Drag Me To Hell is out this week, marking a return to his horror roots for director Sam Raimi.
The film also marks a return to form after the critical drubbing of his last venture, mega-budget three-quel, Spider-Man Tres .
Join us for a look at other directors we✅ think need to get the hindsight checked, and the lessons to be learned from their first features.
Robert Rodriguez
The Present: Planet Terror (2007)
What’s Wrong With It?: An homage to schlocky B-Movie horror it𒈔 may be, but Rodriguez’ roots as a guerill🔯a filmmaker continue to fade.
The Debut: El Mariachi (1992)
What’s Right With It: Creative, economic, original. A labour of love.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: The non🎃-budget ingenuity that stunned audiences at♔ Sundance.
How To Put It Into Practice: Cut his Predators budget by giving him a handheld camera, a guitar, an octopus and ♔Danny Glover, then stand back and shout action.
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Steven Soderbergh
The Present: Che: Part One & Part Two (2009)
What’s Wrong With It?: Sure his cinematography is sublime, but this grand-scale storytelling isn’t as accesಞsible and watchable as his debut.
The Debut: Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989)
What’s Right With It: Honest examination𒈔 of the human condition and sexuality that lets the character༒s do the talking.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: The small scale, economiꦛc approach to the intricacies of human relationships.
How To Put It Into Practice: Soderbergh may have learned this lesson with the upcoming The Girlfriend Experience (2009). Time shall tell.
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Eli Roth
The Present: Hostel II (2007)
What’s Wrong With It?: Retread of the original which offers few new ideas.
The Debut: Cabin Fever (2003)
What’s Right With It?: Inventive and with g𒉰ags added thꦛe gag reflex, it's a balanced horror flick that makes you care about the characters.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: That horror is better with both lauꦍghs and gasps, and that if you're pl🧸anning to go gruesome, do it in glimpses - it's far more effect than a gawp.
How To Put It Into Practice: A script that isn’t rushed, with real ♍characters and humour balance, without all the mindless torture.
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Lee Tamahori
The Present: Next (2007)
What’s Wrong With It?: Nonsense actioner that requires the susp⛄ension of so m𒁃uch disbelief that you have to be officially gullible to even buy a ticket.
The Debut: Once Were Warriors (1995)
What’s Right With It?: The brutal realities of life in poor New Zeꦆaland suburb, where racial, alcohol and spousal abuse are all ⛦part of daily life.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: Stories about real, fla♏wed human characters will always mak𒆙e compelling cinema.
How To Put It Into Practice: A ticket to New Z♑ealand, a modest budget and a real story.
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Baz Lurhman
The Present: Australia (2008)
What’s Wrong with It?: The cinematiജc equivalent of biting off more than you can chew.
The Debut: Strictly Ballroom (1992)
What’s Right With It?: A warm and inspiring under-dog story with enough feel-goo𒉰ꦇd factor to have them dancing in the aisles.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: Less is more.
How To Put It Into Practice: Lose the A-List actors, the jaw-dropping locations and the grandeur aspiration, and make a film that people will connect with. In other words, do a Slumdog Millionaire .
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George Lucas
The Present: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
What’s Wrong With It?: Apart from Hayd💙en Christiansen, it was the strongest of the three prequels… wh💎ich is like saying it’s the best type of Hepatitis.
The Debut: THX-1138 (1971)
What’s Right With It?: The unsettling vision of a future where emotion is outlawed🧸. The themes Lucas explores are important, and his stark, sparse visuals serve this brilliantly.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: Cerebral science-fiction is the only science-fiℱction.
How To Put It Into Practice: A copy of "Rendevo𝐆us With Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke. Touted as a project f♔or Fincher, could mark a return to form for Lucas.
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Quentin Tarantino
The Present: Death Proof (2007)
What’s Wrong With It?: If Jazz is the musical equivওalent of masturbation, then this is the film equivalent of Jazz.
The Debut: Reservoir Dogs (1992)
What’s Right With It?: The shee♍r level of filmmaking t𒉰alent on display is awe inspiring. There are moments of such genius, such technical brilliance on display, it’s easy to see how he became so revered.
Lesson to (Re)Learn: The economy♑ of his style, reigned in from the unadulterated madness of recent years, is a 🔯marvel to behold.
How To Put It Into Practice: Confiscate his comprehensive film library, his Blockbuster card𝓀 and his Netflix subscription and lock him in a screening room with a copy of Reservoir Dogs on DVD.
Any choices you agree/disagree with? Anyone else you think needs to revisit their first film? Let us know in the comments.
