Comments on: 20 Sophomore Films From Celebrated Debut Directors

By: Eric Robert Wilkinson

Eric Robert Wilkinson — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Perhaps they're too obvious or perhaps it's an oversight but PT Anderson, Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Oliver Stone, Alejandro G. Innaritu, etc.? Where are they?!?

By: DG Brock

DG Brock — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Thank you for covering so many 2nd films by women directors who are frequently short-changed in articles on interesting films of the past. One note: Alison Bagnall, the co-writer of Buffalo '66, certainly deserves a measure of credit for the quality of Vincent Gallo's first film, and I believe her absence or the absence of any co-writer on Brown Bunny may have been responsible for some of the story problems on the sophomore effort. However, Vincent stated many times that the purpose of Brown Bunny was to "upset" indie film audiences and he felt he succeeded in that intent.

By: Keil S.

Keil S. — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

I'd like confirmation on what's considered to be Linklater's debut: Slacker or It's Impossible to Learn to Plow By Reading Books. In a recent interview he referred to Slacker as his debut, and I wouldn't think an experimental 8mm film with no distribution should be considered part of his official filmography, but what does everyone else think?

By: Sid

Sid — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

David O. Russell! Spanking the Monkey then Flirting with Disaster!!

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

What about Todd Field's follow up to In the Bedroom? Little Children is one of my favorite films!

By: TheDoctor

TheDoctor — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Thanks for mentioning Kafka! I love that film so much and even Soderbergh himself wont say much about it

By: Gyandeep

Gyandeep — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Great list. But no PTA? No Ben Affleck?

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

um…boogie nights? pulp fiction??

By: Frank D

Frank D — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Something needs to be mentioned about arguably the most controversy-laden follow-up of all time: "The Magnificent Ambersons." It was the 2nd feature by a guy named Orson Welles who made a film called "Citizen Kane." The complete, director-intended version of "Ambersons" is likely lost forever. The studio-released, truncated versions (many of them) show glimpses that many film scholars have said could well be a film that surpassed its predecessor in vision, form, content.

How about a "reverse" list? Inauspicious debuts that led to great careers later? It may be an odd choice but Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense" was his 3rd feature. Very rare in this biz that someone gets THREE chances to get "on the big board." (Granted, he's hit the decline since.)

By: Andrew from Troy

Andrew from Troy — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

I'm surprised that Kevin Smith's Mallrats isn't here. I'm not the biggest fan of the film, but I expected to at least see it in the honorable mentions.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

Shame is easily my favourite of Steve McQueens three movies. It definitely does not need to be written out of the history books just because of its personal nature…

By: Hashim AlHamar

Hashim AlHamar — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

I was surprised you didn't include Paul Thomas Anderson and probably one of the greatest sophomore efforts in history, Boogie Nights. You didn't even put it in the Honorable Mentions part.

By: oogle monster

oogle monster — Mon, 23 May 2016 05:55:45 +0000

I would throw Derek Cianfrance and Blue Valentine into the mix. I believe it's his second film, and it's hands down his best to date. Also, just a great film in general.