My 5 Favorite Directors

I just realized that two of my favorite directors have new films in theaters this month. My five favorite directors are as follows, along with a list of films that I find essential viewing:

5. Patrice Leconte
Man On The Train, The Widow of St. Pierre, Ridicule; [My Best Friend in theaters soon]

4. Werner Herzog
Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, 'Aguirre, Wrath of God'; [Rescue Dawn in theaters soon]

3. Stanley Kubrick
Paths of Glory, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Lolita, The Shining, Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange

2. Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, The Age of Innocence, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, The King of Comedy

1. Akira Kurosawa
Ran, Rashomon, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Seven Samurai, Ikiru, The Hidden Fortress, Throne of Blood