Best Up and Coming Directors (2013 Edition)

Debut

a. Away from Her (2006)
b. Take This Waltz (2012)
c. Stories We Tell (2013)

Last year's 'Waltz' was criminally underseen. This year she's releasing a personal documentary...

Debut

a. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Nominated for an Oscar. Looking forward to seeing what this kind of director can do with a larger budget. Actually, I'm rooting for him to keep it constrained.

2012 Rank: #46

a. Cold Souls (2009)
b. Madame Bovary (2014)

Could we finally see what else Barthes can offer next year?

Debut

a. Monsters (2010)
b. Godzilla (2014)

Typically I wouldn't care about seeing another Godzilla remake, but after seeing 'Monsters'...

2012 Rank: #42

a. The Messenger (2009)
b. Rampart (2012)
c. Berlin, I love You (2014)

Rampart was a slow burn and was even slower to grow on me in post viewing thought.

Debut

a. Incendies (2011)
b. Prisoners (2013)
c. Enemy (2014)

'Incendies' was very strong and his next movie has Roger Deakins doing the cinematography!

Debut

a. No End in Sight
b. Inside Job (2010)
c. Hillary Clinton Documentary (2014)

I'm intrigued to see what happens with a Clinton documentary...

Debut

a. Submarine (2011)
b. The Double (2013)

'Submarine' was a delightful debut and 'The Double' could definitely be even better...

2012 Rank: #48
2011 Rank: #42

a. The Killer Inside Me (2010)
b. The Trip (2011)
c. The Look of Love (2013)
d. The Trip to Italy (2014)

I just heard 'The Trip' is getting a sequel! And 'Love' looks like it could be quite good...

2012 Rank: #50

a. Miracle (2004)
b. Pride and Glory (2008)
c. Warrior (2011)
d. Jane Got a Gun (2014)

2012 Rank: #44
2011 Rank: -Out-
2010 Rank: #48
2009 Rank: #13

a. Love Actually (2003)
b. Pirate Radio (2009)
c. About Time (2013)

His next project, no surprise, has another stellar cast. Let's hope he pulls off a hit closer to 'Love' than 'Radio'.

2012 Rank: #41
2011 Rank: -Out-
2010 Rank: #37

a. Anvil!: The Story of Anvil (2009)
b. Hitchcock (2012)
c. My Dinner with Herve (2014)

'Hitchcock' was decent and his next project looks completely different from his other two.

2012 Rank: #42

a. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)
b. The Future (2011)

July is all over the place in the art world; so who knows when we'll get to see another really strange movie from her.

Debut

a. Primer (2004)
b. Upstream Color (2013)

I finally saw 'Primer' this year. Amazing. His next project looks to be in the same category, based on the trailer.

2012 Rank: #34
2011 Rank: #12
2010 Rank: #13
2009 Rank: --

a. Zombieland (2009)
b. 30 Minutes or Less (2011)
c. The Gangster Squad (2013)

'Squad' got pushed to this year, it looks like a really cool gangster romp with a hell of a cast.

2012 Rank: #40

a. Let the Right One In (2008)
b. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

2012 Rank: #38
2011 Rank: #26
2010 Rank: #29
2009 Rank: --

a. An Education (2009)
b. One Day (2011)
c. Posh (2014)

'Posh' is finally taking shape...

2012 Rank: #33

a. OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)
b. OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009
c. The Artist (2011)
d. Untitled Project (2015)

I really don't have anything new to say about the Haz, but I'm glad he's working on something new and not "The Artist 2".

Debut

a. Hunger (2008)
b. Shame (2011)
c. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

I just watched 'Hunger' and 'Shame' within this last year; so 'Slave' just made a big blip on my radar.

2012 Rank: #45
2011 Rank: #44

a. The Girl from Monaco (2008)
b.Coco Before Chanel (2009)
c. Adore (2013)
d. Gemma Bovary (2014)

With movies coming that star Naomi Watts and Gemma Arterton, I can't help but look forward to her work.

