ThEgReAtOnE
11-14-2006, 03:11 PM
Name: Steven Spielberg
DOB: December 18, 1946
High School: Aracadia High
College: Long Beach University (Dropped out, but returned in 2005 to receive degree.)
Profession: Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Editor, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Cinematographer and Visual Effects.
Company(s): Amblin Ent., Dreamworks SKG.
Notable Films he's either Directed, Written or Produced:
Duel (1971) - Nominated for Golden Globe.
The Sugarland Express (1974)
Jaws (1975) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - Won 1 Academy Award.
1941 (1979) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Won 4 Academy Awards.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Won 4 Academy Awards.
Poltergeist (1982) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Gremlins (1984) - Nominated for 11 Awards. Won 7.
The Color Purple (1985) - Won Golden Globe. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
The Goonies (1985) - Nominatd for 5 Awards. Won 2.
Back to the Future (1985) - Won 1 Academy Award. Won 11 other Awards. Nominated for 22 total Awards.
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Nominated for 6 Academy Awards.
Harry and The Hendersons (1987) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Innerspace (1987) - Won 1 Academy Award.
batters not included (1987) - Nominated for 3 Awards. Won 1.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Who Framed Rogger Rabbit (1988) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Hook (1991) - Nominated for 5 Academy Awards.
Jurassic Park (1993) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Schindler's List (1993) - Won 7 Academy Awards.
Twister (1996) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) - Nominated for 1 Academy Award. 15 other Nominations.
Men In Black (1997) - Won 1 Academy Award. 28 other Nominations.
Amistad (1997) - Nominated for 4 Academy Awards. 22 other Nominations.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Won 5 Academy Awards. 52 other Nominations.
Mask of Zorro (1998) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 15 other Nominations.
Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 35 other Nominations.
Minority Report (2002) - Nominated for 1 Academy Award. 42 other Nominations.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 15 other Nominations.
War of the Worlds (2005) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards. 11 other Nominations.
Munich (2005) - Won 5 Academy Awards. 11 other Nominations.
Memoirs of Geisha (2005) - Won 3 Academy Awards. 27 other Nominations.
Is he the greatest? I believe he is.
My argument:
All in all, Steven has been apart of films that have a combined total of 44 Academy Award wins and 83 Academy Award nominations. He has, personally, won 3 Academy Awards (including an Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award). He has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards for Best Director, winning 2 of them (Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan), and 7 of the films he directed were up for the Best Picture Oscar (Schindler's List won). During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, 3 of his films became the highest grossing films for their time: Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park. In my opinion, films such as Duel, Jaws, Close Encounters of a Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. Gremlins, Poltergeist, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Hook, Jurrasic Park, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan are films that are apart of the greatness, in American Film fabric.
Spielberg was also an intricate part of the Universly popularized Star Wars franchise, as he and George Lucas combined their creativity to produce the storyline. (Though George helmed the project, and Directed.) Most would be semi-astonished to know that Steve Spielberg has a Second-Unit Directing credit on Star Wars II: Revenge of the Sith. In my estimation, Spielberg has 9 films that I would qualify as worthy of being in the Top 100 of All-Time. (Jaws, CE3K, RLArk, E.T., Poltergeist, Back to the Future, Jurrasic Park, Schindlers List and Saving Private Ryan.) How many other Directors/Producers can equal that feat? Not many....if any at all.
Before you jump, lets take a look at a few Directors/Producers...
Who else can be considered? John Ford? He won 4 Academy Awards, although there's only 2 of his films I would consider for the Top 100 All-Time list. (< Grapes of Wraith and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) Who else? Frank Capra? 4 words..."It's a Wonderful Life". He made an All-Time great, that will forever be cherished, however that still doesn't equal "9". Other directors such as Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai), Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001 and Spartacus), Orson Welles (Citizen Kane) and Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window, North by Northwest, The Birds)...? All, certainly, directed great films...but, suprisingly, none of them won an Academy Award for Best Director.
Given that Spielberg has been as successful, over the last 30 yrs, as he has I don't see the 59 yr-old slowing any time soon. There are plans for him to continue the Indiana Jones story (IJ.4) and a new Jurrasic Park film. He is also embarking on the Lincoln vs the Confederacy storyline.
I believe Spielberg is the greatest Director/Producer ever because he understands all of the elements that are implied, within film itself, yet he continues to broaden horizons - in each era. He transcends, and with him so does the world. It's odd....but in a good way. The mystery of the deep, the dream of the future and the gradual incline of the human imagination - in all genres - is a reflection - in his work - of his character traits. Spielberg is one of a kind. He gets it! Heck, I'm glad that I get that he gets it.
Nope...there's no doubt in my mind. Spielberg is untouchable.
The only real true question is...
