Author Topic: Sidney Lumet is one of the most underrated directors of all time. (Read 1737 times)

Ichirou · « **on:** May 07, 2007, 05:14:50 AM »

He is one of the greatest living American directors, and yet people don't really pay attention when his new films come out (like Find Me Guilty, which was a very fun film, btw).

This is the guy who directed...

12 Angry Men

Fail-Safe

The Pawnbroker (not one of his most famous movies but nevertheless great)

Dog Day Afternoon

Serpico

Network

Prince of the City

One of the great American filmmakers. Amazing. He was also responsible for a short-lived A&E series called 100 Centre Street, which was excellent.

HyperZoneWasAwesome · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2007, 05:39:00 AM »

Word.

were it not for a bunch of not-so-great 80's films, he would have gotten his Thalburg Oscar a heckava lot sooner. As is, he's built up a resume that few (probably none)living directors can touch, and even a lot of his second-tier films are pretty great.

awesome, witty, thrilling, and awesome. A meta-movie adaption of a meta-stage play, it just rocks.

Don Johnson actually had an almost decent film career. I know, I was shocked too. Its Jagged Edge without the suck, or a 90's Micheal Douglas film with brains, take your pick. Dead Bang (John Freaking Frankenhiemer) doesn't suck either.

so Sidney likes making movies about dirty cops, and he likes making legal dramas, here's the best of both worlds in one scrumptious package. There's an ace James Gandolphini performance here too, if that sweetens the deal for ya.

and Fail Safe is for my money, the best politcal thriller ever made.
now let us all praise Ichirou for his excellent taste in film.

Mupepe · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2007, 05:41:06 AM »

I didn't know his name til I read this thread but I've seen and loved a shitload of those movies. awesome.

Ichirou · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2007, 05:44:56 AM »

I've seen Deathtrap (which is really, really good) and Guilty as Sin (which I didn't like mostly because I can't stand Don Johnson and mostly watched it for DeMornay). I hadn't even heard of Night Falls On Manhattan. I'm adding it to the list of films I want to see.

Mupepe, I'm not all that surprised you haven't heard of him. He's incredibly underrated for a director that's made so many famous movies.

Solo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:37:19 AM »

Ive been saying this for ages, so I totally endorse this thread. Hell, Im positive Ive said as much several times on GAF over the years. I genuinely love 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon and Network.

Ichirou · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:38:17 AM »

Asshole GAFfers never listen unless it's one of the hot directors of the day like Park or Tarantino or Miike.

Solo, get Prince of the City when it comes out on DVD. It is genius. GENIUS.

Solo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:39:13 AM »

This is true. I still need to see Prince of the City, as I recall you raving about it.

Ichirou · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:43:21 AM »

It is one of his best movies. Jerry Orbach is great in it, as is Treat Williams. Rent it, Netflix it, or heck, buy it (it's worth a blind buy).

Catz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:44:11 AM »

What is Serpico about? I've hear people name drop it all the time.

Ichirou · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:46:16 AM »

Quote from: Catz on May 07, 2007, 06:44:11 AM

What is Serpico about? I've hear people name drop it all the time.

An undercover cop who exposes corruption in his police department. Based on a true story.

Mupepe · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:48:18 AM »

AL PACINO IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Disclaimer: Simone, Godfather III etc. I will not be held accountable if you see that crap due to my post. Serpico rocks though.

[close]

Ichirou · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:49:30 AM »

I thought Simone was pretty clever in how it handled the idea of the auteur who wants total, absolute control over his pictures having to deal with the studio system, managing stars' egos, stuff like that.

It's not a GREAT movie, but it's entertaining.

Mupepe · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:50:05 AM »

Ichirou · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:50:50 AM »

What? I'm aware it was widely disliked. I happened to enjoy it.

Catz · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:52:01 AM »

Quote from: Ichirou on May 07, 2007, 06:46:16 AM

Quote from: Catz on May 07, 2007, 06:44:11 AM
What is Serpico about? I've hear people name drop it all the time.

An undercover cop who exposes corruption in his police department. Based on a true story.

So like The Departed?

Solo · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:54:24 AM »

Much better than The Departed.

Ichirou · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:55:41 AM »

The Departed's not based on a true story, it's based on a Hong Kong movie called Infernal Affairs. The whole thing about IA is that there's two moles, one in the mob, one in the police department. Serpico doesn't have that, and the protagonist isn't a mole in the mafia or anything.

They're really nothing alike. Basically Serpico starts off as a very idealistic police officer who doesn't believe in the use of brute force. He works undercover (penny ante stuff, drug deals and whatnot) and he comes to be disliked by his more conservative, macho co-workers. He begins to realize that there's a lot of police corruption in the department and basically sets out to expose it, mostly by himself since his superiors are looking the other way. I don't want to give too much away, you need to see it for yourself.

Catz · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:57:10 AM »

Quote from: Ichirou on May 07, 2007, 06:55:41 AM

The Departed's not based on a true story, it's based on a Hong Kong movie called Infernal Affairs. The whole thing about IA is that there's two moles, one in the mob, one in the police department. Serpico doesn't have that, and the protagonist isn't a mole in the mafia or anything.

They're really nothing alike. Basically Serpico starts off as a very idealistic police officer who doesn't believe in the use of brute force. He works undercover (penny ante stuff, drug deals and whatnot) and he comes to be disliked by his more conservative, macho co-workers. He begins to realize that there's a lot of police corruption in the department and basically sets out to expose it, mostly by himself since his superiors are looking the other way. I don't want to give too much away, you need to see it for yourself.

Sounds cool. I'll add it to my queue. Al Pacino :wub

Ichirou · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2007, 06:58:35 AM »

Add all the films I mentioned in my first post to your queue, and all the films HyperZone mentioned (except Guilty as Sin, I didn't like it, it's like a reverse Basic Instinct without the sexiness). They are all great!

Mupepe · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2007, 07:20:13 AM »

Quote from: Ichirou on May 07, 2007, 06:50:50 AM

What? I'm aware it was widely disliked. I happened to enjoy it.

it's widely considered his worst film and that's say alot when you take into account The Godfather Part III

Ichirou · « **Reply #20 on:** May 07, 2007, 07:21:50 AM »

Quote from: Rob Thomas on May 07, 2007, 07:20:13 AM

Quote from: Ichirou on May 07, 2007, 06:50:50 AM
What? I'm aware it was widely disliked. I happened to enjoy it.
it's widely considered his worst film and that's say alot when you take into account The Godfather Part III

He's done a lot worse. That film where he was the playwright was terrible, as was that historical movie he did in the eighties which almost ended his career.

He was also in Gigli.

bud · « **Reply #21 on:** May 07, 2007, 11:26:23 AM »

i've seen dda serpico and network. network was great but his movies with pacino are just fucking awesome

pacino + lumet

Bloodwake · « **Reply #22 on:** May 07, 2007, 11:48:32 AM »

The only one of his films I've seen is 12 Angry Men

Thumbs up to that one.

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Author Topic: Sidney Lumet is one of the most underrated directors of all time. (Read 1737 times)