When thinking “favorites” as far as movie directors go, I find it quite interesting that mine is a rather unexpected one that surprises even myself. Steven Spielberg inspired me enough to leave fine arts behind in pursuit of big Hollywood bucks and red carpets.

After quickly learning that not only all that glitters ain’t gold but also I traded one outrageous dream for another, Robert Rodriguez and Spike Lee later helped me realize that movies can be made independently of a studio system but it would require hard work, dedication, talent and lots of social equity that could be turned into favors when production budgets are tight. So, you'd think that I my favorite director's name would end in "Spielberg," "Rodriguez" or "Lee," right? Me too. The thing is, it doesn't.

While all of these men are among favorite directors....and I’m talking top ten and possibly top five, none of them are THE favorite, numero uno at times when I have to choose just one. The very productive and versatile F. Gary Gray is by far, my favorite director of motion picture films.

Since the mid 90s, Gray has directed several movies including “The Negotiator” starring Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, “The Italian Job” starring Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and Mark Wahlberg, “A Man Apart” starring Vin Diesel and the most recent, “Law Abiding Citizen” starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. The hit comedy “Friday” with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker was Gray’s first feature film, which helped him make a transition from music videos to the big screen.

I like F. Gary Gray’s work because he turns scripts into something that captures audiences by getting the best and sometimes surprising performances out of his actors.....whether they are well known veterans such as Spacey and Donald Sutherland or new talent such as actress Kimberly Elise, who starred in the heist film “Set It Off” opposite Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah.

To this day, Gray is the only director who got me to become such a fanatic about a movie that I own the home video version, the soundtrack and the original score with plans to purchase movie stills and also upgrade to Blu-ray despite the fact that I currently do not even own a Blu-ray player. If the screenplay was available in stores, I would probably buy that too. I’ve also watched the same movie at least one dozen times, if not more and can probably recite the entire film’s dialogue and act out the scenes, on cue. Don’t ask me to do it though, because I won’t. That is just for fun!

I used to toy with the idea of trying to get a job working as Gray’s personal assistant but didn’t follow that one through. I figure that it would be a double opportunity for me. I’d get to spend time with and learn from a director who I admire while also gaining valuable hands-on experience in my area of study.

There is no other director whose film’s I follow to the point that I’m buying the ancillary merchandise, reading interviews and studying both the important and the silly details about a movie......with the exception of the“Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” series but those films don’t count because who doesn’t follow LOTR or the Hogwarts gang?

What do YOU think of these films?

Who is YOUR favorite director?

*This post is dedicated to Herman Turnip at Terrible Analogies.

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