9. Gareth Evans
In what was a pleasingly strange development, a Welsh director based in Indonesia delivered one of the greatest action films of the 21st Century with The Raid; a stripped-down, inventive and expertly-choreographed blast of high-octane entertainment. Whereas many of his contemporaries jumped straight into studio movies, Gareth Evans has so far resisted the urge despite no doubt fielding plenty of offers. Proving himself to be more than a one-trick pony, the director raised the stakes for The Raid 2 and changed the formula by presenting a narrative that unfolds over several years, with a twisting plot slowly building to a mayhem-fueled third act. Not that the sequel forgets what made the original so great, with The Raid 2's action even more ambitious and directed with a confidence that establishes Evans as a master of action cinema. Its only a matter of time before he is tempted by the bright lights and big budgets of Hollywood, and a knack for memorable characters, atmospheric visuals and jaw-dropping action could one day make Gareth Evans the ideal candidate for the Bond franchise.