2012 Rank: #36

a. Bridesmaids
b. The Heat (2013)

He knows how to direct funny women and I think he has a good possibility of doing just that in 'The Heat'

2012 Rank: #39
2011 Rank: #49

a. In Bruges (2008)
b. Seven Psychopaths (2012)

McDonagh's second effort, while it didn't hold the same brilliance of the first, was solid.

2012 Rank: #37

a. Crazy Heart (2009)
b. Out of the Furnace (2013)

A long wait for Cooper's second go. It's got a great cast.

2012 Rank: #26
2011 Rank: #17
2010 Rank: #4
2009 Rank: #45

a. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
b. Get Him to the Greek (2010)
c. Five-Year Engagement (2012)
d. Neighbors (2014)

'Engagement' was a slight disappointment, but 'Neighbors' looks like a pretty funny movie concept...

2012 Rank: #35

a. Touching the Void (2003)
b. State of Play (2009)
c. Marley (2012)
d. How I Live Now (2013)
e. Christmas in a Day (2013)

'Marley' was a great doc and his upcoming projects are intriguing all right.

2012 Rank: #32
2011 Rank: OUT
2010 Rank: #49
2009 Rank: #11

a. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
b. Anomalisa (2014)
c. Frank or Francis (2015)

Kaufman now has two upcoming projects, the anticipation is killing me!

2012 Rank: #31
2011 Rank: #31

a. Irreversible (2002)
b. Enter the Void (2009)
c. The Golden Suicides (2015)

His next film's title sounds like a Noe film, otherwise I know nothing about it.

2012 Rank: #30
2011 Rank: #18
2010 Rank: #16
2009 Rank: #32

a. The Illusionist (2006)
b. Limitless (2011)
c. Divergent (2014)

Woodley starring in Burger's next film, no doubt I'll see it.

2012 Rank: #25
2011 Rank: #21
2010 Rank: #23
2009 Rank: #14

a. The Wackness (2008)
b. 50/50 (2011)
c. Warm Bodies (2013)
d. Echelon Vendetta (2015)

'Vendetta' is still on the horizon and 'Warm Bodies' looks like a fun premise for a zombie movie

2011 Rank: #33
2010 Rank: #34
2009 Rank: #28

a. The Matador (2005)
b. The Hunting Party (2007)
c. Dom Hemingway (2014)

Finally a new production in the works and one that looks like it will actually be complete!

Re-Entry

a. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
b. Four Christmases (2008)
c. Horrible Bosses (2011)
d. Identity Thief (2013)

I started losing faith in Gordon, but 'Identity Thief' looks pretty good...

and Jonathan Dayton

2012 Rank: #29
2011 Rank: #35
2010 Rank: #32
2009 Rank: #20

a. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
b. Ruby Sparks (2012)
c. Used Guys (2015)

"Ruby Sparks" was a great little romcom and proof Faris/Dayton should be making movies

and Jay Duplass

2012 Rank: #37
2011 Rank: #20
2010 Rank: #24
2009 Rank: #41

a. The Puffy Chair (2005)
b. Baghead (2008)
c. Cyrus (2010)
d. Jeff Who Lives at Home (2012)

'Do-Deca' was weak but thankfully they followed that up with 'Jeff' which was definitely not weak.

2012 Rank: #16
2011 Rank: #27
2010 Rank: #35
2009 Rank: #12

a. Michael Clayton (2008)
b. Duplicity (2009)
c. The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Legacy wasn't the best 'Bourne' but it still held up.

2012 Rank: #24

a. Capote (2005)
b. Moneyball (2011)
c. Foxcatcher (2013)

Foxcatcher sounds crazy good, putting Carell in a risky role.

2012 Rank: #22
2011 Rank: #34
2010 Rank: #41
2009 Rank: #35

a. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
b. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
c. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
d. The Only Living Boy in New York (2015)

While I liked his Spider-Man take let's hope he has time for other fare in the next few years, "Living Boy" has been on the docket for two years already.

