10 Greatest Actors Turned Directors
3. Mel Gibson
Say what you will about Mel Gibson - and there are, most assuredly, things that need to be said about Mel Gibson - but the man can direct a film. While Gibson’s career wasn’t ailing at the time he made Braveheart, he certainly wasn’t the force he once was. His sophomore effort put him right back on the map, and changed his fortunes entirely.
Follow up The Passion Of The Christ is unsurprisingly a divisive one, but for sheer moxy you’ve got to give him some credit (it was also an incredible money spinner - the man knows business).
His next, Apocalypto, was more like it. An epic tale of the dying days of Mayan civilization, this was pure cinematic Mel. It’s violent, it’s raucous, it’s unbelievable fun. It is based on - but not bogged down by the details of - true historical events. No one else could have made Apocalypto - it takes a man of true bonkers vision and bloodlust.
His latest, Hacksaw Ridge, is a little closer to standard Hollywood fare (though with more guts ‘n’ gore than most films) but serves to solidify his status as an Oscar favourite.