The New York Times, as a companion piece to their list of the top 25 films of the 21st Century, invited six filmmakers to share their personal lists.
The directors - Antoine Fuqua, Brett Ratner, Alex Gibney, Paul Feig, Denis Villeneuve, and recent winner of the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Sofia Coppola - compiled a diverse list of films, ranging from a Will Ferrell comedy (guess who picked that) to a James Bond movie.
Here’s the list:
Antoine Fuqua
“Fences reminded me of my childhood growing up in Pittsburgh; Munich educated me while being entertaining and suspenseful in a way that only Steven Spielberg or Hitchcock could pull off. And like everyone else, I just like to grab my popcorn and sit back and enjoy what Hollywood is all about in movies like Gladiator, a throwback to the David Lean days of epic filmmaking,” he said.
Fences, Slumdog Millionaire, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Zero Dark Thirty, Avatar, Munich, There Will Be Blood, Eastern Promises, Gladiator
Sofia Coppola
“I usually like more subtle movies but can enjoy all kinds. (For this list) I just thought about movies I liked from the last 15, 20 years. I find them inspiring, especially when it’s something you haven’t seen before, and not close to anything I’m doing,” she said.
Force Majeure, The White Ribbon, The Savages, Head On, Daddy’s Home, Under the Skin, The Incredibles, Together, Grizzly Man, Ida, Fish Tank, Ex Machina
Paul Feig
“I’m a very non-cynical filmmaker. I like uplifting endings, I love romance, just feel-good movies. The best experience I ever have [is] when I forget I’m watching a movie. Or when as a filmmaker, I’m going, ‘How did they do that?’” he said.
Napoleon Dynamite, Sing Street, Moulin Rouge, Deadpool, This is the End, Amélie, Love Actually, A Single Man, Moon, Casino Royale, Mustang
Denis Villeneuve
Which movie is the best one ... There Will Be Blood or No Country for Old Men (both from 2007)? Strange question. I’m driven by the impact these movies had on me then, and still today. Time is the ultimate judge.
A Prophet, Under the Skin, Dogtooth, Dogville, Children of Men, Amores Perros, Inception
Brett Ratner
“These films are my personal favourites for various reasons. Many other films are worthy, but I thought I’d keep it to 10. I also wanted to include documentaries, one of my favourite genres,” he said.
The Kid Stays in the Picture, The Pianist, The Hangover, Borat, The Social Network, Y Tu Mamá También, Sexy Beast, Birth, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, Kill Bill Vol 1
Alex Gibney
“I don’t like 10-best lists. How do you rank Spirited Away over Eastern Promises?” he asked.
The Gatekeepers, Stories We Tell, City of God, Michael Clayton, There Will Be Blood, Pan’s Labyrinth, No Country for Old Men, The Grand Budapest Hotel, I Am Not Your Negro, Nostalgia for the Light, Waltz With Bashir, Iraq in Fragments, Grizzly Man, Heart of a Dog, The Big Short
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