FilmJerk Favorites

A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| Elia Kazan |||
Elia Kazan

Known for his creative direction and controversial story choices, Kazan was not only a great proponent of “method acting” and one of the founders of the Actors' Studio, but he used the style to its greatest effect, working with actors to capture unforgettable moments that bore his unique signature.

Under Kazan's potent direction Andy Griffith gives a stunning portrayal of a Southern itinerant singer catapulted to fame, with dehumanizing effects, in this early look at the power and corruptibility of television celebrity.

Gregory Peck is a humble and idealistic magazine writer who researches an article on anti-Semitism and learns first-hand about prejudice when he poses as a Jew. The film is unique in its ability to be quietly strong and subtly powerful while remaining constantly engaging.

Winner of eight Academy Awards, this powerful and brilliantly performed saga focuses on the dreams, despair and corruption of New York City longshoremen, Marlon Brando as he struggles over the choices of right and wrong and what that means to his brother, corrupt union officials, his priest, and his girlfriend.

Recommended by CarrieSpecht

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'The Wind Done Gone''

By EdwardHavens

April 27th, 2001

Writer Alice Randall has what I think is a great idea... retelling Gone With The Wind from the viewpoint of a slave. However, the estate of Margaret Mitchell disagreed. Despite Randall's protests that her novel was parody protected by the First Amendment, US District Judge Charles Pannell blocked publication of the novel.


Thankfully, Randall and her publisher, Houghton Mifflin, were granted an expedited appeal of Pannell's ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A hearing date has yet to be set. Enterprising readers who received advance copies of the book found the time to head over to EBay, commanding as much as $485 before the site pulled all copies from bidding.