6. Ang Lee
Like a couple of other directors on this list, Ang Lee's films are visually stunning but lack a certain drawing power. He's a very effective and very professional director, that's for sure, though there's always been a block, a kind of invisible wall - a missing link, if you will - that makes it difficult to feel connected. Take his most recent venture as an example, the sure-to-win-an-Oscar
Life of Pi. Undoubtedly a visual masterpiece and a definite contender for best 3D film of all-time,
Pi still seemed to keep its audience at a distance. The story was emotional, so why didn't impact as such? It's not always a case of style over substance with Ang Lee, because he's a genuine talent, but his acclaim is built on just that: the visual aspects of movie-making, and save for one film in his canon -
Brokeback Mountain - this remains wholly unchanged. Everything always seems a bit... shallow.