There's a great incisive director who's the natural heir to David Mamet, who makes devastating movies about interpersonal relationships, with a specific focus on the battle of the sexes. He's sometimes accused of being misogynistic, but he's really just misanthropic--or accurate, if we're being cynical.

This Neil LaBute has made a mere three films, but they're all fairly amazing.

In the Company of Men (1997) is perhaps not the most flairishly (yes, I just made that up) directed film ever, but its script is razor sharp, its performances are amazing, and its conclusion devastating. It announced Neil LaBute as a controversial but powerful new voice.

Your Friends and Neighbors (1998) refines the themes of LaBute's previous film, while showcasing improved direction and an incredibly captivating, Brando-like performance by Jason Patric.

and then The Shape of Things (2003) is the last movie Neil LaBute(a) made. It received the least fanfare, but it's a worthy addition to the LaBute canon, with a decidedly Mamet-like ending and sharp satirical points about modern art and gender relationships (of course)

Alas, that's all Neil LaBute(a) has made. His more-commercial clone, Neil LaBute(b), has made

Nurse Betty
Possession
The Wicker Man (2006)
Lakeview Terrace
Death at a Funeral (2010)

The main point of this post is to implore you, fellow Reelviewers--do not judge Neil LaBute by Neil LaBute(b). He has made 3 nearly-great to great films. Go watch them.


NB: It occurred to me that one could make a very similar thread about David Gordon Green. However, his descent has been more linear. He shifted from Next Terrance Malick to Next Piece of Shit in one easy step.

There seem to be two directors named Michel Gondry:

#1:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
The Science of Sleep (2006)

#2:

Be Kind Rewind (2008)
The Green Hornet (2011)

Yeah I think Charlie Kauffman was the auteur of Eternal Sunshine

Of the ones on the second list, I liked Nurse Betty. But the less said about The Wicker Man the better. Lakeview Terrace and Death At A Funeral were too commercial.

Wicker Man was one of the worst pieces of garbage i've ever seen(not to mention one of the worst remakes ever) I couldn't believe LaBute directed it. John Singleton also fits on here pretty well, strange to see him go from Boyz In The Hood to Abduction.

The original Wicker Man is good in a British, grim drama kind of way.

Yeah I really dig the original Wicker Man as well but avoided the LaBute version. All i've seen is the viral video http://youtu.be/e6i2WRreARo, is it played straight and just misses the mark completely or is LaBute having a real piss-take and the public took it seriously?

I also liked Nurse Betty and think Shape of Things is excellent. Never seen a LaBute play mostly due to my location but I do admire the guy despite being uneven.

Be Kind Rewind is a freaking masterpiece compared to Green Hornet! I actually very much enjoyed Be Kind Rewind. It's a love letter to movies and to video rental places like Blockbuster.

Green Hornet is on my list as one of this year's worst movies.

As for Lebute, I have never seen In the Company of Men or Your Friends and Neighbors. But I thought Nurse Betty was a near masterpiece. It's a movie I absolutely love!

I also liked Lakeview Terrace and think it's much better than people give it credit for. Sam Jackson is great in it.

I always thought Wicker Man was more mediocre than terrible. It's an incredibly silly movie though of course.

I would also move Nurse Betty up to the Neil "a" list.

I loved Green Hornet, Be Kind was just OK in my eyes. I also thought Death For a Funeral was a pretty good film, though not as good as Nurse Betty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selling_out

Aaaaaaaaaand that should pretty much do it for this thread.

How about the two David Gordon Green's;

From films like George Washington, All the Real Girls and Snow Angels to Your Highness, The Sitter and Pineapple Express.

Does he just want to have some fun or can he be added to the link the Peachy posted just above?

...way to not read all the way through my opening post Nick.

The most surprising thing for me was that Your Friends and Neighbors and The Shape of Things are considered to be that good. I always thought LaBute was something of a one hit wonder with Nurse Betty being a flawed but interesting film. Guess I'll have to check those two out.



What the fuck? Metallica never sold out. Well, not really. I'd totally edit that wiki but I'm sure it will come back in a day or two.

Oh Metallica definitely sold out with St. Anger, which is the absolute WORST CD I have EVER heard in my entire life, even the band hates that album and rarely ever plays any songs from it live.

No, Metallica didn't sell out with St. Anger. To think that they did is stupid.....they clearly sold out with the Load albums. St. Anger was a hilarious failure to get back Metallica's credibility.

I would honestly have to put Nurse Betty on that first list because, even though it was LaBute's first step towards conventionality (and his first time working from someone else's script), it still possessed enough of a dark edge to at least seem fresh and original. It would be what I'd expect if Tarantino did his version of The Wizard of Oz. Honestly, I liked it even a little more than Your Friends and Neighbors although I agree that In The Company of Men remains his best work.

Oops James, I posted something late last night about LaBute and thought of the Gordon Green thing this morning when I got up without re-reading your post. Sorry bud, usually i'm more on the ball.

Oh, absolutely no doubt. ITCOM is as good an example as any on how to make a movie congruent to an excellent script. I'd even say that YFAN is a different kind of step forward; still a good movie, similar waters certainly, with an improved eye and better performances.

But I don't think the fellow has made a third good movie. I've written about Nurse Betty's good script made less-than-stellar by LaBute misdirecting his own ideas. That's still the closest he's gotten to a third good film.

Not just an absurd drop-off in quality but also, as the OP indicates, work that appears to be from two different personalities. This probably isn't all that uncommon but LaBute makes a good example.