There are plenty of directors who are trusted to take on huge projects. However, while many would see them as a safe pair of hands, audiences can sometimes overlook the unique visual style that they bring to a film. Indeed, each director contributes something genuinely different to a project, but that's usually glossed over if it's a big-budget flick.
Regardless, these directors have so many hits in their filmographies that demonstrate exactly what they bring to the table. It might be based upon scale, blocking, or maybe even the way in which the performers themselves interact with the camera. No matter what their style is, these directors shouldn't have their immense skills overlooked.
Jon Watts
It was recently announced that Jon Watts would be working on a new Star Wars series for Disney+, after stepping down from the Fantastic Four reboot. While he'll be best known amongst fans for his work on the latest Spider-Man trilogy, the director established himself with a range of shorts, TV shows like The Fuzz, and movies such as Cop Car.
While the argument has been levied that his work has no strong style, that's a major flawed assessment. Not only does Watts clearly thrive with coming-of-age narratives, but he also manages to visually capture scale in a surprising way. The biggest of adventures can be made to feel small and personal thanks to his placement of the camera and the cinematography of his projects often pays homage to classic cinema of the same genre. In many ways, Watts' style feels like a modernized take on throwback concepts.
Patty Jenkins
Patty Jenkins will largely be credited with bringing Wonder Woman to theaters in a major way. There are elements of that portrayal, thanks to Jenkins' direction that can be considered to be better than the DC source material. Her work speaks for itself and she will now be taking on her own project in the galaxy far, far away: Rogue Squadron.
There's a crispness to Jenkins' work visually, that Wonder Woman has really benefitted from. She allows the action to play out in mid and wider shots, a technique that seems to be applied to Monster, which was a film of a much smaller scale. Jenkins has a clear point of view and manages to bring a sense of adventure and vibrancy to her storytelling.
Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh originally began life as an actor himself and his career has been hugely influenced by his work on the stage, especially within the context of Shakespearean plays. Since that time though he has directed some truly tremendous films, from the original Thor to Belfast.
His range is extraordinary but whether it's Death On The Nile, Cinderella, or Artemis Fowl, his skill lies within the detail. No matter how extraordinary the scenario or scenery is, Branagh finds a way to ground the moment in a more relatable detail, that doesn't add any grit or grim to the fantastical setting. He brings a reality to the visuals whether it's in Asgard or Egypt, that actually places focus on the characters and their intricate choices. That kind of physical storytelling is hard to come by but is likely influenced by the stage.
Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay has quickly made a name for herself as an extremely talented producer and director. She draws out fantastic performances from her stars and has contributed to a range of projects in regards to their size, from A Wrinkle In Time to Selma.
When it comes to DuVernay's filmmaking, the shots are all about iconic imagery. There's a lot of low-level lighting and facial closeups that help to draw out the drama and focus on the attributes of her leads, but there are also plenty of character-driven moments that heroically showcase the protagonists in the midst of the action. Ultimately, that visual style is about capturing the raw emotion of an individual no matter the scenario, by utilizing close camera work.
Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau has been hailed as a true visionary, and yet his own unique style is somewhat overlooked. Favreau is viewed often from a storytelling perspective when looking at what he brings to the table, from the personal work on Chef to establishing Iron Man, The Mandalorian, and Disney's live-action efforts with The Jungle Book and The Lion King.
Whether it's Elf or Zathura: A Space Adventure, there's something truly magical about Favreau's visual style. Everything is vibrant, and dramatically driven but given a real sense of the scale of the story. Every picture of Favreau's is elevated, with plenty of thought going into setting the tone through the visuals alone. Buddy's fantastical world is as gorgeous and painting-worthy as is Pride Rock or the deserts of Tatooine.
Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler has recently been far more sought out thanks to his incredible work on Creed, and Black Panther. But a range of shorts and early pictures such as Fruitvale Station ultimately helped to establish his own voice and style. That's sure to play into upcoming projects like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Wrong Answers, and Scenes For Minors.
Each film of Coogler feels very personal. there's a realistic grit and drama applied to even superhero situations, with a good level of lighting but a lot of close-up camera work. Coogler doesn't hold back on strong colors and vibrancy but for his cinematography, it's all about contrasting that beauty with a darker scene. Even amidst a spectacular scene, Coogler captures the people, playing into that notion of contrast.
Ron Howard
Ron Howard is a legend amongst cinema-goers. It's strange that his style of filmmaking isn't more well-respected considering the legacy he has already left. In the comedy world he helped to set up Arrested Development. In fantasy he created Willow. Solo, Rush, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas are just a handful more examples from his endless filmography.
Howard's long list of accomplishments are certainly impressive, and his visual style is as old school as they come. Even as contemporaries like Spielberg have continued to evolve in their visuals, there's something timeless and magical about how Ron Howard approaches a project, shooting it just like they did in the silver age of cinema. Howard continues to keep the traditions and glory days of Hollywood alive through his work.
Matthew Vaughn
Matthew Vaughn is mostly well-known as a long-time collaborator of comic book creator Mark Millar. But his work extends past Kingsman and Kick Ass. X-Men: First Class, Stardust, and Layer Cake are just a few other instances of his filmography.
Vaughn loves to capture the action. Visually everything is fast-paced and erratic. Often it's as if his source material has come to life from the page, with comic book elements very much influencing the bright and bold cinematography. He doesn't shy away from a visual challenge, with even the harder-to-film elements of Stardust being leaned into, with all the tropes of fantasy being utilized to craft a gorgeously colorful landscape.
Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard hasn't been in the directing game long. Daughter to Ron Howard, the veteran has made a name for herself in a range of projects as an actor. However, a variety of shorts, the documentary Dads, and TV movies such as Call Me Crazy: A Five Film allowed her to carve out a unique path for herself.
The Mandalorian and The Book Of Boba Fett has clearly defined that visually Howard is just as influenced by the older styles of filmmaking, but as an actor, understands the importance of blocking a scene to make the most of the performances she is given. It's acting first, from the camera angles to the setup of a sequence, everything is driving towards shooting that reaction or indeed moment of action.
Peyton Reed
Peyton Reed's most recent credits include The Mandalorian, Ant-Man, Ant-Man And The Wasp, and New Girl. Tracing his career back though, he has some huge cultural influences on his CV from the Back To The Future TV show, to Bring It On, Yes Man, The Break-Up, and even The Wonderful World Of Disney.
Reed is as cinematic as they come but is completely obsessed with the visual gag. He can capture immense dramatic moments but completely thrives in the realms of comedy. It's difficult to visually have comedic timing, but Reed absolutely demonstrates that, elevating the performances of his leads thanks to his camera movements, set up of a scene, or even lack of movement through a sequence.