Reader Jay wants to know, as a counterpoint to yesterday’s question about filmmakers who have lost their minds:
What filmmakers have improved like a fine wine?
Meaning not Have their older films improved with age? but Have they improved as artists with age?
Jay adds:
I think it’d help me pick great stuff to see and track their (perceived) improvement from their early days.
Off the top of my head, I can think of lots of directors whom I might have named if I were asked this question a few years ago, but whose latest films have been, if not exactly disappointing, then simply not indicative of an aging like a fine wine (the Coen Brothers, David Fincher, Michel Gondry). But one director does jump out: Brad Bird. Sure, he’s directed only three films — 1999’s The Iron Giant, 2004’s The Incredibles, and 2007’s Ratatouille — but each is exquisitely more sublime than the last. Hopefully his next film will continue that trend.
What do you think?
(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTD sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.)
