Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Best Director + Actor collaborations


Some people just like to work together. Some do it really, really good. Some do it great. Others do it beyond greatness. Some do it often together. Come and see who our favorites are. 

Early Heads-Up mention: You should probably just trust my judgement, hence my research has been the opposite of thorough. Fairly slim to be honest. More of a gut feeling and Wiki and IMDb if memory got too poor. 


1.
MARTIN SCORSESE + ROBERT DE NIRO
Movies: Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, New York New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino.

Undeniably number one. I mean, where to begin. Seriously. Look at that resume again. These are all movies people have as the best movies of all time. And they are. All of them. At once. Simultaneously. Heard rumors De Niro was supposed to play Bill The Butcher in Gangs Of New York, which makes you premature-jizz just for the sheer thought of it. But considering how awesome Daniel Day Lewis is and was in it, we don’t mind at all. 

Which is weird if you think about it. The best collaboration of all time, and you’re fine with someone else playing his part. Try to say that with Harrison Ford in mind and try to keep a straight face. Sheer thought of them again makes you cum. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Lé Bonus: Did you also know that De Niro was first considered to play Henry in Goodfellas, but realized he was too old for the part? We love you De Niro, but Ray Liotts is Henry, it has defined him and you were great enough to realize you were greater off without that part. Thank you, and now please do another great film again. Was a while ago now. Michael Mann and Frankie Machine could perhaps become the greatest movie of all time. No pressure.

Special mention: Leo Di Caprio and Scorsese. Leo seems to have taken over De Niro’s place as someone that he loves to work with. We love Leo (probably the only actor with pretty much just one film as a big epic fail in his resume – The Iron Mask, in case you’re slow or forgot) but you can’t just throw off the King like that.


2.
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN + CHRISTIAN BALE
Movies: Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight.

When we first saw Memento, we already knew this was a filmmaker, extraordinaire. Insomnia left us divided yet pleased. The Prestige was pure underestimated entertainment gold. Batman Begins crowned Bale as the right person from this younger, yet mature generation of leading man to guide us through a next epoch of greatness. The Dark Knight knocked us off of our… everything. For me it was an epic ‘where were you when you first saw the trailer’ feeling. Goosebumps. Inception. I mean, are you kidding me? I just watched it again the other day. You should too. Everything he touches becomes gold. Every genre he takes on, he masters. He’s the epitome of all we want from a director.  

Honorary mention: For Inception he created possibly the best and meanest fucking Teaser Trailer ever made (next to Transformers 2 and The Dark Knight). And real trailer is probably the coolest one ever made.


3.
JOEL & ETHAN COEN + JOHN TURTURRO & JOHN GOODMAN. 
Movies: Turturro: Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou?,
Goodman: Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, The Big Lebowsky, O Brother Where Art Thou?

Special mentions: Frances McDormand, George Clooney, Matt Damon.



Side note clarification: Frances obviously has the most movies together with the brothers, but my personal favs are just simply the Johns.

And let’s face it, the Coen’s made Jeff Bridges accessible for us. I never liked him until they brought out the best of comedy in The Big Lebowski. I cried during that movie. Now I can’t wait for True Grit. 

But you couldn't even imagine a movie without these two gents. They can play any part. But a Coen movie doesn't feel quite complete without them. No Country For Old man, says some annoying prick in the back - True Grit, says someone else. Yes, why don't you go fuck yourself before you open you mouth. Fucking douche in the back. Can't even afford decent seats. Shut the fuck up.


4.
QUENTIN TARANTINO + UMA THURMAN
Movies: Pulp Fiction, Kil Bill 1, 2 (soon 3)

It’s funny how Pulp Fiction is almost considered a joke when referencing movies. It’s too well known and good and hard to even consider as anything as too overwhelmingly good.
Bonus: Quesntin is perhaps the greatest person on earth of making women kick ass in his flicks. Next to Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in Alien 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor in Terminator 1 and 2 The is The Bride. No one delivers Quentin's dialogue like Uma. Well. Except every fucking actor who ever stars in a Quentin movie, of course, but bear with us here.


5.
ALEJANDRO GONZALES IINARRITU + GAEL GARCIA BERNAL
Movies: Amores Perros, Babel.
Discussing world issues, politics, in five different places in parallel stories at the same time. Beautifully. Emotions, feelings, all so full of life. BOOM. Right in your face.  You almost wish Gael were in Biutiful too, so you could just have another reason to mention it again.

Shallow Bonus: Gael is sometimes the best looking actors in the world. Pretty impressive considering the competition.


6.
PAUL GREENGRASS + MATT DAMON
Movies: Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Greenzone

Was gonna write that it was too bad that Matt didn’t play in Paul’s best movie, and one of the best of all time, United 91, but then I remembered that part of its greatness is much due to the fact that there are no stars in it what so ever. 

Fact: No one handles contemporary suspense the way Greengrass does.


7.
TONY SCOTT + DENZEL WASHINGTON
Movies: Crimson Tide, Man On Fire, Déjà vu, The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3, Unstoppable 

Ok let’s face it, the guy did Top Gun. He could have done Windtalkers after that and retired with honor. Luckily he didn’t and continued crafting masterpiece after masterpiece.

Big fucking annoying stick in the spinning wheel: I haven’t even watched The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3. Couldn’t be bothered. Not crazy-excited about Unstoppable either. So sad. For fuck sake the guy did Top Gun, Enemy Of The State and Spy Game!!!


8.
STEVEN SODERBERGH + GEORGE CLOONEY & MATT DAMON
Movies: George: Ocean’s 11, 12, 13, Out Of Sight, Solaris, The Good German,
Matt: Ocean,s 11, 12, 13, The Informant.

Like many directors, Soderbergh’s perhaps finest achievements aren’t his biggest hits. In his case it’s definitely The Limey and of course, Out Of Sight that shines the most. And for those curious/upset ones, I know we usually don’t approve sequels in this collaboration rating-system, but we’ll make an exception here for Danny Ocean.

Funny side note: Funny how Matt Damon seem to be my favorite actor or something here, but he just happens to be in very good movies. He must be pleasant to work with I guess. He seems like a pretty chill, intelligent and fun guy actually now that I think of it (while typing) so I guess it’s ok then.

Excessive info: Was actually gonna have Clint Eastowood and Matt Damon here too, but I just don’t like their collaborations that much. Plus then it would be almost like an eerie stalking feeling about Damon.


BUBBLE: PEDRO ALMODOVAR + PENELOPE CRUZ

Haven’t seen a single film he’s made but just as I haven’t seen a single minute of Sopranos or The Wire – I know it’s good. I just haven’t seen it.

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