Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The Directors Project: #13 - Francis Ford Coppola

Scene from Cinema Paradiso
With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.


FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

Years Active: 1959-present

Films as Director: 24

Oscar Wins: 6

- Best Adapted Screenplay (Patton)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (The Godfather)
- Best Director (The Godfather: Part II)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (The Godfather: Part II)
- Best Picture (The Godfather: Part II)
-Irving G. Thalberg Award

Who: In the 70's, there wasn't a director with more control and artistry than Coppola, whose films have gone on to influence just about every film that has come since. Dealing with a wide array of subjects, his films dive into the psychological nature dealing with subjects ranging from gangster films to wars and security. His experimental style remains a defining feature that makes his work at very least compelling and ambitious in ways that none of his peers are capable of ever topping.

POINTS TALLY
Scene from The Conversation
-- The Godfather: Part II (1974) --

Flickchart Ranking: #43 (900 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: The Godfather Trilogy (Overall 10 points)
Total: 960 points

-- The Godfather (1972) --

Flickchart Ranking: #73 (850 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: The Godfather Trilogy (Overall 10 points)
Total: 910 points

-- Apocalypse Now (1979) --

Flickchart Ranking: #81 (850 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: None
Total: 910 points

-- The Conversation (1974) --

Flickchart Ranking: #175 (750 points)
IMDb Rating: 7/10 (70 points)
Perks: None
Total: 820 points

-- The Godfather: Part III (1990) --

Flickchart Ranking: #718 (300 points)
IMDb Rating: 6/10 (60 points)
Perks: The Godfather Trilogy (Overall 10 points)
Total: 370 points

-- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) --

Flickchart Ranking: #720 (300 points)
IMDb Rating: 5/10 (50 points)
Perks: None
Total: 350 points

OVERALL TOTAL: 4320 points

WHY DO I LOVE?
Scene from The Godfather: Part II
It is impossible to be a fan of classic cinema without at least appreciating the many facets of Coppola's filmography. In the 70's, he was unstoppable in ways that are still unprecedented. Yes, there were directors like Kubrick who were pushing the artistic aspect of film in interesting directions, but Coppola managed to make compelling stories with vibrant symbolism while remaining accessible. He makes surreal films that benefit from his continual desire to be experimental and never be satisfied. While he doesn't quite make as many interesting films as he used to, his influence on film is so infallible that it is impossible to not respect the man who changed the way that cinema is made and continues to passionately promote and make films in ways that his adversaries aren't.


UP NEXT: One of the most surreal, artistic directors who pushed film into strange, new directions in a lot of different genres.

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