Film Spot

#8 Danny Boyle-

Trainspotting (1996) 28 Days Later (2002) Sunshine (2007) Slumdog Millionaire (2008) 127 Hours (2010)

‘I want my films to be life-affirming, even a film like Trainspotting (1996), which is very dark in many ways. I want people to leave the cinema feeling that something’s been confirmed for them about life.’ Danny Boyle

My Favorite Danny Boyle Film-Trainspotting (1996)

Throughout his successful career, Danny Boyle has directed fantastic films; 28 Days Later, Sunshine, 28 Weeks Later, 2008’s Best Picture Winner Slumdog Millionaire, and most recently, Oscar nominated 127 Hours. However, Trainspotting is my favorite and most memorable. It’s a terrifying portrayal of drug addiction in Edinburgh, while Renton (Ewan McGregor) tries to clean up and escape despite the influence from his friends and the allure of drugs.

Mark “Rent-boy” Renton: [narrating] Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin’ else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?

It’s a very dark, well-written, and entertaining film. Yes, it’s another film portraying excessive drug use and highlights the dangers of drugs, but Danny Boyle gives this inventive feel to it that allows it this creative and unique tone. Trainspotting is a clever and hilarious wild ride, that I highly recommend! But shh, don’t tell the Darren Aronofsky fans that I prefer this over Requiem for a Dream (which I also love by the way!)

#7 Martin Scorsese-

Mean Streets (1973) Taxi Driver (1976) Raging Bull (1980) Good Fellas (1990) Cape Fear (1991) The Departed (2006) Shutter Island (2010)

‘Because of the movies I make, people get nervous, because they think of me as difficult and angry. I am difficult and angry, but they don’t expect a sense of humor. And the only thing that gets me through is a sense of humor.’ Martin Scorsese

My Favorite Martin Scorsese Film-Raging Bull (1980)

#6 David Fincher-

Seven (1995) Fight Club (1999) Panic Room (2002) Zodiac (2007) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) The Social Network (2010)

‘I have a philosophy about the two extremes of filmmaking. The first is the “Kubrick way,” where you’re at the end of an alley in which four guys are kicking the shit out of a wino. Hopefully, the audience members will know that such a scenario is morally wrong, even though it’s not presented as if the viewer is the one being beaten up; it’s more as if you’re witnessing an event. Inversely, there’s the “Spielberg way,” where you’re dropped into the middle of the action and you’re going to live the experience vicariously - not only through what’s happening, but through the emotional flow of what people are saying. It’s a much more involved style. I find myself attracted to both styles at different times, but mostly I’m interested in just presenting something and letting people decide for themselves what they want to look at.’ David Fincher

My Favorite David Fincher Film-The Social Network (2010)

#5 Quentin Tarantino-

Reservoir Dogs (1992) Pulp Fiction (1994) Kill Bill. Vol. 1 (2003) Kill Bill. Vol. 2 (2004) Sin City (2005) Death Proof (2007) Inglourious Basterds (2009)

‘Movies are my religion and God is my patron. I’m lucky enough to be in the position where I don’t make movies to pay for my pool. When I make a movie, I want it to be everything to me; like I would die for it.’ Quentin Tarantino

My Favorite Quentin Tarantino Film-Inglourious Basterds (2009)

#4 Christopher Nolan-

Following (1998) Memento (2000) Insomnia (2002) Batman Begins (2005) The Prestige (2006) The Dark Knight (2008) Inception (2010)

‘I didn’t go to film school. I guess my whole experience has been just to make films. What I’ve talked about on the commentary to the DVD of Following is the production method and how things came about. I feel like that might be a point of interest that a lot of people might be thinking about with their own films, so I’ve tried to put in as much of the detail as I can remember. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realized that everybody’s situation is unique, and the one thing I’ve learned is that instead of copying someone else’s model for a low-budget film, you really have to look at what you’ve got available and see how you can tell the story you want to tell, using the things that you have around you. That’s what we did with Following, and on the DVD I try to explain how it worked for us and what I learned from it, but at the same time suggest that it’ll be different for someone else.’ Christopher Nolan

My Favorite Christopher Nolan Film-The Dark Knight (2008)

 #3 Darren Aronofsky-

Requiem for a Dream (2000) The Fountain (2006) The Wrestler (2006) Black Swan (2010)

‘You have to be memorable if you want people to be thinking about it thirty seconds after it happens. I don’t think it matters, the reaction, as long as they’re reacting.’ Darren Aronofsky

My Favorite Darren Aronofsky Film-Requiem For A Dream (2000)

#2 Wong Kar-Wai-

As Tears Go By (1988) Days of Being Wild (1990) Chungking Express (1994) Fallen Angels (1995) Happy Together (1997) In the Mood for Love (2000) 2046 (2004) My Blueberry Nights (2007)

My Favorite Wong Kar-Wai Film-Chungking Express (1994)

#1 The Coen Brothers-

Blood Simple (1984) Raising Arizona (1987) Miller’s Crossing (1990) The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) Fargo (1996) The Big Lebowski (1998) No Country For Old Men (2007) Burn After Reading (2008) A Serious Man (2007) True Grit (2010)

‘The movie people let us play in the corner of the sandbox and leave us alone. We’re happy here.’ Ethan Coen

My Favorite Coen Brother’s Film-A Serious Man (2007)