There have been many standout directorial debuts in cinema from Orson Welles’ 1941 Citizen Kane to Rob Reiner’s 1984 This is Spinal Tap. Many directors come to be defined by their first feature film, sometimes it is arguably their best work, like Terrence Malick’s 1973 Badlands, other times it marks their entry into the popular consciousness, like Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 Reservoir Dogs. But what about some recent entries into the hallowed halls of directorial debut success?
In celebration of Trespass’ Bright Young Things week, I asked some committed cinephiles to pick their top 3 directorial debut since 2005, here are mine...
Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone (2007)
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Who’d have thought the man who starred in films such as Daredevil, Gigli and Jersey Girl would have ended up making one of the best mystery films of recent time. Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s (author of Mystic River and Shutter Island) novel of the same name, proved that this was one actor who is much better suited to the director’s chair. This haunting tale of child abduction is set in Ben Affleck’s beloved Boston. It is perhaps this familiarity with place, along with the casting of his younger brother Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) as the story’s protagonist that helped the first-time director find his rhythm. Even though he has cast himself in the lead role, I’m looking forward to Ben Affleck’s next film project- The Town, due out later this year.
Ryan Fleck, Half-Nelson (2006)
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With his debut feature film, Ryan Fleck played with the saccharine inspirational teacher mould that often fills midday movie rotations, and presented us with something much much better. Half-Nelson gives its audience a teacher with big plans and high hopes, who is also one of those elusive functioning drug addicts. The film follows the bond that grows between History teacher, Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling, who has a knack at working with good first time directors- see below) and pupil Drey (Shareeka Epps, Mother and Child) who are connected by their very differing but equally inhibiting relationship with drugs. With Half-Nelson this first-time director gave his audience subtlely over diatribes- the result- a softly spoken film that rather than hitting you over the head with its message, lingers in your mind.
Andrea Arnold, Red Road (2006)
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British director Andrea Arnold first feature length film, Red Road is a powerful film about revenge, told in a unique way. Interweaving the UK’s obsession with CCTV camera into the storytelling, Arnold’s poignant story set around a poor estate in Scotland is brash, fierce and unyielding. Yet, as both writer and director she treats all the characters with sympathy, not labelling anyone solely good or bad. Using voyeurism to build suspense Red Road is an impressive debut, which Arnold managed to follow up with an excellent second film, Fish Tank-no easy task. Honourable Mentions:David Michôd, Animal Kingdom (2010); Rian Johnson, Brick (2005); Craig Gillespie, Lars and the Real Girl (2007); Ruben Fleischer, Zombieland (2009)
Full list at
Trespass
