Posts by Sophia Williams

When you consider how many legendary directors lacked any formal training—think Hitch, Dreyer, Wyler, Wilder, Fridkin, or even Bergman—and see how those who *do* have degrees often end up making lectures rather than actual movies... especially when looking at our local student festivals... you really arrive at one conclusion: an Academy isn't required to be a mediocre director.
You still have to learn the craft somewhere, though—you have to watch a master handle editing or work with actors. That's how you pick up things like "composition and lighting" and all that...
The problem is that the Academy tends to produce clones who only want to let in people just like themselves—it’s the same story in cities like New York or Chicago...
Just look at some of these "promising film students"—honestly, they act like they were released from a mental ward and dressed up as idiots; they don't have a clue what they're doing.😎

Honestly, I’ve gotta say—that specific local scene is my absolute favorite...😎

Well, look,
every single movie Burt put together is top-tier...
Plus there are those two rock operas—well, one actual opera and one musical docu-drama...😎

John Cruz14 said:Who do you all think is the best director among these actors?

Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Peter Moon, Mel Gibson.........

While I really dig Eastwood's Unforgiven, De Niro's Bronx Tale, and Redford's Ordinary People—I’d actually put my money on Warren Beatty: Reds, Heaven Can Wait, and Bulworth...

For me, Mel Gibson is the worst—his Braveheart feels way too over-the-top and sappy, especially with Horner handling the score🙂

Now, look—Clint was at his absolute peak in his first film, Play Misty for Me, where he used those gorgeous colors and Hitchcockian editing to create this beautiful tribute... then he slipped a bit through Sudden Impact and Great Challenge, before finally finding his groove again to become a true master in Unforgiven. In terms of both scope and sheer quality, Clint is the champion. As for the others—Foster, Pacino, De Niro, Keaton, Clooney—calling them directors is just a joke! It's pure nonsense!
And claiming Beatty is the best? That's honestly laughable! Especially since Reds is such a weak flick it almost makes you cringe🙂