10 Overrated Filmmakers Who Get Way Too Much Credit

7. David Lynch

David Lynch is one of the most fascinating filmmakers out there, and over his career has crafted a number of brilliantly weird efforts, such as The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive. The problem with Lynch isn't so much the quality of his work but the content; Lynch has impressively crafted a mysterious aura around himself that fascinates "arty types" the world over, and while his films are almost always high on visual impact, it's the narratives that really suffer, because it really seems like the guy's making things up as he goes along.

Lynch evidently prefers us to fill in the blanks, which is fine, but the transparency of this approach should mean that more audiences recognise it for the laziness that it is rather than exalting his method as genius.

Lynch's last film, Inland Empire, is a fine example of the director at his absolute worst, weaving a near-impenetrable narrative, accompanied by a garish, unsavoury digital look that simply smacks of unprofessionalism. Going by what the director has said recently, he may not be returning to correct his reputation anytime soon...