Posts by Kevin Sanders87

northerncrane4 said:Honestly, I'm just curious about everyone else's perspective. I already know my own mind, which is why I'd rather run a poll than spend all day stuck in my own head.

Hehe... I had a feeling you’d say something like that...
If I were convinced that, say, Connery was incomparably better as Bond than Dalton, I wouldn't be bothered by what anyone else thinks—and I certainly wouldn't be starting a poll. Instead, I’d probably set one up asking, "Who is your favorite Bond after Connery?" and list the other five actors, leaving Connery out entirely, because that's where my actual curiosity lies...

But hey, your poll works too; though you really should tell us something good about Norton, because he's actually a pretty decent guy...

northerncrane4 said:These polls have been feeling a bit stagnant lately, so I thought I'd throw out one that's been on my mind for quite some time.

You claim this has been on your mind for ages, yet you seem to lean toward Cusack in almost every single post...

It feels a bit unfair to try and weigh the entire filmographies of these two incredible actors against one another. Why? Primarily because Cusack has over a decade more experience under his belt, which naturally means he has about twenty more roles to compare.

Ultimately, it's tough to crown one as the "better" actor when they both have such stellar performances in their history. Honestly, it might be even easier if someone like Kevin Spacey were in the mix instead, as a certain user previously suggested...
As it stands, my choice usually depends on my mood or whichever performance is freshest in my mind; I tend to remember Norton most vividly as Derek, while I recall Cusack as that record collector (I can't quite place the character's name right now). Based on those specific memories, I'd give the slight edge to Norton, though I'll probably change my mind by tomorrow...

To get things started, I’ll lead by quoting the original thread starter:

Jose Miller17 said:…the question is whether a director can ever truly be forgotten... well, no, they can't... yet I watch how certain directors, who have produced absolutely brilliant films by the way, fall into these slumps... some that last for years on end.😁😁...

@Chris Morgan67 — bringing up someone's mother is entirely unnecessary here; Jerry Martin19 raised a perfectly legitimate point. I am also curious about the answer. If you take a moment to re-read Jose Miller17's opening sentence, then look at your mention of Kubrick, the question from Jerry Martin19, and finally the response from crimsonmoose3, you'll realize the logic just isn't adding up...

@Chris Morgan67 & crimsonmoose3 — even if we were to assume 'Eyes Wide Shut' was a bad film—which it certainly isn't, though perhaps it's a bit softer than his other works—I still fail to see how a single movie could cause someone to completely "blow it." Unfortunately, Kubrick won't be able to step in and prove you wrong...

mr.Natural said:I completely blanked on Vrdoljak, and I didn't even bother including Sedlar because there's zero chance he wins—he's basically at the bottom of the barrel.
I realize this poll might be a bit of a headache for everyone, but that's just the state of American cinema; it is what it is.
And goodness, I can't believe I wrote Matanovic instead of Matanic; my brain is clearly fried. 🙂

You also misspelled Schmidt, and he's actually quite relevant today.
If you truly believe Sedlar is a subpar director, you could have used the poll to prove it. As it stands, someone could argue he's being left out entirely, or conversely, that he's actually the best.
And where is Steven Spielberg?
Also, when you say "relevant," do you mean someone currently active, or just someone who still makes movies? And should we be looking at their entire body of work, or just the recent stuff?
Are documentaries included in this? If so, why isn't Igor Mirković on the list?
One last thing: how are we supposed to compare someone who has produced one great film against someone who has directed several, regardless of their quality?

wearygardener13 said:It's honestly hard to believe—such a brilliant film, and yet you barely hear anyone discussing this movie topic. 🤮

wearygardener13

Here is a little fun fact you might not have realized... that police officer guarding the hospital room door is actually Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy)!

Barbra Streisand's work on 'Yentl' and 'The Prince of Tides'

Mira Nair's contributions to 'Salaam Bombay!' and 'Monsoon Wedding'

steelviper6 said:I think you also missed that one mockumentary... the one whose title escapes me as well. 😁

'Forgotten Silver'

Steven Spielberg.

I know he’s already come up in this thread, though mostly just regarding 'War of the Worlds.' To me, that film wasn't half bad, except for that typical Hollywood trope where Tom Cruise's entire family escapes an alien invasion without even a scratch. It would have carried much more weight if the son had actually perished—even if it was a heroic sacrifice—as it would have made the story feel far more visceral.

Regarding Spielberg himself, I wonder if he truly fits the mold for this discussion, given that he doesn't really suffer from those prolonged creative slumps we see in other directors. He seems to operate on a specific rhythm; he'll deliver one great film followed by one mediocre one. Occasionally, he shifts his pattern to a sequence of two hits and a miss, but that’s generally how his career flows.

