Top 10 directors of the '90s

Continuing what I did with my last post... my top 10 directors of the 1990s. Same rules and stuff.

Missing the cut: David Fincher (Alien 3 was a disaster that he's since dismissed; Seven and The Game were really good movies, but Fight Club is very overrated. He also just missed the cut for the 2000s despite very strong movies such as Zodiac and Benjamin Button), Spike Lee (Malcolm X was a masterpiece, He Got Game was a very strong movie, but some weak efforts in between keep him off this list), and Hal Hartley (very unique, distinct director made some memorable films, but nothing strong enough to warrant him a place on this list... still worth mentioning though)

Honorable mentions: , Oliver Stone (made some great powerful films, but he was too inconsistent to be placed on this list, especially in the 2nd half of the '90s), Farrelly Brothers (I don't consider them, overall, to be worthy enough to be on this list but you can't forget their string of hilarious comedies from Dumb and Dumber to There's Something About Mary), Gus Van Sant (almost put him on this list but remembered just how bad Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and Psycho were. So despite making some great movies such as My Own Private Idaho and Good Will Hunting and a good movie such as To Die For... I could forgive Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, but Psycho was such a giant mistake and that automatically disqualifies his place on this list)

1. Coen Brothers
Films: Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski

The Coens were kings in the 1990s. Throughout this decade they managed to never make a bad film. In fact, all five films are great, if not, very memorable. Even a lesser work such as Hudsucker Proxy has some great moments. But the true highlights are... the other four films. Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink really got them heavy attention in American independent cinema. Then came what could be considered their magnum opus, Fargo. Overall, these five films displayed diversity, expert storytelling, and a wide variety of memorable performances. Did I mention that The Big Lebowski has a pretty huge cult following?

2. Michael Mann
Films: Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider

Michael Mann made three great films in the '90s that pretty much span the entire decade. One in 92, 95, and 99. The slightly underrated Last of the Mohicans features an excellent performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, but it's the last two films that makes Michael Mann deserving of this #2 spot. Heat remains on top as far heist/crime films are concerned. This three-hour crime epic featuring Deniro and Pacino as seasoned pros is one of the best films of the '90s and The Insider is not that far off. Overall, Mann continued to elevate himself into prime status by the time 1999 came around. It's too bad he didn't really live up to his own standards in the 2000s.

3. Quentin Tarantino
Films: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown

I'm sure any filmmaker would be envious of the prospect of having Dogs, Pulp, and Jackie being the first three films that they made. By 2010, people don't really expect anything less from Quentin Tarantino, but the point must be re-made... Tarantino made three of the finest films of the '90s... one right after the other. Just like that. He just comes out of nowhere with his distinctive cinematic style and within five years inspired a wide array of copycats. Each of these three films are lovely and unique in their own way and as Tarantino has shown in the next decade, there was no fluke.

4. Martin Scorsese
Films: Goodfellas, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing Out the Dead

Scorsese started off the '90s with a bang when he made Goodfellas. What followed after that were a string of very interesting, very good films. Some were better than others... such as Age of Innocence and Casino. Cape Fear was an entertaining film in its own right. Kundun... I'm still not quite sure what to make of Kundun, but Bringing Out the Dead has its own merits although it's not one of his most memorable works. Still, Scorsese didn't make a bad film during this decade and I find it bold of him to take such a wide variety of projects during this decade which truly showed just how diverse and uncompromising he is.

5. Steven Spielberg
Films: Hook, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park 2, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan

You would think a man who made both Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan would be higher on this list. But, to be honest, he did make a few clunkers in this decade too. I don't care what kind of emotional investment you have in "Hook" but it's simply not a very good movie. And while Jurassic Park was a fine piece of entertainment, the second one is kind of a joke. Lastly, Amistad is way short of being a fine film and is/was overall a major disappointment. However, creating two brilliant, instant classics is what makes him one of the top five directors of this decade.

6. Mike Leigh
Films: Life is Sweet, Naked, Secrets & Lies, Career Girls, Topsy-Turvy

I haven't seen any of his work before the '90s, but as far as I know, Mike Leigh has never made a bad film. Ever. I don't think it's in his blood. He somehow manages, with whatever magic he has, create these very compelling, enriching dramas with his actors that is based almost entirely out of improvisation. Mike Leigh, in the '90s, was one of the most interesting, compelling, thought-provoking filmmakers and is perhaps one of the best UK directors of the past 20 years or so.

7. Terry Gilliam
Films: The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Taking a step back and essentially becoming a director-for-hire did a lot for Terry Gilliam's career after he, assuredly, seemed to be in a tough spot after the big budget disaster that was "The Adventures of Baron Manchausen." The sad thing is Manchausen is actually a fine film in itself. But, at least Gilliam showed that he can be make fine films in the mainstream. Of course, I use that term quite loosely as the typical Gilliam touches are still very much prevalent in 12 Monkeys and The Fisher King. Then you have the frustratingly uncompromising, difficult Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas which reminded everyone just how brilliant and visionary Terry Gilliam was. In a decade that is perhaps his most successful financially, Terry Gilliam certainly proved himself to be one of the master auteurs working in or outside of Hollywood today.

8. James Cameron
Films: Terminator 2, True Lies, Titanic

Say what you will about his latter two films of the '90s, but you cannot deny the force that is Terminator 2. And, in some respects, you can't dismiss Titanic entirely without conceding to the fact that it is a masterfully crafted epic. Personally, it isn't one of my favorites and it just missed my top 100, but James Cameron went from making great science fiction in the '80s to making envelope-pushing epics in the '90s with groundbreaking special effects each time. Every Cameron film that comes out forces the rest of Hollywood to catch up to him. That is part of what makes him one of the best filmmakers, especially of the '90s.

9. Richard Linklater
Films: Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, SubUrbia, The Newton Boys

Linklater's has one of the best 1-2-3 lineups, next to Tarantino, PTA, and Wes Anderson. Starting with the very independent, experimental film Slacker which is another important film during the independent movement; you next have Dazed and Confused and Before Sunrise which showcase just how talented Linklater is in creating memorable characters who are sharp, witty, and feel real. Linklater ended the decade with the sorely underrated SubUrbia and the uneven Newton Boys. But, he never stopped being an interesting filmmaker and his first three films comfortably give him a spot on this list.

10. Kevin Smith
Films: Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma

Kevin Smith was kind of the man during the '90s. He was just this regular average-joe kinda fella. He wasn't a Hollywood bigshot, nor was he a pretentious art school dropout... he was just a regular guy from New Jersey making films based on what he knows. Aside from that, he really did make some great films in the '90s and he showcased a lot of potential with Clerks and Chasing Amy. Mallrats remains pretty underrated and it's a pretty funny movie overall and I've always liked and admired Dogma for its sharp dialogue and wit. Overall, no matter of what his career is like now, Kevin Smith was definitely created a niche for himself in the '90s... I just wish he would come out of that niche these days and finally started making great films that build off of the great potential he showed during this decade.