...who's #2?;)
DOB: December 18, 1946
High School: Aracadia High
College: Long Beach University (Dropped out, but returned in 2005 to receive degree.)
Profession: Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Editor, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Cinematographer and Visual Effects.
Company(s): Amblin Ent., Dreamworks SKG.
Notable Films he's either Directed, Written or Produced:
Duel (1971) - Nominated for Golden Globe.
The Sugarland Express (1974)
Jaws (1975) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - Won 1 Academy Award.
1941 (1979) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Won 4 Academy Awards.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Won 4 Academy Awards.
Poltergeist (1982) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Gremlins (1984) - Nominated for 11 Awards. Won 7.
The Color Purple (1985) - Won Golden Globe. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
The Goonies (1985) - Nominatd for 5 Awards. Won 2.
Back to the Future (1985) - Won 1 Academy Award. Won 11 other Awards. Nominated for 22 total Awards.
Empire of the Sun (1987) - Nominated for 6 Academy Awards.
Harry and The Hendersons (1987) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Innerspace (1987) - Won 1 Academy Award.
batters not included (1987) - Nominated for 3 Awards. Won 1.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - Won 1 Academy Award.
Who Framed Rogger Rabbit (1988) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Hook (1991) - Nominated for 5 Academy Awards.
Jurassic Park (1993) - Won 3 Academy Awards.
Schindler's List (1993) - Won 7 Academy Awards.
Twister (1996) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) - Nominated for 1 Academy Award. 15 other Nominations.
Men In Black (1997) - Won 1 Academy Award. 28 other Nominations.
Amistad (1997) - Nominated for 4 Academy Awards. 22 other Nominations.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Won 5 Academy Awards. 52 other Nominations.
Mask of Zorro (1998) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 15 other Nominations.
Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 35 other Nominations.
Minority Report (2002) - Nominated for 1 Academy Award. 42 other Nominations.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) - Nominated for 2 Academy Awards. 15 other Nominations.
War of the Worlds (2005) - Nominated for 3 Academy Awards. 11 other Nominations.
Munich (2005) - Won 5 Academy Awards. 11 other Nominations.
Memoirs of Geisha (2005) - Won 3 Academy Awards. 27 other Nominations.
Is he the greatest? I believe he is.
My argument:
All in all, Steven has been apart of films that have a combined total of 44 Academy Award wins and 83 Academy Award nominations. He has, personally, won 3 Academy Awards (including an Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award). He has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards for Best Director, winning 2 of them (Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan), and 7 of the films he directed were up for the Best Picture Oscar (Schindler's List won). During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, 3 of his films became the highest grossing films for their time: Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park. In my opinion, films such as Duel, Jaws, Close Encounters of a Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. Gremlins, Poltergeist, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Hook, Jurrasic Park, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan are films that are apart of the greatness, in American Film fabric.
Spielberg was also an intricate part of the Universly popularized Star Wars franchise, as he and George Lucas combined their creativity to produce the storyline. (Though George helmed the project, and Directed.) Most would be semi-astonished to know that Steve Spielberg has a Second-Unit Directing credit on Star Wars II: Revenge of the Sith. In my estimation, Spielberg has 9 films that I would qualify as worthy of being in the Top 100 of All-Time. (Jaws, CE3K, RLArk, E.T., Poltergeist, Back to the Future, Jurrasic Park, Schindlers List and Saving Private Ryan.) How many other Directors/Producers can equal that feat? Not many....if any at all.
Before you jump, lets take a look at a few Directors/Producers...
Who else can be considered? John Ford? He won 4 Academy Awards, although there's only 2 of his films I would consider for the Top 100 All-Time list. (< Grapes of Wraith and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) Who else? Frank Capra? 4 words..."It's a Wonderful Life". He made an All-Time great, that will forever be cherished, however that still doesn't equal "9". Other directors such as Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai), Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001 and Spartacus), Orson Welles (Citizen Kane) and Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window, North by Northwest, The Birds)...? All, certainly, directed great films...but, suprisingly, none of them won an Academy Award for Best Director.
Given that Spielberg has been as successful, over the last 30 yrs, as he has I don't see the 59 yr-old slowing any time soon. There are plans for him to continue the Indiana Jones story (IJ.4) and a new Jurrasic Park film. He is also embarking on the Lincoln vs the Confederacy storyline.
I believe Spielberg is the greatest Director/Producer ever because he understands all of the elements that are implied, within film itself, yet he continues to broaden horizons - in each era. He transcends, and with him so does the world. It's odd....but in a good way. The mystery of the deep, the dream of the future and the gradual incline of the human imagination - in all genres - is a reflection - in his work - of his character traits. Spielberg is one of a kind. He gets it! Heck, I'm glad that I get that he gets it.
Nope...there's no doubt in my mind. Spielberg is untouchable.
The only real true question is...
...who's #2?;)