Directors just as flawed as they are brilliant

[Dr. Briggs]

I came up with the idea for this thread after watching Opera, in all honestly a great movie... or, it would have been if it hadn't kept reminding me it's a movie. Yeah, though I am a big proponent of his still, I will admit that Dario Argento makes a number of what I consider flubs in his films. It's the same thing with Jeff Lieberman to me.

I believe that Dario Argento knows suspense, and knows well how to misdirect an audience just as Jeff Lieberman can come up with great stories filled with dark and disturbing undertones... however, I believe the Argento falls short on creating entirely realistic plots and action scenes, just as I feel Lieberman often doesn't use ideas or budgets to their full-potential.

Are there directors out there you love, who nonetheless have habits which prevent their movies from being entirely satisfying to you?

[Chainsaw Brutality]

I agree with you on Argento, Briggs. I love the guy, but he's done some pure shit: see The Card Player.

I also have to throw in Eli Roth. I liked Cabin Fever, but hate Hostel. I enjoyed Hostel II more.

Darren Lynn Bousman is another one. I enjoyed both his "Saw" films, but Repo! The Genetic Opera gets worse and worse each time I see it.

[Dr. Briggs]

I gotta disagree with DLB: the guy's got his own style and I think it works for the movies he does. Though it's not what I'd call a "masterpiece," I love Genetic Opera for the Punk-ish tone it conveyed, the same sort of tone I think the Saw movies are wonderful for; DLB's style feels sort of "rebellious" against the mediocrity of the "musical with quirks" or "thriller with philosophy," adding grime to the respective subgenres, whilst not overtly trying at it and looking prententious in the process.

Also, I hear great things about his Mother's Day remake! Not sure of the release status on that though.

[FreddysFingers]

This is only a recent development but Carpenter after the 80's didn't make memorable films to me. I mean, they're okay but for some reason all his 90's work and 00's work seemed to fall in the 'meh' category. That's probably why In the Mouth of Madness, Body Bags and Vampires failed to hold up against his 80's work and why Ghosts of Mars flopped. It may not be a directorial problem but I think Carpenter allowed himself to be pushed around by studio exects.