His filmography is incredibly diverse, spanning from the tension of 'Duel' to the strength of 'Munich.' He’s given us absolute classics like 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' 'Jaws,' the Indiana Jones adventures, 'E.T.,' 'Schindler's List,' and 'Saving Private Ryan.' Yet, he’s also stumbled with projects like 'Hook,' 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park,' 'Amistad,' 'The Terminal,' and 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence.'

The man clearly possesses immense talent and has the luxury of choosing his own projects and collaborators, yet even with all that power, he still makes some bafflingly poor choices from time to time...

p.s. Thinking about Spielberg actually reminded me of what might be Leonardo DiCaprio's finest performance. He was truly captivating in 'Catch Me If You Can.' His fans—if there are any lurking here—might take issue with me saying he was also quite impressive in 'The Basketball Diaries.'

Jerry Martin19 said:I certainly agree that his performances in *Taxi Driver* and *Raging Bull* are legendary—though I haven't actually sat down to watch *The Deer Hunter* yet. However, when it comes to *Cape Fear*, don't you think his work in *Goodfellas* or perhaps *American Gangster* stands out as being much more impactful?

He really is easily the best driver out there.

Robert De Niro delivered an exceptional performance in every single one of those films, yet it seems that when an actor gives a brilliant turn in a mediocre movie like *Cape Fear*, they receive far more credit than when they deliver a masterful performance in a true classic.

If I hadn't already sat through *The Deer Hunter* a few times, I might just dive right back into it this second. You really are a lucky one, aren't you?

redorca11 said:I truly believe it’s time for Scorsese to reunite with Pesci and De Niro once again. 😁

I couldn't agree more.

redorca11 said:Scorsese has really lost his touch, hasn't he? It’s hard to believe the same director behind classics like "Taxi Driver," "Mean Streets," "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas" (which remains my absolute 😍), "Casino," and "The Age of Innocence"—all of which are masterpieces—would turn out with total misses like "The Aviator" or "Gangs of New York." That’s the trouble we have with DiCaprio; 😬 he keeps working with him, and now we hear the guy is set to play Roosevelt in "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt"... 🤣

Before we get to 'Roosevelt,' you'll actually have to sit through Scorsese's 'The Departed.' Even though it's technically a remake, word on the street is that it's fantastic, and it has already picked up some stellar reviews over at http://www.metacritic.com/film/title...ted?q=departed. Hopefully, this will be the third strike of luck for the duo, and I'm looking forward to Thursday... if Scorsese, who spent years relying on De Niro without ever missing the mark, sees something special in DiCaprio, then I certainly trust his judgment.

Unfortunately, I am not, though I certainly intend to be. I only mentioned him in my post because he was being torn apart by critics, and I’m trying to remain objective rather than letting my own bias take over.

In any case, he happens to be one of my favorite directors. I believe I've seen almost everything he's ever made, and I haven't found a single film of his that didn't resonate with me. As you pointed out, his work in the '90s was incredibly prolific; in fact, 'Harry' might even be my personal favorite of his.

Ethan Perez97 said:Woody Allen isn't even much of a director, so he can't really have a "crisis," so you all can just go ahead and fight about it. 😁 🙂

It is true that Woody Allen has been navigating a bit of a creative slump—briefly breaking through with *Match Point* only to slide back into uncertainty with *Scoop*—but to suggest he isn't a filmmaker at all is quite a stretch.

Are we discussing the same Woody Allen? I am thinking of the man who directed some of the most brilliant comedies ever made during the 70s and 80s, such as *Love and Death*, *Annie Hall*, *Manhattan*, *Hannah and Her Sisters*, and *Crimes and Misdemeanors*.
Or perhaps you are referring to the actor Woody Allen seen in those very films? It is, after all, the same individual.

Jerry Martin19 As follows:
I’ve been thinking about Scorsese’s take on *Cape Fear*, and honestly, I don't think even a director like Nivens should have touched it. Those scenes on the boat, in particular, felt entirely unnecessary.👎

Scorsese’s take on *Cape Fear* is actually a remake of J.L. Thompson’s 1962 version of the same name, and much like most remakes, I find it lacks the punch of the original.
While I wouldn't exactly rank it among Scorsese's absolute masterpieces, I certainly wouldn't call it one of his failures either. In my estimation, it sits comfortably right in that golden middle ground.
As for De Niro’s performance in this film, I truly believe it stands as one of his finest achievements, rivaled only by his iconic turns in *Taxi Driver*, *Raging Bull*, and *The Deer Hunter*. It was certainly a masterclass that earned him well-deserved recognition, landing him both an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nod.