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THE MEN WHO COULD DIRECT THE MAN OF STEEL |
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Written by Matthew Pejkovic |
An analysis of the directors on Warners shortlist to direct the Superman reboot The Man of Steel.
Their strengths, their weaknesses, and what the critics would say about their take on the most iconic superhero of all.
Enjoy!
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TONY SCOTT |
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WHO?
British born filmmaker and brother of Ridley Scott, who found much success in America directing high concept action thrillers.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Directing Tom Cruise as Maverick in Top Gun (1986); bringing the words of Quentin Tarantino to life in the ensemble crime thriller True Romance (1993); pitting Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman against each other in a submarine in Crimson Tide (1995); reuniting with ‘Zel in the bloody revenge thriller Man on Fire (2004).
SUMMARY
Scott is the veteran on the list of potential Superman directors, yet experience may not be on his side thanks a visual style has won both plaudits and detractors. Exactly how Superman would look like flying through a mirage of graphics and artificial smoke would be anyone’s guess.
PROJECTED CRITICAL CONSENSUS
“Scott has proven to be the wrong man for Superman’s resurrection, with his penchant for suffocating the screen with frenzied graphics just too much. Yet his casting of Denzel Washington as Lex Luthor has proven to be a masterstroke and the films’ lone saving grace. Give us a Luthor movie now!”
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MATT REEVES |
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WHO?
Long time J.J. Abrams cohort who has won both fans and critical merit for his last two highly publicised films.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Mixing mockumentary and monster movie to thrilling effect in Cloverfield (2008); managing to pull off the impossible by successfully remaking the much admired vampire tale in Let Me In (2010).
SUMMARY
Reeves is on a role, and as Let Me In has proven he is not afraid to tackle a beloved story and make it his own. With Christopher Nolan working behind the scenes, it would only strengthen Reeves’ standing as a filmmaker who effectively merges character with strong visuals.
PROJECTED CRITICAL CONSENSUS
“With The Man of Steel, Reeves has proven himself to be a filmmaker of impeccable skill in the way he handles tone, character and action, making The Man of Steel a superhero movie on par with The Dark Knight.”
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JONATHAN LIEBESMAN |
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WHO?
South African filmmaker who has made a career directing movies of the sci-fi/horror persuasion.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Hitting #1 at the box office in his Hollywood debut Darkness Falls (2003); giving Leatherface his back story in the grizzly prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006); pitting marines against an alien invasion in Battle: Los Angeles and signing on to direct the sequel to Clash of the Titans (both due in 2011).
SUMMARY
Liebesman has proven to be a capable filmmaker who can work with a big budget, yet does that necessarily mean he can take on a project as high risk as the Superman reboot? Perhaps his signing on to direct Clash of the Titans 2 has already taking him out of contention, considering both films are scheduled to shoot at the same time.
PROJECTED CRITICAL CONSENSUS
“There is no question that Liebesman has a deft hand with the type of big budget fare that The Man of Steel offers, yet missing is that element needed to make this Superman adventure the epic it sorely needed to be.”
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DUNCAN JONES |
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WHO?
Son of David Bowie, who wowed critics with his sure to be cult classic directorial debut Moon.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Bringing old school sci-fi back in the criminally underrated Moon (2009); currently filming Jake Gyllenhaal in the sci-fi drama Source Code (due in 2011).
SUMMARY
Jones so far has one completed film next to his name, but what a film it was! Moon was a successful recreation 1970s sci-fi for a modern audience, rich in character and atmosphere. What he brings to these proceedings is potential, and the giddy prospect of him pairing with Christopher Nolan.
PROJECTED CRITICAL CONSENSUS
“The Man of Steel has proven to be a much better compliment to the 1979 original than Superman Returns could ever be, Duncan Jones eloquently paying tribute rather than playing slave to Richard Donner’s vision, while also making his own mark as an exciting new presence to genre filmmaking.”
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ZACK SNYDER |
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WHO?
Former commercial director who went on to create a big splash with a succession of visually dominating pictures.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Making the horror remake cool with Dawn of the Dead (2004); making his mark as a filmmaker of visual excellence in 300 (2006); successfully bringing Alan Moore’s “un-filmable” graphic novel to life in Watchmen (2009).
SUMMARY
If anyone on this list knows how to make a comic book movie, it is Zack Snyder. With Superman under his ever watchful eye, Synder is sure to bring his patented sense of style to The Man of Steel. Yet Synder’s strength could prove to be Superman’s kryptonite, with this pairing a potential case of a directors’ vision overpowering the final product.
PROJECTED CRITICAL CONSENSUS
“The Man of Steel is beautiful to look at, and Snyder knows how to craft an action sequence. Yet his unique brand of visual style makes this feel less like a Superman movie, and more a Zack Snyder film featuring a guy with a red cape.”
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