Every director starts somewhere. There’s always that first picture. For many directors, their first movie is either a trial-by-fire (see David Fincher and Alien3), a promising start (see Neil Marshall and Dog Soldiers) or something that they, and we, would rather forget ever happened (see James Cameron and Piranha II: Flying Killers).
There are some debuts, however, that announce a new talent completely. These are not just first movies, but manifestos. They scream out ‘this is what I can do, keep watching this space’. After this, the filmmaker either makes good on his promise or spends his career struggling to escape the shadow of it. That is the double-edged sword of a great debut. It really can be a blessing or a curse.
Bros Review: The series, as the title suggests, is about two adult men who want to behave like children and we are not here for that.
Going Home With Tyler Cameron Review: This is a simple, no-nonsense but cliched watch, with Cameron's boyish charms taking centre stage.
Kaam Chalu Hai Review: Based on true events, this movie is thought-provoking and inspiring
Some good movies here, but this list auto-fails in my opinion for not including 12 Angry Men (one of my all-time favorite movies). It still stands as one of Sidney Lumet's best movies (if not the best).
I didn't at all care for Airplane! And Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, I thought it was good, but nothing great by any means. I'd take those two away. One would undoubtedly be replaced by 12 Angry Men (which I'd put at the top). Some of the others on the list I haven't seen so I can't exactly judge them, but there are some key debuts left off here.
Quentin Tarantino: Reservoir Dogs
Guy Ritchie: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Kevin Smith: Clerks
Frank Darabont: The Shawshank Redemption
John Huston: The Maltese Falcon
Sam Mendes: American Beauty
Troy Duffy: Boondock Saints
Ben Affleck: Gone Baby Gone
Dennis Hopper: Easy Rider
Ruben Fleischer: Zombieland
Tobe Hooper: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
James Wan: Saw
Jodi Foster: Little Man Tate
I'm sure I'm missing several notable ones as well. I'd probably end up having to substitute at least half of that list with some of these right here. Especially 12 Angry Men, Clerks, Lock Stock and Reservoir Dogs.
Clerks and Shawshank Redemption and Boondock Saints would have been fantastic additions to this list! Overall it's not bad, but it's so hard with all these great films out there made by first time directors. Hell, you could even through Monsters out there for Gareth Edwards.
Neill Blomkamp - District 9
All I have to add, one of my all-time favourite movies, really looking forward to what he does next.
Thanks for all the comments, people. I have to say I'm amazed that Evil Dead isn't getting the love. For me, it's by far the best of the trilogy. Army of Darkness was awful.
Still, the beauty of writing a post like this is stirring the debate. Glad to see people having their say.
Other movies that were considered but ultimately rejected were:
Delicatessen
Primer
Blood Simple
Performance
Little Miss Sunshine