9. David Lynch
David Lynch has probably a better mind, an eye for story-telling and technical ability than anybody else on this list, its just he hasnt made a film for six years and Inland Empire was far from his best work, though still brilliant in its own very weird, overlong way. As important in cinema as any other director in history, his best work and ability behind the camera ranks alongside with the true greats like Scorsese, Kubrick, Kurosawa, Hitchcock and Coppola, but his films are much more divisive and difficult than the films any of those made. Hes one of the few truly successful independent filmmakers left in the world, hes a dream-weaver who forms nightmarish odysseys that are surreal in form but heart-breaking emotionally . There are few films more perfect than Blue Velvet, as demented as Mulholland Drive or as haunting as Lost Highway or as absurd as Eraserhead. Lynch always keeps us guessing as to what path he will take next. David Lynch films are wild tales that provide us a portal into the undefinable subconsciousness, Lynch is our personal tour guide into the frightening worlds he creates, worlds wed do anything to not live in, but worlds we refuse to look away from for a single second. He has us from the start and he never relents, he is an astoundingly brilliant filmmaker that always leaves us in mystery screaming for more. Genuinely as important as any American filmmaker in history, Its been too long since the last David Lynch film. Top 5 Films:
1. Blue Velvet 2. Mulholland Drive 3. Lost Highway 4. Eraserhead 5. Inland Empire