10 Best Films By 2013's Most Highly Praised Directors

3. David O. Russell - Rediscovery Trilogy

Since he directed The Fighter three years ago, David O. Russell has been on a self-described 'rediscovery' hot streak, following it up with Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. As Russell has explained, these films all feature flawed, borderline crazy characters struggling to reinvent themselves and find acceptance. These are the stories Russell discovered he was destined to tell, after his career had flagged amidst the on-set troubles and lukewarm reception surrounding his film I Heart Huckabees. No matter -- after a six year hiatus during which Russell found his true voice, he came back stronger than ever, with a string of films that masterfully walk the tightrope between human comedy and sharp, operatic drama. These three films, united in their style, substance, and tone, are all fantastically entertaining, intimate stories that deal with mental illness, professional boxing, and the 1970s ABSCAM operation. They are marked by a palpable energy and love the filmmaker clearly feels for the characters on screen, holding them in deep esteem one minute and giving them an affectionate kick in the head to wake them up the next.