4. Kevin Spacey - Albino Alligator (1996)
Kevin Spacey stormed into mainstream public consciousness in the mid-90s with a double whammy of incredible yet undoubtedly creepy performances in The Usual Suspects and Seven. His acting career took off thereafter, culminating in an academy award for best actor. Yet, in between The Usual Suspects and Seven, Kevin Spacey made his directorial debut with the film Albino Alligator, which dealt with three criminals find themselves surrounded in a bar by the police after a foiled robbery attempt. That's pretty much it in terms of story (the majority of the film takes place in a New Orleans bar during the early hours of the morning), but an ensemble cast of actors led by Matt Dillon, Gary Sinise, Faye Dunaway and William Fitchner help move the proceedings along even if the script doesn't quite grip like it should despite a few twists and turns. Behind the camera, Kevin Spacey demonstrates some neat flashes and flourishes here and there (a slow motion overhead shot of a body crashing through the windscreen is a good early example). One almost wonders what he could do with stronger material.