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Poll

Where do you stand on the directing talent of Paul Thomas Anderson?

Anytime he makes a movie, there’s a good chance it’ll be a masterpiece.
19 (39.6%)
He is usually great and certainly one of our Best Directors
18 (37.5%)
He is solid, but only sometimes Great.
9 (18.8%)
He is Good.  I don’t think he’ll ever be Great.
1 (2.1%)
He is not one of the Best Directors working today.
1 (2.1%)

Total Members Voted: 47

Author Topic: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson  (Read 7507 times)

1SO

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The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« on: May 26, 2008, 06:27:04 AM »
Paul Thomas Anderson has demonstrated a mastery of the styles forged by Altman, Scorsese and Kubrick, but his creations stand on their own two legs and each film attempts to be nothing less than defining cinematic statements.  If the last movie ever made was a P. T. Anderson film, than cinema itself would go out on a very high note.  This is a discussion of directors whose next film MIGHT be a masterpiece, and with Anderson, I’d say your odds are very good. 

Harlan

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2008, 08:16:52 AM »
I thought Blood was fantastic, and Magnolia remarkable, but I found Punch-Drunk Love unwatchable. I have yet to see Boogie Nights.

edgar00

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2008, 09:55:37 AM »
Definitely a winner in my book. I'm happy whenever he comes out with something.
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2008, 10:00:09 AM »
I think he has potential, and certainly a unique and independent vision.  I just dont think he has reached his prime yet.  If he lives another 20 years, people will refer to his current stuff as his "early films".
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2008, 11:51:03 AM »
All of his movies that I have seen (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, PDL, TWBB) have been 10/10 movies. I think he is the best director working today.
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2008, 01:02:30 PM »
I voted
He can be great and is certainly one of our Best Directors
but simply because I don't sling around the word "masterpiece".
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2008, 01:12:20 PM »
I think P.T. Anderson is the top auteur we have now and I'm highly anticipating in whatever he does next.

I still haven't seen his first film Hard Eight or as I like to call it, Sydney.  He's made films that are truly fun to watch and are full if in-awe moments.

Boogie Nights is still my all-time favorite film of his.  It's the first film I discovered.  It's got great camera work, it's entertaining, it's dramatic.  He proved that he can make Mark Wahlberg into a good actor and shed the Marky Mark image forever.  It's got a killer soundtrack, a fun cast, and amazing tracking shots.  There Will Be Blood is a close second because it's so different from everything he's done and it's a huge step into what he might be doing.  The grand scale he took into the storytelling is amazing.  I often liken it to the visual scope of both Sergio Leone and Terrence Malick.

Magnolia is third for its grand story and intertwining characters along with, what is possibly, the last great performance of Tom Cruise (who is now just not even trying anymore and is just being his egotistical self).  Punch-Drunk Love is my least favorite but only because at 95-minutes, it felt very short and left me wanting for more.  I loved the cinematography and music.  The casting is brilliant, especially Adam Sandler in a very sympathetic performance that I don't think ever got its due. 

I'm first in line to see what he does Anderson does next. 
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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2008, 01:43:32 PM »
I voted
He can be great and is certainly one of our Best Directors
but simply because I don't sling around the word "masterpiece".


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1. Punch-Drunk Love
2. Boogie Nights
3. Magnolia
4. There Will Be Blood
5. Hard Eight
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roujin

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2008, 01:56:00 PM »
I voted
He can be great and is certainly one of our Best Directors
but simply because I don't sling around the word "masterpiece".


What she said, even if I'm undead.

1. Punch-Drunk Love
2. Boogie Nights
3. Magnolia
4. There Will Be Blood
5. Hard Eight

That's exactly how I would rank them. I'm hoping he does something smaller with his next film. Just because it's epic doesn't make it a masterpiece ;)

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Paul Thomas Anderson
« Reply #9 on: May 26, 2008, 02:44:11 PM »
Just because it's small doesn't make it more lovable  :(
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