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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Worst Filmmaker ever?

  
 
Matthew Fluxington
17:29 / 18.01.02
I'm going to agree with Tom Scharpling that the worst filmmaker ever is Joel Schumacher... Who would you say it is?
 
 
Cop Killer
18:21 / 18.01.02
Jerry Brukenhiemer is godawful.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
18:24 / 18.01.02
Jerry Bruckheimer is a producer, not a filmmaker.

Though I know exactly what you mean, and I don't really disagree. It's just the technicality of him being a producer as opposed to a director...
 
 
moriarty
18:29 / 18.01.02
How is a producer not a filmmaker?

I remember reading an interview with the cast of The Mexican (go ahead, point and laugh) where they were all asked which movies of theirs they felt were the worst. At least two, if not all three, said films that were directed by Joel Schumacher.

I'm not sure if I'd agree, but he certainly comes close.
 
 
Bear
18:30 / 18.01.02
I dunno kinda liked Falling Down (I saw it at exactly the right time), I can't think of any I can't stand it'll come to me....
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
18:31 / 18.01.02
Well, the producer is not traditionally the person with the 'creative vision' or whatever, the producer is the person in charge of the money... I should have clarified that I meant directors....
 
 
moriarty
18:34 / 18.01.02
I know. Falling down really upsets his record for me.
 
 
Ierne
18:43 / 18.01.02
William Castle made really, really bad films in a really, really good way.

(for some reason the pictures on this web article don't load...)
 
 
Warrington Minge
19:43 / 18.01.02
As soon as I saw the title of your post I was going to say Joel Schumacher and then I saw your post and you beat me to it.

Batman Forever is definately the worst film I have ever seen. to this day ( 3 viewings later ) I still cannot understand a word Tommy Lee Jones says as Two-face. Even Batman and Robin is better and thats saying something.

Kiss my ice.
 
 
Mazarine
20:35 / 18.01.02
I'm still so grumpy with Kenneth Braghnagh over Hamlet.
 
 
Seth
09:59 / 19.01.02
Undoubtedly Joel Schumacher. One of my friends hates him so much he can't even say his name without dry retching.

A horrible man.
 
 
Persephone
09:59 / 19.01.02
quote:Originally posted by Mazarine:
I'm still so grumpy with Kenneth Braghnagh over Hamlet.

Don't forget Peter's Friends.

Well I don't think that Kenneth Branagh is the *worst* filmmaker ever. But certainly I have never laughed quite so hard at Hamlet before or since. That part right before the intermission with him obviously standing in front of a projection screen with the film clip of troops marching...

Joel Schumacher is indeed very bad.

Husband also suggests Chris Columbus and John Hughes.
 
 
Cop Killer
09:59 / 19.01.02
But John Hughes movies are so much fun...I completely disagree with that statement, I thoroughly enjoy many of his films. The Breakfast Club is one of my favorite films ever.
 
 
sleazenation
09:59 / 19.01.02
And there was i thinking that ED Wood was the worst film maker ever - can you ever imagine a ilm made about jerry Bruckhiemer?
 
 
Fra Dolcino
11:08 / 19.01.02
This was on TV a couple of weeks ago, and is one of the worst films I could think of:

Silver Strand

So I guess it would have to be its director T. George Miller. He's got classics such as 'Andre the Seal' and 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' to his name, so may take some beating.

[ 19-01-2002: Message edited by: Fra Dolcino ]
 
 
Rev. Wright
11:56 / 19.01.02
Late John Hughes does take the biscuit, but Mr Sshuemacher has got to be one of the worst in modern times. He can't even get into a cult niche, unlike Woods.

Never let this man near a script and crew.
 
 
rizla mission
12:10 / 19.01.02
Can we give a big shout out to Michael Winner?
 
 
Bear
13:00 / 19.01.02
wow thats weird i just asked my flat mate and he said Michael Winner too
 
 
videodrome
13:24 / 19.01.02
OK, two things.

First - Flux:

A producer is absolutely a filmmaker. If you don't think that the guy holding the purse has (sometimes absolute) creative control, then you've got a lot to learn about filmmaking. It's only in the past thirty years or so that more than a handful of directors had real control over their films, and I can guarantee you that Bruckheimer has absolute control over his. Why the hell do you think he'd pick some shite MTV directors to helm his multi-million dollar films? That said, he's at the top of my crap filmmaker list, with a definite nod towards his work since Don Simpson died.

