(March, 2021). My favorite director is Stanley Kubrick. I was 14 years old when I first saw a film he directed at the theater: "2001 A Space Odyssey". I was stunned. It was the greatest film I had ever seen. The same year, I saw Steve McQueen in "Bullitt". Both of those films made massive impressions on me. As far as directors (after Kubrick), I think John Ford, William Wyler, Akira Kurosawa were all outstanding. I should add Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai. I have to include Orson Welles and Robert Wise. They were supremely talented. I really liked David Lean, who made "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Also, Ridley Scott. I saw "Alien" on opening day in 1979. I went back 3 times that weekend with my friends and scared them half to death. Besides "Alien", I think Ridley Scott's Director's cut extended version of "Kingdom of Heaven" is brilliant; better than his superb Oscar winner "Gladiator". "American Gangster" is also great. William Friedkin is a superb American director. My 3 favorite films he made are "The Exorcist", "The French Connection" and "To Live and Die in LA". I cannot leave out Martin Scorcese or Paul Schrader; also Abel Ferrara, who directed "King of New York" and followed it up with "Bad Lieutenant" (imo, that is Harvey Keitel's greatest performance). Jodie Foster is outstanding, as is Sigourney Weaver. Australian director Peter Weir is brilliant along with Christopher Nolan. I was a big fan of the late Joel Schumacher (he was a terrific judge of young talent). Michael Mann and Terrence Malick are outstanding directors. Irishmen Neil Jordan and Martin McDonough, as well. As far as actors, James Cagney, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Peter O'Toole, Peter Sellers, Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Keira Knightly, Christian Bale, Gerard Butler, Tom Hardy (both star in "Rock n' Rolla"). I think Denzel Washington and Matt Damon are terrific. Also, Idris Elba is terrific in Ridley Scott's ("Alien" prequel) "Prometheus". From the same film, I think Swedish actress Noomi Rapace is outstanding. Previously, Ms. Rapace was brilliant in "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", along with the other 2 films forming the trilogy. as well. Other Swedish actors who I consider terrific are Joel Kinnamon, along with Lena Olin and Alicia Vikander. As far as the present, I think Nicole Kidman and Michael Fassbender are 2 of the best actors around today. I think 3 of the best actors never to win an Oscar are Malcolm McDowell, Guy Pearce and (especially) Willem Dafoe.
