Christopher Nolan - When I first watched Batman Begins, I was kinda disappointed by some of the character and casting choices (Christian Bale as a less dashing Bruce Wayne who becomes a less intelligent Batman at 30(!). Katie Holmes as a young ADA love interest involved with her boss? Liam Neeson as a white(!) Ra's al Ghul?? And I still can't unsee Michael Caine when he plays Alfred. Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman were perfect though!) But after watching it again, without critical Bat-fan goggles, I can appreciate it as a very good superhero/action film. And of course The Dark Knight was outstanding all-around (great casting, especially the brilliant Heath Ledger), and I loved it (except Bale's Bat-Bear voice). I cannot wait for The Dark Knight Rises this summer!
Now Inception's awesomeness inspired me to watch Nolan's other films. I just watched Memento (about a man with short-term memory loss and a vendetta, told backwards) and The Prestige (story of two magicians' life-long feud and the secrets of illusion, plus David Bowie). Both had excellent writing, directing, style, and acting. The story concepts were interesting, intricate, involving, and impressive.
I don't know much about film direction, but I really admire Nolan's visionary storytelling abilities, always unique, just the right balance between confusing and clear, enough to intrigue and enough to understand, filled with ideas and spectacle but also a solid emotional throughline that makes the story worth caring about, ending in a mostly satisfying way that leaves you wanting more, or at least a re-watch (or two) to get it all. Nolan, with his writer brother and producer wife, makes movies that are as deep and cerebral as an indie film and as entertaining and thrilling as a Hollywood blockbuster. It's a combination of fiber and sugar; it's a BRAN DOUGHNUT.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Yup, I fell for the suave, badass, kiss-stealing ninja Point Man. I remember watching him in 3rd Rock from the Sun and having a TV crush on Tommy Solomon. lol. He was such a cute and funny young comic actor. I also loved 10 Things I Hate About You, one of the best teen flicks and modern Shakespeare adaptations. But looking at his later work, JGL has become a very accomplished dramatic actor as well (see Mysterious Skin, Brick, and The Lookout). No matter how weird, unlikable, or silly his character is, he manages to instill some real humanity and charm into it.
I guess that's why most of JGL's acclaim was for his dramedy roles, especially in the totally charming (500) Days of Summer (the whimsical but emotionally real rom-com that puts a twist on the rom-com genre and its portrayal of love) and the great based-on-a-true-story 50/50 (the cancer comedy that's both hilarious and touching with its honesty). (Hm. Why do so many of his works have numbers in the title..?)
He's a talented, diverse, and dedicated actor. Not to mention he can sing, dance, compose, play guitar and piano, speak French, do gymnastics, write, direct, and run an online production company for global artistic collaboration, hitRECord. He looks like a cross between Heath Ledger and Keanu Reeves, and he's funny, charming, and just seems like a cool guy. Wow, I'm sorry for all the fangirling over my newest celebrity crush. ^^;; But here's my favorite part of 500DoS: Tom singing karaoke! ♥
Sherlock - (No, not the Robert Downey, Jr. movies, although they're pretty fun.) I'm talking about the BBC mini-series of 90-minute TV movies, which modernizes Sherlock Holmes, bringing his genius intellect and detective skills (and bizarre personality) into today's world of technology and crime. I love this series because despite being adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work, it's very fresh and cleverly twisty. It's fast-paced, smart, funny, quirky, intense, and cinematic, like a bromantic dramedy "CSI: London". ;P It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, one of my favorite British actors, and Martin Freeman, and they have great chemistry together as the contemporary Holmes and Watson. Here's the scene from the first episode showing their first meeting:
