10 Greatest Films By First Time Directors!
Read on to discover what we came up with in our attempts to chronicle the very best of directing debuts of all time...
With the release of Alan Butterworths stylish debut feature film The Drummond Will this week, What Culture! were challenged to come up with our list of the greatest directorial debuts on film. Many directors have started their career in the industry with a project theyd not only like to forget, but would like us to forget too. (Look no further than James Camerons first feature behind the lens, Piranha IIeeek!!). However, once in a while a truly talented director breaks on to the scene with a fantastic debut that blows both critics and audiences away. Read on to discover what we came up with in our attempts to chronicle the very best of these 10. Joe Cornish - ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011)
Rarely does a film come along that truly taps into an area, group of people or lifestyle. Its even rarer for this film to include such a fantastical narrative that an alien invasion is the main plot point. Its even rarer still for said film to be helmed by a first time director. However, this is exactly the case for Attack the Block. Feature film newcomer Joe Cornish manages to perfectly tap into the uniquely British version of inner city life to create a film that is not only engaging and entertaining to watch, but has a far greater sense of realism than much of the UKs cinematic output. Having spent time researching the lives of inner city youths after being mugged in London, Cornish took his experience and research and adapted it into a hilariously dark comedy that is both tongue in cheek and brutally honest in its representation of modern youth. Helping break the stereotype of the kids who belong to gangs and terrorise their estates, Cornishs films acts as a form of fictional redemption as viewers find their opinions shifting as they wholeheartedly root for the chavs to beat the aliens! With nothing on the cards at the moment for his next film, we can only hope that Cornish comes ups with something as equally entertaining and impressive as Attack the Block. 09. Mike Nichols - WHOS AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966)
Mike Nichols debut feature film saw him working with two of Hollywoods hottest and most tempestuous stars, on a project that earned him the reputation of being an actors director. With Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nichols drew screen icon Elizabeth Taylors finest performance out of her. Whilst Cleopatra is probably her most iconic role, as Martha, Taylor got to strip herself of her natural beauty (donning a fat suit, grey wig and frumpy costumes) to prove once and for that she was one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the screen. Nichols got Taylor to slip seamlessly between alcohol-induced, faux bravado and drunken, gut-wrenching despair. Richard Burton is equally impressive as the weak and abused George, who flips at his abusive wife. Again, Nichols coaxed Burton into a performance beyond anything he had previously committed to film. Whilst the film is not necessarily overly impressive stylistically, Nichols simple direction proves that a story can be told engagingly and effectively without adopting special effects or sensational photography. Nichols went on to direct the equally impressive and far more stylistic The Graduate (1967) the following year and has also created such hits as the recent Closer (2004). Hes had his share of flops Charlie Wilsons War (2007) being a prime example but his skills as a director have never really come under criticism. As a directorial debut, Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is one of the most accomplished films to ever be helmed by an inexperienced director. 08. Charles Laughton - THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
Actor Charles Laughton had charmed, repulsed and amazed audiences in front of the camera for many years before he finally made the change and stepped behind the lens to direct for the first time. The Night of the Hunter proved to be a fantastic film (although it was not received particularly well by audiences or critics upon its initial release) that proved the actor was equally adept at directing as he was at performing. Adopting a style along similar lines to the cinema of German Expressionists 20 years previously, Laughton chose to use claustrophobic, jaunty camera angles and a relatively surrealistic aesthetic. This in turn helped heighten the underlying tension and unsettling tone of the narrative to create an incredibly dark and maleficent film. Sparking a career-defining performance from Robert Mitchum, Laughtons debut film displays how talented he really was. Unfortunately, deterred by the films failure upon release, Laughton chose not to direct another film and sadly died seven years after it was shown in cinemas a shame seeing he was undoubtedly an extremely adroit director. 07. George Clooney - CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (2002)
George Clooneys first foray into the world of directing happened virtually by accident, after the original director for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Bryan Singer dropped out. What was Singers loss proved to be Clooneys gain, as he demonstrated an immense ability to choose incredible shots and the skill to create a wholly realistic atmosphere on screen. Filling the film with a 60s and 70s aesthetic that catapults the viewer directly into the era, Clooney took inspiration from his father, Nick Clooneys, own game show from the era and the experiences he had as a child. Clooney used his skills as both an actor and director to create a genuinely entertaining film that combines action, suspense, drama and comedy with his excellent ability for changing scenes in an engaging way. Going on to direct a number of other films, Clooney has perfected his techniques and definitely developed as a director. His follow-up project, Goodnight and Good Luck, proved much more stylistic and further demonstrated the actors talent behind the lens. Continually impressing as a director, Clooney has also had success with the film Leatherheads and will undoubtedly do so again with the upcoming The Ides of March. 06. Quentin Tarantino - RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)
Quentin Tarantino is a director that sparks a lot of controversy. Many would say you either love him or you hate him. However, whatever your viewpoint is Hollywoods most reflexive director, when he burst on to the scene in 1992 nobody had ever experienced anything like his filmmaking. ReservoirDogs is a quintessentially cool blend of violence, black comedy, action and dialogue based drama. Tarantino not only wrote an incredibly witty and engaging screenplay, he also adopted a distinct style behind the lens that helped turn a predominantly dialogue driven narrative into something that remained tense and exciting throughout. Taking influence from all forms, types, genres and kinds of cinema, Tarantino put his own stamp on the crime genre, becoming a cult director overnight in the process. Having gone on to direct a handful of films that continuously split opinion, whether theyre considered modern classics or atrocities of the screen, Tarantino infuses his films with the same energy and style that he exhibited in his debut feature. No matter what viewers feel about his work, theyre always in for a distinctly stylised time! 05. Steve McQueen - HUNGER (2008)
Directed by Steve McQueen (and no, not the one of The Great Escape fame!), Hunger is an extremely accomplished film that by no means appears to be directed by somebody who is behind the lens of a feature film camera for the first time. Relatively experimental, McQueen chose to keep approximately two thirds of the films runtime free from dialogue, instead relying upon facial and body expression in his casts performances and his own choices for cinematography. What he has created is a film that displays some of the most striking and memorable images in cinema for a number of years. Tackling the controversial subject of the conflict between Britain and Ireland, McQueen called upon his previous experiences of working on experimental media projects to create a feature film that is simultaneously stark and ironically beautiful. Definitely appearing to have been made by somebody far more advanced and experienced at feature film direction, McQueen is undoubtedly one of the most impressive new talents on the scene, with boundless potential. McQueens follow up feature, Shame, another film with Michael Fassbender, has recently completed production and is due for release later this year. Hopefully this will again demonstrate the directors immense talent and prove that he is one of the best contemporary British directors out there. 04. George A. Romero - NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)
Although Night of the Living Dead is regularly regarded as one of the best and most successful horror films indeed, along with Hitchcocks Psycho (1960), its regarded as having bore the modern horror film its easy to forget that it was in fact George A Romeros directorial debut. Resplendent with tension and an underlying sense of dread and fear, the film is a master-class in how to create effective low budget horror. Relying upon atmosphere much more than gore or special effects, Romero understood that with such a limited budget he would have to rely on scaring his audience through the implied horror of the characters situation alone. To say that the film has gone on to become the quintessential example of zombie horror and has been an influence on virtually every similar film since its release is an understatement quite frankly! The fact that Romero managed to achieve such notoriety with his debut feature is nothing short of remarkable and Night of the Living Dead will always remain the greatest zombie film ever produced. Going on to produce a series of zombie films, Romero has enjoyed immense success with them on the back of Night of the Living Dead. Personally, none of the subsequent releases supersede the original, but Romeros distinct touch is noticeable in each. 03. Steven Spielberg - DUEL (1971)
Steven Spielberg had previously worked in television (his debut directing the indomitable Hollywood legend Joan Crawford in a portion of the pilot episode for Rod Serlings thriller series, Night Gallery quite a task!) and short films before, but whilst his cinematic genius was obviously demonstrated, nothing proves the existence of this more than his feature film debut, Duel. The film, which finds a business executive chased by a violent trucker along a lonely desert highway, is a near perfect example of how suspense and tension can be created out of a very simple concept. Similar to the immense power of Hitchcocks tense direction, Spielberg uses his keen eye for a shot to help the menacing truck take on a life of its own. Suspenseful literally from start to finish, the elements that have subsequently become Spielberg trademarks are certainly apparent here and the director proves that he is one of the greatest talents behind the camera from the word go. Having gone on to make such classics as the Indiana Jones quadrology and Schindlers List, Spielberg has improved his technique and honed his style over his many years behind the lens. Having said that, he hasnt been without his critical and box office flops (A.I. being one example), but generally the director has gone on to much bigger and better projects! 02. Richard Kelly - DONNIE DARKO (2001)
Donnie Darko is a film that seems to have touched many viewers, transcending its original cult status to become a firm favourite of many cinephiles. Displaying a great talent for setting the tone of a film, Richard Kelly created a dark and brooding tale of teenage angst. The thought-provoking narrative blends various plot tones and creates mind-blowing story that includes time-travel with an 80s aesthetic and an existential outlook on life. Not many directorial debuts make such a profound impact upon audiences or criticsor in fact upon actors careers. Not only did Donnie Darko prove a change in direction for Patrick Swayze (whose career took off once more after the films release), but also launched Jake Gyllenhaal on to the scene. Since Donnie, Gyllenhaal has become a Hollywood A-lister, but unfortunately hasnt beaten the angst-ridden, emotionally tormented performance he gives here. Similar to his leading man, Kelly has failed to live up to his initial success with only the poor Southland Tales and The Box under his belt since 2002. However, nothing will take away from the fact that Donnie Darko will always be one of the best directorial debuts of all time. Also why not check out 50 Reasons Why We Think It Might Be The Greatest Film of All Time. 01. Orson Welles - CITIZEN KANE (1941)
Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he directed his masterpiece Citizen Kane. With impressive skill not expected of a first-time director, Welles fills the screen with deep focus shots that are so detailed the film can be viewed umpteen times and audiences will still discover something new every time. Displaying an aptitude for choosing the right shots, Citizen Kane is visually stunning and breathtakingly beautiful in places due to Welles genius. Not only is it a feast for the eyes, the narrative is both touching and engaging, keeping viewers guessing as to what exactly Rosebud is but also drawing them deeper into the enigma surrounding Charles Foster Kane. Essentially, the film contains all the elements that make cinema great and the impressiveness of these are simply heightened by the fact that it was Welles first time behind the camera. Not only is this the greatest directorial debut ever, its quite regularly considered the greatest film of all time too! Going on to create other such masterpieces as The Lady from Shanghai (1946) and Touch of Evil (1951), Welles continued to impress after his magnificent debut and is justly considered one of the finest directors of the 20th century.