6. David Fincher
David Finchers visual style and use of tone and tension is still the benchmark aspiring directors attempt to emulate. Perpetually underrated until The Social Network, probably because he doesnt write, and deals mainly in the realm of thriller films, except Fincher thriller films are on a level Christopher Nolan can only dream of. He strings together a collage of unforgettable, highly visceral images that became his signature, and its why it made him the perfect man to direct The Social Network. He could inject flair and eye-catching style into a story that could be otherwise dour. His masterpiece, Fight Club, was ignored by most upon release and the award ceremonies were certainly ignorant of his talent, but the elitism of the Academy is a different debate. His fast-cut, frenzied and frenetic style was ignored by the Academy until The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which, excluding Alien 3, his worst film. Fincher is also one of the very few to make intelligent popcorn flicks, whilst The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is no date movie, it has a big budget and a well-known star and delivered emphatically on all levels, taking Finchers signature style and further pushing technical capabilities. Fight Club would not be the masterpiece it is without Fincher, he brings abundance of humour to the film whilst keeping its morbid darkness and perilous aura. Hes a very intelligent director, who does well at the box office without sacrificing any of his intelligence, style or wit in the process, his movies have shown a maturing director interesting in humanity and emotion. He has received criticism is some ludicrous circles for never topping Fight Club or Se7en, but that is because those two films were as good as anything in the 90s. Zodiac is an enthralling thriller, Panic Room is chilling and severely underrated and The Social Network perfectly summed up the decade that preceded it. Visually, Stanley Kubricks heir. Top 5 Films:
1. Fight Club 2. Se7en 3. The Social Network 4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 5. Zodiac