2012 Rank: #19
2011 Rank: #15
2010 Rank: #19
2009 Rank: #26

a. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
b. Up (2009)
c. Inside Out (2015)

Docter is drumming an interesting Pixar charmer for his third time...

2012 Rank: #14
2011 Rank: #46

a. Thumbsucker (2005)
b. The Beginners (2011)

Nothing new for Mills, let's hope it's not another six year wait like last time...

2012 Rank: #9
2011 Rank: #37
2010 Rank: #43
2009 Rank: #18

a. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
b. Killing Them Softly (2012)
c. Blonde (2015)

'Softly' wasn't nearly as strong as 'James' but nonetheless entertaining and proof Dominik isn't done yet...

2012 Rank: #18
2011 Rank: #19
2010 Rank: #17
2009 Rank: #36

a. District 9 (2009)
b. Elysium (2013)*
c. Chappie (2015)

Elysium is one of my most anticipated for the year. Let's hope it's a solid sophomore attempt for Blomkamp

2012 Rank: #15
2011 Rank: #23
2010 Rank: #22
2009 Rank: --

a. The Hurt Locker (2009)
b. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

"Thirty" was a pretty decent follow-up for the Oscar winner. I have no doubt she will keep making significant movies.

2012 Rank: #12
2011 Rank: #4
2010 Rank: #3
2009 Rank: #8

a. Superbad (2007)
b. Adventureland (2009)
c. Paul (2011)
d. Clear History (2013)

Mottola and Larry David? Yes please.

2012 Rank: #10
2011 Rank: #16
2010 Rank: #15
2009 Rank: #6

a. Great World of Sound (2007)
b. Of Montreal: In a Fit (2010)
c. Compliance (2012)

Compliance was a complete 180 from 'Sound' and as tough as it was to watch I have nothing but respect for him and excited to see what he does next...

2012 Rank: #7
2011 Rank: #9
2010 Rank: #12
2009 Rank: #3

a. Along Came Polly (2004)
b. I love You, Man (2009)
c. Secret Agent Men (2014)*

His next movie keeps getting pushed so I hope it actually happens...

2012 Rank: #13
2011 Rank: #7
2010 Rank: #1
2009 Rank: --

a. The Squid and the Whale (2005)
b. Margot at the Wedding (2007)
c. Greenberg (2010)
d. Frances Ha (2013)
e. While We're Young (2015)

Baumbach returns this year with another Gerwig starrer. could be fly

2012 Rank: #6
2011 Rank: #2
2010 Rank: #11
2009 Rank: --

a. One Hour Photo (2002)
b. Never Let Me Go (2010)
c. Picasso Baby (2013)

Is next film is a documentary, I'm interested to see what he does with that medium.

2012 Rank: #11
2011 Rank: #22

a. Blue Valentine (2010)
b. The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)*
c. Cagefighter (2014)
d. Metalhead (2015)

His next movie looks awesome and with two more projects on the way his number is clearly moving up fast.

2012 Rank: #1
2011 Rank: #13
2010 Rank: #28
2009 Rank: #15

a. Moon (2009)
b. Source Code (2011)
c. Warcraft (2015)

While it isn't a subject I care for I'm very intrigued to see what Jones does with "Warcraft"

2012 Rank: #8
2011 Rank: #5
2010 Rank: #18
2009 Rank: #42

a. Control (2007)
b. The American (2010)
c. A Most Wanted Man (2013)*

To my great delight Corbijn is filming a new project, which includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe and Robin Wright

2012 Rank: #3
2011 Rank: #10
2010 Rank: #20
2009 Rank: #27

a. Gone Baby Gone (2007)
b. The Town (2010)
c. Argo (2012)

Affleck is now three for three making the announcement for his next film highly anticipatory, which will hopefully come soon...