First attempt at a poll: The Best Film Directorial Debut:
- Thread starter Mr. Potter
- Start date
Shawshank is a masterpiece. I was about to go with Fast Times until I saw Shawshank.
Really, really difficult to name one - I don't see how anyone could not vote for Citizen Kane. That said, I chose Reservoir Dogs, because it is the single most important movie (from an impact standpoint on cinema) in my lifetime.
One left off the list is 'The Usual Suspects' - Bryan Singer.
Shawshank is not Darabont's directorial debut; that would be 'Buried Alive' (TV Movie).
“Duel” was Spielberg’s debut and I remember watching it on TV. Perfect.
That's why is said film because Spielberg also directed TV prior to his first feature film.
Charles Laughton, better known as an actor, directed one film: “The Night of the Hunter.” it’s perfectly realized, and is one of the creepiest movies ever.
Good list. I am a Dogs guy. Love that first taste of Tarantino dialog (maybe second - True Romance). That said I wouldn't fight anyone for any other choices.
Coen Brothers: Blood Simple
Robert Eggers: The Witch
Tim Burton: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
Wes Anderson: Bottle Rocket
Many others which makes it a difficult task
Robert Eggers: The Witch
Tim Burton: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
Wes Anderson: Bottle Rocket
Many others which makes it a difficult task
He was amazing in one of my Mom-Mom's favorite movies "Witness to the Prosecution" Also directed by another heavyweight director Billy Wilder.
I think it would be impossible to name the best. Others not even listed:
- Eraserhead (David Lynch)
- The 400 Blows (Francois Truffaut)
- Breathless (Jean-Luc Godard)
- Badlands (Terrence Malick)
- Easy Rider (Dennis Hopper)
- Being John Malkovich (Spike Jonze)
- Diner (Barry Levinson)
- The Maltese Falcon (John Huston)
- Hunger (Steve McQueen)
- American Beauty (Sam Mendes)
- This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner)
- The Blair Witch Project (Daniel Myrick/Eduardo Sanchez)
- She's Gotta Have It (Spike Lee)
- Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson)
- Play Misty for Me (Clint Eastwood)
- Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Steven Soderbergh)
- Where the Buffalo Roam (Art Linson)
- Caddyshack (Harold Ramis)
- Return of the Secaucus 7 (John Sayles)
- Chariots of Fire (Hugh Hudson)
- Body Heat (Lawrence Kasdan)
- Risky Business (Paul Brickman)
- Terms of Endearment (James Brooks)
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (Steven Zaillian)
That's just off the top of my head, so I'm sure I'm missing quite a few deserving of being included. And, I'm pretty much avoiding foreign films. If I added those to the list, it would be insanely long.
All of the selections for the poll listed by the OP are also excellent choices. I think it's just impossible to select any one as the best.
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James Cameron's directorial debut was Piranha II: The Spawning.
Greta Gerwig's was Nights and Weekends.
As for the poll, it's hard to chose between Spielberg, Darabont, and Tarantino. To me, Citizen Lane was too plodding at times.
Greta Gerwig's was Nights and Weekends.
As for the poll, it's hard to chose between Spielberg, Darabont, and Tarantino. To me, Citizen Lane was too plodding at times.
Was going to say Clint Eastwood has to be somewhere.
great movies.
film 180 citizen Kane was clearly the best.
dogs and boys both amazing. Chariots of fire wow.
but caddy shack. Winner!!
great movies.
film 180 citizen Kane was clearly the best.
dogs and boys both amazing. Chariots of fire wow.
but caddy shack. Winner!!
All due respect….that list was just off the top of your head?
My reaction precisely. I’ll ask again: Tom, are you sure you didn’t graduate Neshaminy?
From this list, Boyz In Da Hood was my first choice, Citizen Cane second.
Growing up, I worked in an appliance store during the summer helping with deliveries. I swear that Duel was on TBS every afternoon whenever we broke for lunch.
First off, if that's off the top of your head, you're the Rainman of films helmed by first-time directors.
Second off, we can strike The Blair Witch Project from that list - that's easily the worst movie I've ever seen. I could have watched a silent film filmed with the lens cap accidentally left on and it would have been less of a waste of my time.
LOL. I think I've established over the years that I'm really into movies. I just thought of all the great directors not listed by the OP, and for whatever reason, I remembered what their 1st movie was. Since posting it, I've thought of additional directors I should have included, but I try not to disrupt threads/polls too much from their initial focus, so I'm just letting things be.
LOL. I wouldn't call it the worst movie I've ever seen -- not even close (could have been for you; just commenting with regards to what I've seen). FWIW, in looking at the list I posted (which I really didn't do as I was putting it together), the Blair Witch Project would be toward the bottom of my ranking of the movies I listed.