Famous Directors

Quentin Tarantino

Tarantino is a director well known for films such as Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Django Unchained (2012). His works are characterised by aestheticisation of violence, excessive use of blood, gore, and swearing, and flashbacks. Often the storyline will be presented out of chronological order (Pulp Fiction, Resevoir Dogs).

Tarantino's films will often begin with rather long opening credits that are not intergrated, but instead focused on, for example in Kill Bill (2003) and Reservoir Dogs. Another feature of Tarantino's films is his use of memorable music, such as Beethoven's Fur Elise in Inglourious Basterds and Ennio Moricone in The Hateful Eight. Tarantino also uses his signiature 'trunk shot' in many films, where a low angle shot is used to show the characters from the perspective of inside the boot of a car. This makes the audience feel as though they are part of the setting, however, also curious as to what is in the trunk that they cannot see.

A 'Mexican Stand Off' is also typical of a Tarantino film. This is usually a long or mid shot, where two or more characters stand directly opposite each other, both pointing weapons at the other side. This type of shot builds immense tension, as the audience can see everything that is happening and also clearly understand who is on which side.

Tarantino also likes to feature in his own films, for example as Mr Brown in Reservoir Dogs or as Warren in Death Proof (2007).

Tim Burton

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) are just some of the many films Tim Burton is famous for directing. Typically, Burton works within the gothic genre, for example, Corpse Bride (2005), with his films featuring themes of death or the paranormal. However, in doing this, he also often adds a comedic spin, as in Beetlejuice (1988) and Frankenweenie (2012). 

Burton's films can be seen as masterpieces due to the years taken to create many of them, although this can be partly attributed to them being animations. As when watching a Studio Ghibli or Disney animation the audience knows he is the director as they are very stylistic, e.g. the dark colouring in Corpse Bride or the long, skinny arms and legs of Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Burton also uses Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp in many of his films; a clear indication to the viewer as to what type of film they are about to see. 

Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann is most known for his work on films such as The Great Gatsby (2013), Romeo and Juliet (1996) and Australia (2008). Luhrmann's films are typically long blockbusters, stylised by the glamourous lifestyle of the characters (Moulin Rouge! (2001), Strictly Ballroom (1992)). In particular, Australia has a running time of 165 minutes.

A common feature of Luhrmann's films is pathetic fallacy, meaning the attribution of feelings to inanimate objects, such as the weather. This can be seen clearly in his adaptaion of Romeo and Juliet, where a storm is used to demonstrate tension. Another example of Luhrmann adapting another's work is The Great Gatsby, based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

Like Burton, Lurhmann has actors in more than one of his films, for example Leonardo DiCaprio who features in both Romeo and Juiliet and The Great Gatsby and Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge! and Australia.