And two -
I agree that Schumacher is utter tripe. But I've gotta say that I really liked 'Tigerland', much to my suprise. The guy's made easily 50% of my worst-film list, and then here comes this little picture which is really a very loose flipside to 'Full Metal Jacket'. Quite worth seeing.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
13:27 / 19.01.02
Yeah, I think that a good number John Hughes' films have a cultural value, and are considered classics by far too many people to be written off as a bad filmmaker by someone who doesn't share the opinion... I would think that to be a truly awful filmmaker, the body of work should collectively repulse nearly everyone and have little to no cultural impact...
 
 
Johnny Mother
15:17 / 19.01.02
Penny Marshall covers the worst female director, with unwatchable shizzle such as 'A League Of Their Own.' There are too many candidates for the male category, but Michael Winner it aint. 'Death Wish' is an excellent film.
 
 
Matthew Fluxington
16:08 / 19.01.02
[QUOTE]Originally posted by videodrome:

A producer is absolutely a filmmaker. If you don't think that the guy holding the purse has (sometimes absolute) creative control, then you've got a lot to learn about filmmaking.

Yeah, I fully acknowledge this... but it does bend the 'rules' a bit. More often than not, it's the director who shapes the film...but in the case of truly awful movies, it is often because of the producer.

So I'll concede the point on this topic...

[ 19-01-2002: Message edited by: Flux = Psalmanazar ]
 
 
Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!
17:03 / 19.01.02
But what would our culture be like today wittout the absolutely stunning Batman films complete with their rubbered nipple-ness and classic puns?
 
 
Spatula Clarke
17:20 / 19.01.02
Worst director ever?

Why, that must be Mr Alan Smithee, surely?
 
 
Margin Walker
23:44 / 19.01.02
quote:Originally posted by expressionless:
Undoubtedly Joel Schumacher.

C'mon, aren't y'all being just a bit myopic here? In all of the thousands upon thousands of movies ever created, over the course of more than a century, over all 7 continents throughout the globe, the worst director ever--is <Waaaaaaait foooor iiiiiiiiit>:

someone who did a Batman movie. Hell, the TV series was a hell of a lot worse than any of the films. Myself, I nominate Cliff Roquemore who did a film that wasn't just a bad Blaxploitation film--it was a bad action film, bad comedy & contained more stereotypes than you could shake a stick at. I can only be speaking of the Rudy Ray Moore/Dolemite film "The Human Tornado". Not to mention the sadist that directed the incredibly dull & glacially paced MST3K staple "Manos, The Hands Of Fate".

<thinks of Torgo & immedaitly shivers in disgust>[/LIST]
 
 
videodrome
13:31 / 20.01.02
Sure, Cliff Roquemore is terrrible, but the guy only made two films. Schumacher has made twenty-one. Now, granted, that includes some TV and a couple of things that haven't been released yet, but still. A guy like Roquemore, or even Ed Wood, can con dentists or real estate mavens into forking over some cash once or twice, sure - almost anyone with balls can do that. But studios - people who should know better (I know, that's a big leap and an argument of it's own) keep giving Schumacher cash. And lots of it. Why?!?

Now, Tigerland was good, and made for little cash, as was Phone Booth, his next film. So maybe he's turning around. But based on his past output, the guy's still gotta hold the crown.
 
 
Brian Dennehy
14:13 / 20.01.02
'Alan Smithee' is so called because it is an anagram of 'The Alias Men.' Bet you didn't know that!! eh!!? eh?!!
 
 
The Damned Yankee
10:00 / 21.01.02
quote:Originally posted by videodrome:

Now, Tigerland was good, and made for little cash, as was Phone Booth, his next film. So maybe he's turning around. But based on his past output, the guy's still gotta hold the crown.

No! It's a trick! He's only making good small-budget films so that we all trust him and let him helm another Batman movie! With John Travolta as the Scarecrow and Joanie Laurer (formerly Chyna) as Catwoman! And David Schwimmer as Batman! And rubber phalluses to go with the rubber nipples on the costumes! It's a trick, I tell you!
 
 
Saveloy
11:09 / 21.01.02
I thought Batman Forever was quite enjoyable, and far better than the previous two efforts, but then I prefer the jolly, TV series Batman to the "ooh, it's so dark and butch, ooooh" Batman of 'Dark Knight Returns' and 'Arkham Asylum'. So anyway, I need further convincing that this Schumacher is the worst director ever - what other stuff has he done, and why is it the worst?
 
 
rizla mission
12:53 / 21.01.02
Lost Boys ruled.

Who directed the Shawshank Redemption? cos I'm pretty sure he's the worst..

And in terms of basic technical expertise (as opposed to script writing, actor directing etc.) Kevin Smith is also pretty appalling..
 
  
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