10 Do’s and 10 Don’ts For Choosing What Movie To Watch Tonight

3. Do Know Who Directed It

Now we're treading some deep water. Still with me? Let's move on to an even higher standard that people consider when selecting a flick. The director. The most important person that is not an A-list star or teen heartthrob is the director. If you ask people if they know who James Dean, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, or Audrey Hepburn is, they'll most likely nod their heads or pretend they do since they sound important. But ask people if they know who Alfred Hitchcock is, or Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, or Martin Scorsese. While people associate actors and actresses as an iconic figure or a nice face, directors are related to a vast body of work that transcends well known actors or actresses. Don't believe me? John Travolta was a well known actor in the 70s, but struggled in the 80s, experiencing some success with the "Look Who's Talking Now" movies. It wasn't until an up and coming director named Quentin Tarantino cast him in "Pulp Fiction" that Travolta experience a revival in his career. Besides "Grease," his role as the cool, groove twisting Vincent Vega is his most memorable. And now, Tarantino is a household name with a massive following, boosted other actors' resumes, and had something to do with a little German actor named Christoph Waltz winning an Oscar. Woody Allen is another example, who amped up Scarlett Johansson's stock with "Match Point" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona" after Michael Bay tried to "Island" her into failure. Great directors get the best out of their cast. David Fincher is notorious for doing several hundred takes on a scene until he gets it just right, ask Brad Pitt if it was worth it when he got a Best Actor nomination from the Academy. Paul Thomas Anderson has gotten the best performance from Adam Sandler ever in "Punch Drunk Love." Adam. Sandler. Yeah. The director matters. So when choosing a movie, note who the director is.