And now for something completley different.....

            Silly, goofy, eccentric and flat out insane, these are the words used to describe director Terry Gilliam. Terry Gilliam is one of the few directors considered to be an auteur of film. His visions of the present, past and future are unique and vivid in the way they depict realism. Terry Gilliam’s visions of realism cannot even be described as realism, it is magical realism. He creates worlds in which the audience feels engulfed by surreal images, bright colors and unique camera angles. Terry Gilliam didn’t get his start in film though; he got his start back in 1969 when he joined a comedy troupe by the name of Monty Python.

            Terry Gilliam was the only American of the Monty Python group and he didn’t contribute much to the acting. What Gilliam was best known for was his unconventional animations. Gilliam was the one who created the bizarre animations that gave Monty Python its unique look and feel. During the television series Gilliam didn’t act much except for his famous part as one of the men in the Spanish Inquisition. It wasn’t until the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail when Gilliam’s love for film started to show. Gilliam co-directed the film with fellow Python member Terry Jones. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was a huge success and made the Python’s an international hit, which gave Gilliam the opportunity to make his first film, Jabberwocky. Gilliam wrote and directed Jabberwocky which gained critical success but did not earn much at the box office. Gilliam’s next film, Brazil, became his masterpiece. Brazil is Gilliam’s most acclaimed film and is one of his four films that are in the Criterion collection. 

            Gilliam’s use of dutch angles, wide lenses and low angles give his films a unique look that make his movies instantly recognizable. He has directed three actors that were nominated for their roles; Brad Pitt for Twelve Monkeys, Robin Williams and Mercedes Ruehl for The Fisher King. Ruehl won for Best Supporting Actress. Gilliam was also nominated for best original screenplay for his film Brazil, unfortunately he did not win. Terry Gilliam was actually J.K. Rowling’s first choice to direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone but the studio turned down her request saying they wanted a more family friendly director. Brazil may be Gilliam’s most critically acclaimed work but his most famous is his film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas didn’t receive much critical acclaim but the film has influenced many young directors and musicians. Most recently the band Avenged Sevenfold based their music video “Bat Country” off the film. The creators of South Park, Tray Parker and Matt Stone, said they owe a lot to Terry Gilliam for his contributions to animation. Terry Gilliam may not be the most influential or well known filmmaker or Python member, but his art has had a significant impact on our culture.

Francis Ford Coppola

         

    Many names come to mind when discussing Post-classical film making. Names like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Robert Altman, but one stands out amongst them all; Francis Ford Coppola. Francis Ford Coppola is renowned as one of Hollywood’s most influential and celebrated filmmakers. He is often considered to be the epitome of a group of directors known as the Young Turks. His films have had a significant impact on American cinema. Francis Ford Coppola is best known for his works such as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now. Not only has Coppola been an influence with his directing, he has made a significant impact with his writing and producing. Before Coppola gained fame from his Godfather movies, he won his first Academy award alongside Edmund H. North for Best Original Screenplay in 1970 for co-writing the film Patton. Over the years the opening scene from Patton has become iconic and has been mimicked by other artists such as South Park, Johnny Knoxville, The Carol Burnett Show, Little Shop of Horrors, Sesame Street and Boston Legal.

            Francis Ford Coppola would not gain true cinematic success until two years later when he directed The Godfather, his near three hour long epic which followed the Corleone family. To this day, the original Godfather is considered one of cinemas greatest milestones. This film would get Coppola an Academy award for Best Original Screenplay, which he shared with Mario Puzo and two Golden Globes for Best Directing and Best Screenplay. Marlon Brando also won an academy award that year for his portrayal of Vito Corleone, which he refused to accept. The Godfather is ranked third behind Citizen Kane and Casablanca on AFI's 100 Years....100 Movies list. Although The Godfather is honored as one of cinemas greatest achievements, it is not without controversy. There is a scene in which animal rights activists highly object to in Coppola’s film in which a real severed horse head is in the bed of one of the characters. Coppola stated that the head was sent to him from a dog food factory and so thus the horse was not killed specifically for the film. This is not the only time one of Coppola’s films has been attacked by animal rights activists. In Coppola’s masterpiece, Apocalypse Now, a water buffalo has its head cut off as part of a ceremonial act put on by a local tribe. The American Humane Society gave his film an “unacceptable” rating.

          Coppola’s impact on film is not only through his writing, but through his producing as well. Coppola has produced many films including; American Graffiti, Frankenstein, Sleepy Hallow and Marie Antoinette. Coppola’s influence can be seen throughout American cinema and popular culture. George Lucas (a long time friend of Coppola) even stated that he based the character of Han Solo off of Coppola. Coppola’s nephew is the famous Nicholas Cage and Coppola befriended Jim Morrison in California and later used his band’s song “The End” at the beginning and end of Apocalypse Now. Francis Ford Coppola will always be an inspiration for years to come and we all are looking forward to what is coming next from this controversial and brilliant filmmaker.