NWI Awards: Best Director

Of course all these great films would implode like a black hole if it weren't for a great director steering the ship, to use a seabound metaphor. Best Director beneath then...




Best Director




6) Todd Haynes, I'm Not There

Haynes is building a steady resume, what with Far from Heaven and Safe in his backlogue, but this may be his best yet. This may because of the terrific combination of great performances and superb visual style, which in itself is largely thanks to Haynes.

5) Fernando Meirelles, Blindness

Granted, the film is most certainly his weakest, but this is mostly thanks to scripting and aloof performances, because the film otherwise is terrificly directed and Meirelles is one great film away from being amongst the best of his generation.

4) Ari Folman, Waltz With Bashir

Almost every single shot in this film is breathtakingly beautiful, largely because of its fantastically detailed and controlled direction. Folman most probably will fade to back from whence he came, but this near classic is a great contribution to cinema full stop.

3) The Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men

Many critics say its a shame the Coen's don't make more serious films, because when they do they always amazing. Its hard to argue with this, and No country for Old Men is close to being their best yet.

2) Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

A gigantic superhero movie is practically a very tough job, but the impressive intensity Nolan Brings to the film through Direction is the real mark of his genius here.

1) Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

It may not be the best film of the year, but it is certainly the most impressively directed. Anderson gets everything right, from performances to shot composition to anything else you could think of.