Last Updated on August 5, 2021
#1 – John McTiernan
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 11 years since BASIC
While John McTiernan has only a month or so left on his prison sentence related to a wire-tap scandal, I am hoping against hope that the first thing he gets once released is a directing gig. Give the man the job directing the next DIE HARD movie and we will all be the better for it. I can excuse ROLLERBALL if it means a studio gives him another chance at an action movie. It has been too long since we have had a proper John McClane adventure!
#2 – Joe Dante
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 11 years since LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION
While Dante has directed some very small movies like 2009’s THE HOLE, it has been far too long since we got a proper studio picture from the man responsible for GREMLINS. Dante deserves better than helming episodes of CSI and HAWAII FIVE-0, but there is hope as he is wrapping a zombie movie starring Anton Yelchin that should hit screens this year. Here’s hoping it is a wide release!
#3 – Frank Darabont
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 7 years since THE MIST
While Darabont works on the small screen, the big screen suffers his absence. THE WALKING DEAD and MOB CITY are definitely welcome additions to the television landscape, but with what he has been able to do adapting the works of Stephen King, Frank Darabont owes us more movies. I can think of a number of King books he could make next and a number of other projects that would benefit from his skills as a director. TV definitely is a more manageable medium, but I want a new Darabont movie.
#4 – Mel Gibson
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 8 years since APOCALYPTO
While Gibson may have doomed himself in the public eye for his personal beliefs, you cannot argue that as a filmmaker he is one of the best there is. I loved his debut, THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE, and he blew us all away with BRAVEHEART. While THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and APOCALYPTO divided critics and fans, there is a definite power to his visual and narrative style that deserves to see the big screen again.
#5 – Sean Penn
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 7 years since INTO THE WILD
While Sean Penn acts steadily, his talents behind the camera are obvious. INTO THE WILD was a powerful film, but his collaborations with Jack Nicholson (THE CROSSING GUARD, THE PLEDGE) are phenomenal. While I cannot criticize a guy who uses his spare time to help those less fortunate, we would all be better off getting another directorial effort from him to enjoy.
#6 – Jonathan Demme
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 6 years since RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Demme has been working consistently in the last half decade making documentaries and developing a film version of the Dave Eggers book ZEITOUN, but he has only directed a total of six films since THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS in 1991. For a guy as critically acclaimed as Demme, you would think there would be more demand for his skills with the camera.
#7 – Milos Forman
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 8 years since GOYA’S GHOSTS
Forman may not be a household name, but his movies ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST and AMADEUS rank as a pair of the best films ever made. He also was responsible for the successful and acclaimed films THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT and MAN IN THE MOON in the 90s, but since then has only directed one English language feature. GOYA’S GHOSTS. For a filmmaker with Best Picture trophies to his credit, we need more.
#8 – Peter Weir
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 4 years since THE WAY BACK
Weir has 4 Oscar nominations for Best Director under his belt but only 3 films to his credit since 1998. MASTER AND COMMANDER was his last big film in 2003 and doesn’t appear to have anything in development. For a talented artist like Weir, it is damn shame we don’t see more from him.
#9 – Nick Park
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 9 years since WALLACE & GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
Park has two feature films to his credit, CHICKEN RUN and CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT. His Aardman Animation has become a strong voice in animated film, but we have not seen nearly enough from Park himself. Even John Lasseter directed CARS 2 after heading Disney and Pixar’s animation operation, why can’t Park give us another movie?
#10 – Steven Spielberg
TIME SINCE LAST FILM: 1 year since LINCOLN
It might be unfair to have Spielberg on this list since LINCOLN just came out in 2012, but with the director bowing out of both AMERICAN SNIPER and ROBOPOCALYPSE last year, he is left with no projects to be released in 2014 or 2015. There have been periods of one or two years in the past where Spielberg didn’t have a film in theaters, but there was always something in development. At 67, he may not direct too many more films, but hopefully he lasts as long as Martin Scorsese.
Honorable Mention – M. Night Shyamalan
TIME SINCE LAST (GOOD) FILM: 10 years since SIGNS
Shyamalan burst onto the directing scene with three excellent features: THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE, and SIGNS. Since that Mel Gibson, alien invasion flick, Shyamalan has become a joke after making numerous films that featured forced twist endings. Eventually, he tried to direct material from others (THE LAST AIRBENDER, AFTER EARTH) and still couldn’t reclaim his magic. Gone are the days of seeing his name above the movie’s title. Is there hope that Shyamalan has another quality film in him? I hope so.
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