Is Ridley Scott a good director?

[toddpolt]

Someone longtime back asked if Stanley Kubrick was a good director, and I asked (rhetorically) if Martin Scorsese was too. Whether you liked their movies or not, one can't deny their influence and popularity with critics and moviephiles. Directing "Gods" you could say.

Then there's Sir Ridley Scott, and that becomes a real question worth asking. No easy simple answer I suppose.

The Facts
*19 movies from 1977 to 2010
*3 Best Director Oscar nominations, No wins
*Knighted by the UK Queen some years back.
*His younger brother is Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance)
*With Tony, executive produces the CBS TV show Numbers.

The veteran filmmaker of 1,000 commercials (including the legendary "1984" Apple computer Super Bowl ad), Ridley has been praised for his lush smoky cinematography, even if some charge alot of his works are being more style than substance. Worked many different genres from action, sci-fi, film noir, historical, spy, cops, thrillers, etc. Despite being 72 years old, limping, and a chronic drinker/smoker, he's been even more prolific in his later years. He made 8 of them in the past decade alone. Kubrick and Cameron he aint.

His best movies, or at least his most popular. Alien (1979) is a bonafide horror/sci-fi genre classic, spawning a franchise and probably his best technical work as a director. Then there was Blade Runner (1982)*, which I babbled about in another recent thread, so you know that. Finally Gladiator (2000), which made Russell Crowe into a global superstar, pushed Joaquin Phoenix too before he went nuts, and won the Best Picture Oscar in 2000.

Then the rest is....mixed. Some pretty good (at least IMO), some sucked.

The Good

The Duelists (1977)
Legend (1985)*
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Matchstick Men (2003)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)*
American Gangster (2007)
Body of Lies (2008)


The Suck

Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)
Black Rain (1989)
1492: A Conquest of Paradise (1992) = Need to rewatch
White Squall (1996)
G.I. Jane (1997)
Hannibal (2001)
A Good Year (2006)


*=Director's Cut version, and especially for BR, The Final Cut.

[Mattification]

You don't make Bladerunner if you're a bad director.

[AriadosMan]

Matchstick Men is one of the most underrated movies of the 00s. Its one of the more daring and experimental projects I've seen from a mainstream director.
American Gangster is also a film that never got the critical attention it should have IMO, it has good work from Crowe and Denzel and does the 70s crime milieu very well.

[spec]

He's made some cack, but Alien alone makes it a Yes.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

I would LOVE to hear the person who voted No justify their answer.

[toddpolt]

Jan 2, 2010 22:27:37 GMT -5 Bob Schlapowitz said:

I would LOVE to hear the person who voted No justify their answer.

I'm reminded of those two Nay votes against Martin Scorsese.

I mean if thats their opinion, well hey everyone has their own opinions.

But why?

[Milkman Norm]

I'd say he's done some films I really enjoy. Personally I'm looking forward to Robin Hood. But then he's made films like 1492 that just completely suck.

[BK From WV]

He's done more I liked(Black Hawk Down,Hannibal,Thelma & Louise,Matchstick Men,American Gangster) than disliked(Gladiator,Kingdom Of Heaven,G.I. Jane) so I'll vote yes.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Jan 2, 2010 22:31:48 GMT -5 toddpolt said:

Jan 2, 2010 22:27:37 GMT -5 Bob Schlapowitz said:

I would LOVE to hear the person who voted No justify their answer.

I'm reminded of those two Nay votes against Martin Scorsese.

I mean if thats their opinion, well hey everyone has their own opinions.

But why?

Exactly. I'm not trying to call anyone out. You're entitled to your own opinion, but we're also entitled to ask why?

[Cyno]

He's an incredible director. Big "Yes."

[The F'N Captain]

Even if by some reasoning you didn't like ANY of his movies you can't flat out say he's a bad filmmaker.

Look at Lucas, the prequels were warm crap on cold toast but you just can't disregard the original trilogy and American Graphitti.

Every single great filmmaker has their share of flops, as long as they have something that warrants the "genius" or "visionary" title you can't poo-poo their career.

[G✇JI☈A]

He is hit and miss

And since he has made some really good films that makes him good.

[Bravo Echo November]

With enthusiasm I say YES.

The thing I love so much about him is that he has been directing movies for a very long time and always stays fresh throughout the decades. He never seems to live off of his past work like Lucas and continues to make great films. Plus as a filmmaker he has an outstanding attention to detail that I respect.

[Bub (BLM)]

Bladerunner, Alien, and American Gangster say yes. Legend, Kingdom of Heaven, and Black Hawk Down say no. Hit and miss, for me.

Also, I wish he'd start branching out and making films starring someone other than Russell Crowe.

[toddpolt]

Jan 3, 2010 0:10:16 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Bladerunner, Alien, and American Gangster say yes. Legend, Kingdom of Heaven, and Black Hawk Down say no. Hit and miss, for me.

Also, I wish he'd start branching out and making films starring someone other than Russell Crowe.

Well you might just get your wish. There were tabloid reports that on Robin Hood's not-so-merry production, he and Russell Crowe (allegedly) came to blows and that this may in fact be their last movie together. At least for a good while.

Its interesting how before Crowe, unless I'm mistaken, the only major star that Scott in his pre-Gladiator years worked with more than once was Signourney Weaver. For Alien and 1492.* Now with Crowe, they've done what...5 movies together? Some bromance.

EDIT - And off-topic, but has anyone actually watched the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven? Trust me, its a much better (and comprehendable) picture than the one we got stuck with in theatres. Its like a wrecked rusty SUV becomes a new GT Mustang. Unbelievable.

*=Technically you could add Harvey Keitel, who did Duelists and Thelma & Louise. But by 1990, he wasn't exactly a "star" anymore like he was in the 70s.

[Cela]

Sure

[Celgress]

Alien, Bladerunner, Black Rain of course he is a fantastic director.

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

I'd argue that even if you don't like how the Legend movie turned out, that the filmaking itself was still very well done. I mean look at the devil in that movie. It's just awesome.

[The Ichi]

Hannibal did not suck, sir.