Why is it that the Americans do not know how to make a good film?

Question

I regard Woody Allen as a good film director (he really has it in him) but when you come to think of it you sort of realize he is still an American. Why is it that there are no film directors in America as good as, say, Haneke, Bergman, Felini or Buñuel?

Merindiah you say you would take Spielberg over all four of them put together any day but you do not state why. Please do note you are not saying much here, are you?

Raven: do you mean Batman stuff and the like? If you had said David Lynch I would´ve been surprised.

Tony A: I agree with you 100%, you just caught me red-handed.

Answer 1

There is another "l" in Fellini.

I take it you do not like commercial films. That's valid -- they are pitched to the the lowest common denominator most of the time and are usually purile entertainment. But American commercial entertainment is no more heinous than any other country's. Look at Bollywood, Asian action films, etc. Bad American films are just more heavily marketed and distributed, so you see the worst. But look at some of the groundbreaking films of the '70's, (Scorcese, Coppola) and there are some real works of art. Or more recenlty, "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction", though I've become tired of Tarantino's formula.) Violent, brash, but wonderfully crafted and original.

There is a growing movement for some years in the US towards lower budget, independent work, and it has turned out some excellent product. Now, judging from your choice of directors, you seem to like the overtly artistic work, non-linear construction, and deliberate pacing with little "action." (You probably prefer Allen's "Manhattan"-style films to his comedies. His serious work tends to be highly derivative of Bergman.) I would hold up Jim Jarmush as an example of an American director you would enjoy.

On the whole, your argument may be one of genre, not quality.

Answer 2

I have only liked a few of Allen's films. When I think of American directors I agree that many follow the formulas that have worked for others. But look at the different kinds of films offered by Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola, Spike Lee, John Cassavetes, Quenitin Tarrantino, and Robert Altman. They have made some exceptional films. Some of their films gave us a different perspective of war, mob life, social issues, etc, just to name the more obvious ones. Then we have more intimate pieces that look into human motivation. All are considered innovators in their own way. Go back a few years and you have Frank Capra,Howard Hawkes and Elia Kazan. Look up their names on IMDB and see the body of work they have contribued to the history of American film. I wonder if it is not the American filmmaker you have issues with, but the type of "American" films you are choosing.

Answer 3

Understand where you come from (I think).
The American film industry is not focused (sorry) on "intellectual" film-making, but, rather, on "entertainment".
I am 100% sure that you know this, and, therefore, your question is mischievous.
That apart, there are good directors in America, and they turn out the entertainment that most of us can enjoy, in many different genres (as you are also aware).
If the general well publicised stream is, sometimes, less interesting or challenging than you would prefer, then, you must know that there are producers and directors, on both sides of the Atlantic, and further afield, who will entertain you.
If you don't know that, or know where to look and where to go, then this is a spurious question, and we are all, if you are false, wasting our time - to your great delight, and adding, just a tad, to my own enjoyment.

Answer 4

Spielberg - Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, Empire of the Sun, Schindler's List, Raiders of the Lost Ark.....
Martin Scorsese - Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Casino.....
Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather, The Godfather II, and Apocalypse Now.....
George Lucas - Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark......
John Ford - Directed John Wayne, defined the Western Genre. Won an Oscar for his WWII documentary work.

Answer 5

Why is it that Europeans and Asians don't know how to make good films? It's not about the people who make bad films, it's about what you personally like to watch and what you think is good. Don't diss American films because you don't like the ones you've seen. There are a lot of good ones out there. You just have to take the time to find them.

Answer 6

I love Bergman et al as much as the next guy, but you're crazy if you don't think Scorcese, Altman, Cassavetes (the elder), Coppola (the elder and the younger), and even Kazan didn't create some of the best films ever made.

Answer 7

I watch a few American indpendent films, but i really like films from the far east. Disney financed 'howls moving castle', and Clint Eastwood's just done a japanese film. Movies are going to the far east.

Answer 8

Well in my personal opinion if you are a fan of Woody Allen then I would suggest viewing more American made movies, you are definately viewing the wrong ones.

Have you ever seen "Schindler's List", "Titanic", "Gangs of New York", "Pulp Fiction" ???

Answer 9

It is part of our culture. They aren't trying to create the most innovative films or the most artistic, instead they are trying to get the most people that they can to watch their film, so consequently they cater to the lowest level of humor and of depth in meaning because the majority of people prefer that. I find very few modern movies to be enrapturing, so I understand. Forign directors tend to not be so focused on profit as art, that is partly why there is a much smaller movie industry in other countries. It takes a very cooth person to really appreciate them. Whatever, Hollywood is not my favorite part of my culture. It is really a bunch of junk.

Answer 10

woody allen is a dick but most of the film are made in america. If we didn't have them then we would be watching re runs all of the time. In the uk we get enough of them anyway.