Discuss: Are These The Top 25 Directors Working Today?

Um, Werner Herzog anyone?

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Wow, I was shocked that Woody Allen wouldn't be considered one of the top 25, and I wish I could say there was a female director I'd put on the list, but sadly I can't think of one good enough to be in the top 25. I'm glad Scorsese was so close to the top, though.

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Mike Nichols, Roman Polanski... i think they'll reconsider the list after 03.06.2009

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This list really is a travesty. Sure, Speilberg's made a lot of great movies, but he's such a boring choice. Scorcese's got much more natural talent. And I love Peter Jackson, but not even I would call him the second greatest working director. Plus, where are Gus Van Sant, Jonathan Demme, Michel Gondry, and Todd Haynes? This list also has far too many unproven directors like JJ Abrams, Zack Snyder, and John Favreau. The top of my list would go something like:
1. Martin Scorsese
2. Paul Thomas Anderson
3. The Coen Bros
4. Quentin Tarantino
5. Steven Speilberg
6. David Fincher
7. Christopher Nolan

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That list was complete B.S:
Where were:

Woody Allen, Jonathan Demme, Soffia Coppola, Spike Lee,
Spike Jones, Michael Gondry, Gus Van Sant, Chan-Wook Park
(Old Boy), Wong Kar-Wai, Kim Ki-duk, Robert Zemekis,
George Romero, Alfonso Cuaron, Ken Loach, David Cronemberg,
Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, Takashi Miike AND MANY MORE?!!!

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I usually don't like lists like these because they are so subjective. This one, while there are some great directors that have been left off, I really have no complaints with. If you were to add someone like David Cronenberg or Woody Allen or Spike Lee, who would you really choose to take off??

Each of the directors listed are amazing. While the numbering might differ between who gets 1, 2 or 3, they all deserve to be there.

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I agree with Fabrizio on a lot of his choices. This appears to be a list of the top 25 "Western" directors. I could think of a dozen more deserving directors than Zack Snyder including many from the list above. Only 3 directors on their list work in a non-English language (and only Almodavar (who I was really happy to see on the list) works exclusively in his native tongue).

This list does not appear to be compiled by a true cineaphile. How could you exclude Herzog, Woody Allen, Wong Kar-Wai, Michel Gondry... etc. While you could argue the first two (Herzog and Allen) have seen there best years behind them, Spielberg hasn't made a film I've liked since Saving Private Ryan and Scorsese is stealing Asian movies and remaking them for awards.

This list appears to be the layman's list of bankable Hollywood directors. It's a cheat sheet for producers with a ton of money.

Cinematical should create it's own list, so that I may tear it apart too.

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The greatest director working today is David Lynch. It's a joke not to include him.

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Why Christopher Nolan is even on the list?
Because he have a solid carrer and style? Or because he directed The Dark Knight?
What about Zack Snyder and Jon Favreau? They have like 2 movies that people have actually seen. And I'm not even discussing if they're any good (personally I don't like them at all). What makes them better than Cronenberg, or Wes Anderson? This is ridiculous.
I'm just happy that Gus Van Sant didn't make it on the top 25.
And the order doesn't make any sense either.

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That is a shite list.

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Wong Kar-Wai..... That's all I have to say.

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Zack Snyder?? Are you kidding me?

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There really are some clowns over at EW. The fact that they picked James Cameron, a man who hasn't actually directed a "film" since Titancic 12 years ago, at #9 says it all really.

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I am quite frustrated at this list. Besides the other omitted directors listed from other people, where is Oliver Stone? Where is Francis Ford Coppola? And Jon Favreau? Really? Anyone could have directed Iron Man. I would have rather seen Denzel Washington in there instead of Iron man. And, possibly, for considerable mention, George Clooney? (I am actually asking the other posters what they think on that one). But yeah, overall this list is pretty bad. Brad Bird? Have they completely forgotten Pixar? List kinda sucks actually.

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All i have to say is the Top 10 is bogus! THE FACT THAT DAVID CRONENBERG ISNT IN THE TOP 5, LET ALONE THE TOP 25 IS UTTERLY SAD. HALF THE PEOPLE ON THIS LIST HAVE GONE TO CRAP OVER THE PAST DECADE! The order of the list makes no sense at all. NOT ENOUGH LOVE FOR THE ASIAN DIRECTORS HOLDING IT DOWN :(

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Spike Jonze (wtwta anyone?), christopher nolan is hitting it huge, p.t. anderson, the coen bros., danny boyle (coming off huge success from the mediocre slumdog), clint eastwood is still going strong, del toro will be coming out with more films than we can handle,.

but seriously, spielberg, scorsese, mann, not really active much. not to say they won't be in the future. yah, spielberg has been working on the rin tin movie, but how far has that gotten? the last thing he did was the 4th indy, which sucked. scorsese did departed last, but that was two years ago. when is shutter island even going to come out?

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1. ang lee
2. marc forster (can't believe no one's mentioned him yet: stranger than fiction, stay, finding neverland, monster's ball, the kite runner, 007)
3. danny boyle

these 3 directors have consistently produced brilliant work for years now. iron man and 300 were sensational / fantastic, but to say their directors are in the top 25 is ludicrous.

i can also see how it's tempting to put on the staples (woody allen, francis ford coppola, oliver stone), but they haven't consistently created solid work. coppola's made 3 good films in 30 years - the last of which was in 1979... for every Platoon oliver stone has made, there's 2 World Trade Centers and Alexander. same as woody allen - who finally made a good film last year (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) after a *very* dry run of junk since 1994.

stephen daldry (the hours, the reader) should also be in here.

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I absolutely love lists...by anyone except Entertainment Weekly. The magazine that loved the Crocodile Hunter movie is making a list of best directors. I'm surprised Alan Smithee didn't make it on their list. For me, a top 10 off the top of my head (in no particular order):

Martin Scorcese
David Fincher
Sam Raimi
Robert Rodriguez
Ron Howard
Clint Eastwood
Jonathan Demme
Sofia Coppola
Christopher Nolan
hell, even Dario Argento or his daughter Asia

Nolan and Fincher would have been on this list before this year as I love Memento, The Prestige, Seven, and Fight Club but no one can tell me that Paul Greengrass is a better director than Demme or either Coppola. They should be ashamed of themselves. Ridiculous.

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