Billy Wilder. The only director I can think of with both dramas and comedies on best ever movie lists. And he wrote or co-wrote most of them.
Alfred Hitchcock (I met him!)
2nd place: Howard Hawks
I’d like throw a bone to David Mamet, but I think I like him better as a writer, than as a director.
Huston’s autobiographyis fascinating. Is it 100% true? Maybe not. (He probably left out a lot of interesting stuff, too–to avoid the attention of various law enforcement agencies, jealous husbands & his own ex-wives.)
There’s no way I can name an absolute favorite among all the greats listed here. One not yet mentioned, whose personal style I really love: Alan Rudolph. He’s got a stable of actors & pays extra attention to atmosphere, setting & music. (Plot, what plot?) I’ve watched the heck out of The Moderns on Netflix Streaming, although I think I have the DVD somewhere. Can a movie mix humor with a bit of arty pretension? Yup, if it’s set in Rudolph’s 1926 Paris. (Hey, Trouble In Mind is available!)
Besides, he was a protege of Robert Altman, so I get 2 for 1!
Mine are:
- Billy Wilder
- Stanley Kubrick
- Roman Polanski
- Terry Gilliam
Wes Anderson.
- Hitchcock
- Kubrick
- Scorsese
Let me complete the JDF set with Wim Wenders, then (although I could have gone with either of your choices and been happy(Fear Eats the Soul and Aguirre:Wrath of God are both in my all-time top 10 and Even Dwarfs Started Small a personal favourite), Der Himmel über Berlin is the film seals the deal for me.)
Christopher Nolan.
Six major releases and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them.
John Ford.
OH! Thank you! We saw this when it was released and I’d love to get it on DVD. We have the soundtrack LP (yes, LP) which is so amazing. I just went searching and the title track is on YouTube!
“Trouble In Mind” - Marianne Faithful (the fan-video visuals are weird, it’s the song that’s important)
IMDB page. One of the many great things about the film is the serious performance by Divine.
Second!
John Sayles, I think, if only for Brother From Another Planet.
Hawks. Welles. Toss-up, your coin.