My favorite example of a director that meets the definition of an auteur is Tim Burton. The way that he portrays certain characters in dark roles that generally are out of touch with the norms of society gives his movies their own personal flavor. Although "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007) was already a dark production as a Broadway play, Burton found a way to make the film even darker and more extravagant. He did so using his own personal style. Another film he took and turned into a completely different movie using his own style was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005). Also, many of the themes in his movies relate or can be linked together in some shape or form. The most notable feature in a number of his productions is the way he casts the same actors, most notably Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Burton also uses Danny Elfman regularly for the music on his soundtracks.
Another notable director that uses authorship is Spike Lee. Almost every one of his films are relate to each other in the sense that they all deal with matters of racial diversity. "Malcolm X" (1992) starred Denzel Washington and was arguably one of his best and most powerful films. This film also presented a precursor for what was to come, as he was a strong advocate for African-American culture and sharing the culture with people who would not otherwise experience it without movies. Also, he had a hand in writing thirteen of the screenplays for his movies, giving them more of his own personal style. One more example of how he puts a stamp on his films is in the opening credits. Before each of his movies the statement "Spike Lee Joint" is shown to signify he was the director of the movie.
My final example of a director who uses authorship is Clint Eastwood. He has been directing films for more than three decades, but is popularly known for being an actor, starring in fifty-five films. By mid 1970 he began his career as a director, although he was still known mostly as a actor, this would all change soon enough. It was not until he won an Oscar for directing "Unforgiven" (1992) that he cemented his place in the film industry as a director. This was his highest reaching box office film as either a director or an actor. What makes Clint Eastwood a special case in the film industry is his ability to be versatile in the sense that he sometimes stars, produces and directs his own movies. Most recently he directed, produced, and starred in the box office hit "Gran Torino" (2008). This film also realted to problems and events that take place in our society. An unrelated, interesting tidbit is the fact that Eastwood casted his son, Scott, as one of the characters in the film.
Works Cited
"Definition of Auteur." Dictionary.com. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.
"Biography for Tim Burton." IMDB.com. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.
"Biography for Spike Lee." IMDB.com. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.
"Biography for Clint Eastwood." IMDB.com. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.
"Definition of Auteur." Dictionary.com. Web. 8 Feb. 2010.
Picture 1: Blogspot.com
Picture 2: Blogspot.com
Picture 3: Reelmovienews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment