John Ford : Is there a more overrated director than John Ford?

I am almost invariably disappointed in every film of his that I ever take the time to watch.

How he's considered such a great director is a complete mystery....

The only film of his I've seen that I thought was really exceptional is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

My vote history: http://us.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=9354248

You know, I was going to respond legitimately, but instead first followed your signature link to check out your tastes and ratings.

And I'm glad I did because I just ... I just can't bring myself to respond to someone who rates 8 1/2, Bride of Frankenstein, Once Upon a Time in the West, Le Samourai, Jules & Jim, The Grapes of Wrath, Andrei Rublev, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, and countless others on an even keel with Ace Ventura, Legally Blonde, Maximum Overdrive, Meet the Spartans and Zapped!, etc. (all 4/10) And then Conan the Destroyer higher than all of those? And then seeing the few movies you did award 10's to? Sorry. I don't mean to be a colossal dick (your tastes are your tastes and I don't like people telling me mine suck) but I just don't imagine having anything to say that would convince you of the merits of the pure kinetic poetry of one of America's finest visual stylists and historical deconstructionists based on the glimpse I saw of your ratings.

I will however answer your question plainly. Is there a more overrated director than John Ford? Yes, about 95 % of all other directors - comparably. If you want to further explore Ford's status as one of the most influential and reknowned filmmakers of all time, I recommend Tag Gallagher's critical analysis John Ford: The Man and His Films which examines Ford's form, content and context better than any other source I've come across without ever pulling any punches - ie, it doesn't kiss his ass.

You'll notice the OP/troll hasn't bothered to respond...

I don't act...I react. John Wayne

He was one of the best directors ever and it sad that you don't get his work., I guess you have to have better film knowledge

Maureen O'Hara, Ireland Best Actress. Got Maureen O'Hara and Julie Andrews autograph 2008!

And what films are these, may I ask?

"I am Mr. Shackelford's attorney, Rusty Shackelford, and my client pleads insanity."

Andrei Tarkovsky. Seriously, watch his films and you'll agree with me.

Tarkovsky couldn't tell an engaging story but by god could he direct, and his films, to me, are gorgeous inside and out. So I think you are mistaken. For me, the most overrated directors are probably Kubrick and Spielberg, but even they've done stuff I really like.

i agree with spielberg being the most overrated... i give him credit for jaws, schindlers list, and saving private ryan. everything else he did was just average or below average yet he is considered by many one of the greatest of all time.

Simply because Spielberg is Ford, Hitchcock and Hawks o 16d0 f THIS generation. Show me a more prominent and influential leader of todays modern filmmaking. The reason why all those three names are so influential and revolutionay, because they were practically at the very beginning of the American cinema, they laid the groundwork for many to come. Now it's harder to make further progress that would have the same influential impact.

Alfred Hitchcock...

If you are sick of the ''I love Jesus 100% signature'', copy and paste this into your profile!

Maybe.

Directors like Ford take a while to get used to for the younger generations i think(and before you think i'm looking down on anyone, i'm 32 myself, and took a while to appreciate these kind of directors). There are tensions running beneath a seemingly placcid surface that are not always easy to identify, especially for less experienced viewers.

I had a similar experience with Ozu. Used to think he was a colossal bore too, now i love him. I don't love Ford, but i certainly admire him, and he did make a few great films.

I'll probably give Ford a better look in the not too distant future. There are films of his that interest me.

Yes, there are at least two: James Cameron and Tim Burton.

John Ford is not overrated! Every praise the man gets is well deserved.


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Mr. Ford is NOT "overrated". My guess is that you are maybe 25 years old. Get a grip and grow UP.

There´s always Godard...



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

I would probably list directors such as Tarantino, Soderberg, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone and George Lucas(?) as being more overrated than Ford.

Godard's less overrated than completely lost his touch over time.

I'm afraid that you underestimate the number of subjects in which I take an interest!

If you possess a reasonable understanding of film history, how could you not see why people consider him a great director? I mean, whether or not you concur, the reasons for that consensus should be fairly evident.

You would also be better-served by stating why you think that Ford is so overrated, as opposed to simply making 5b4 a claim.

ford's movies are corny,stale,and poorly acted. only kurosawa is more overrated than ford. kurosawa's movies look like he just turned the camera on the actors and went to sleep.
exceptions(ford):the grapes of wrath and seven women.

Jean Luc-Godard.

There´s lot of crap movies and their directors who are heaped with praise. Thankfully Ford, director of many well-made flicks, get some praise.

Four Best Director Oscars- I'd say about 98% of other directors are more overrated than Ford, for all of his personality flaws.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

John Ford is NOT "overrated". Period.

I sort of group Ford in the same category as directors like Eisenstein or Riefenstahl, the content of their films can be a bit troubling but they're outstanding technicians. So even though Ford isn't my favorite director, I respect his influence and his eye for his visual composition. A lot of his films really don't hold up too well to modern eyes, but his very best films (while flawed) are still great and worth watching for anyone who's interested in cinema.

In short, it's hard to really appreciate Ford unless you're rather knowledgeable about the technical aspects of film-making. And for the record, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is far and away his best film.