural impact.
Mike Leigh because of his use of characterisation (and to a certain exstent overcharacterisation) and his use of improvised scripts to add to his films. Also because of his portrayal of ordinary people.
Robert Altman, mainly due to his use of language and his use of overlapping dialogue to create realistic transitions of conversations.

 

[Bullitt]

Main one that springs to my mind is Tim Burton, his visual styling always impresses me. Not to mention his animation methods in Nightmare before christmas and Corpse Bride.

Unmistakeable really.

 

[Frizz]

Agreed with Hitchcock and Burton. I'd also stress David Lynch (You only need to watch Mullholland Drive to find out why ).

 

[Tom]

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

 

[TdC]

Uwe Boll, because everything he fouls with his touch magically turns to shite.

Francis Ford Coppola, because of his visual style. using style to impress his vibe on a movie rather than the over-done "I'm a *sploitation movie geek" way that Quentin Tarantino does it.

 

[Chilly]

tarantino for sure

 

[Tom]

Not sure about Coppola Teeds, certainly Godfathers 1 and 2 have a very underexposed and top-heavy lighting, but Godfather 3 is much more conservative in its style. Apocalypse Now is very different as well.

I think Mank you have to be wary and check who the director is using to get the results he/she wants. Luc Besson has a very particular style, but much of that is the use of the same cinematographer on his most popular films. Mind you his opening shots are his trademark.


Steven Soderburgh is probably one to consider. His films have a very particular feel.

 

[TdC]

hmm Tom, imo Coppola has a somewhat sweeping visual extravagance that makes him stand out. tbh Besson has much of the same, and so does Ridley Scott, though I'm at a bit at a loss to describe it. it always makes me think of old western movies, where there were huge single takes and the same sense of sweeping style.

 

[Debaser]

Jean-Pierre Jeunet springs to mind considering those definitions.. he hasn't been mentioned yet, has he? - I'll try answering the why bit when i can articulate it better than to just tell you to watch his films.

 

[mank!]

Thanks all, I'm looking at the Coen brothers as auteurs, specifically whether that is evident in their mainstream films. As part of the research I wanted to ask some less "film-literate" (i.e. not film students) who they considered auteurs. I'd appreciate if I could use some of your suggestions as examples of auteurs within the mainstream - particularly Burton - for part of my presentation, I'll give you credit and not steal your ideas of course

I'm surprised only one person has mentioned Lynch as he's almost the definitive auteur in my opinion, controlling detail right down to set and prop design. Coppola is a tricky one, he's fantastic at what he does but I can't draw many comparisons between Apocalypse Now and The Godfather off the top of my head, perhaps except the pacing.

Cheers for the heads up on cinematographers, forgotten the name of the chap who has done a lot of Besson films (I've just taken my Léon poster down) but the Coen brothers have only ever used Sonnenfeld and Deakins as cinematographers, Burwell for the music and often use the same actors for many films. I'll have to do a bit more reading about the others mentioned.

On a slightly related note, I saw The Killing Fields at the weekend - most beautiful cinematography I've ever seen.

Cheers again, keep the suggestions coming please 8)

P.S. Uwe Boll is God.

 

[yaruar]

hmm Tom, imo Coppola has a somewhat sweeping visual extravagance that makes him stand out. tbh Besson has much of the same, and so does Ridley Scott, though I'm at a bit at a loss to describe it. it always makes me think of old western movies, where there were huge single takes and the same sense of sweeping style.

Talking of westerns. John Ford is probably one of the Greatest directors, and one who is pretty recognisable. I was thinking of Sergio Leone as well, as he took a lot of stuff from ford, esopcially the use of landscape, although leone used sound and music superbly for effect. Again as said before a lot of this is due to colalborations between cinematographers and other artists.

 

[Bodhi]

Not sure if he counts but I can always tell when I'm watching a Paul Verhoeven flick. He's always had that over-the-top style, completely desensitizing you to the violence and sex on the screen. Granted Showgirls was pish, but some of his others were awesome. He also made the best Arnie film, what more do you need?

 

[Guest]

win wenders
jean-luc goddard

 

[caLLous]

scorcese?

 

[Tallen]

First choice would be David Lynch.

 

[Tom]

One thing I've noted about David Lynch is his attention to detail.

I love the start of Blue Velvet, the opening shot basically describes the premise of the entire film. We see a lovely sunny day in a quiet suburban neighbourhood, people lounging around, mowing their lawns. Everything nice and peaceful on the surface. Then the camera moves down to the grass, and then into the grass, where we see a huge struggle and fight for life amongst the insects, hidden from view, behind closed doors as it were. This is what the film is about.

I loved that shot.

I struggle to connect David Lynch to 'The Straight Story' though. Its so utterly normal compared to anything else hes done, and yet its a beautifully told tale than brings a lump to your throat on more than one occasion. I can't imagine anybody else doing a better job on that film.

I haven't seen Mulholland Drive yet. I saw Eraserhead years ago and hated it. Wild at Heart was a pretty scary film, the lipstick scene I'll never forget. It made a star of Chris Isaak as well I haven't seen The Elephant Man for years, although who can forget Anthony Hopkin's teardrop?

 

[DaGaffer]

I´d put the Cohen brothers in the "auteurs" camp for sure.

 

[Debaser]

Terry Gilliam.

The movies he made in the 80’s definitely had an aesthetic that is undeniably his.

 

[eksdee]

francois truffaut and jean-luc goddard. two french new wave directors who wrote for les cahiers du cinéma and essentialy coined the idea/term auteur. it was mostly founded for a huge passion for the work of hitchcock.

other personal favourites:

ingmar bergman
fritz lang
takeshi kitano (possibly debateable)
pedro almodóvar
friedrich wilhelm murnau
werner herzog
park chan-wook
george romero
roman polanski