by Angelito » Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:45 pm
I don't think any filmmaker in today's era would be allowed the creative freedom from studios that Kubrick was. That guy was not only the most complete filmmaker - as in he did everything himself, except act - but his movies are fundamental studies of humanity. And, that can be burdensome at times. No Kubrick movie can be passed off as an entertainer. It's almost always substantial. Part of the reason why I consider The Killing (1956) one of the very best movies of Kubrick is because it's unlike what Kubrick would do later in his careers. It's a crime movie alright. It's a classic, but it's simple and doesn't feel as stuffed as Kubrick's latter movies. I'd place The Killing behind 2001, The Shining, and Dr Strangelove - my picks as Kubrick's best movies.
On Scorsese, an interesting notion about him is that he was at the right place at the right time. That's not a knock of course. Movies like Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Riders, The Graduate, and eventually The Godfather - paved the way for a roaring 70s in cinema for Hollywood. It was the decade of auteurs. And, no wonder - many legendary filmmakers made a mark during the 70s - Coppola, Scorsese, Polanski, de Balma, Carpenter, Spielberg, Lucas, a young Lynch, etc. This was the period when filmmakers in Hollywood - for the first time history - had complete authority over their movies. Mostly due to The Godfather, the 70s is the director's era in Hollywood. That's why we have so many of our favorite movies come out in the 70s.
I agree with you on Coens though. I can't understand how they do it even after 30 years. For me, the greatest American filmmaker of the last 30 years would probably be a toss between them, Lynch, Mallick, and Scorsese of course. I'm a huge fan of Brian de Palma too.