Everyone knows the saying practice makes perfect. Whether it is art or sport or any other pursuit it often takes years of practice to achieve greatness.
Some filmmakers, however, decided to start with greatness and see where it went. What separates these films from the debuts of many other filmmakers is the totality of mastery their directors demonstrated.
They didn't just do one thing well; rather, they guided their respective ships through treacherous waters and came out unscathed. They ensured that every aspect of the film worked together in a way that made for a great movie.
These five filmmakers made fantastic thrillers in their very first commercial feature film. Some went on to have fantastic careers that spanned decades, while others are just getting started, and others still only directed a few movies, but all five made their presence known to the movie community from the very start.
Sidney Lumet - 12 Angry Men (1957)
Coming out of the gate with a movie that will go on to be regarded as one of the greatest ever for (at least) sixty-seven years is pretty impressive.
However, having your first movie be one that film programs show their students as demonstrations on how to tell compelling stories is flat-out insane.
Written by playwright Reginald Rose, 12 Angry Men is a shining example of the fact that much of what we’ve come to expect in movies today, CGI, special effects, action, sex, and gore, is not necessary.
With the right stakes, a movie that takes place largely in one room with people sitting around a table talking can be as thrilling as any movie.
Quentin Tarantino - Reservoir Dogs (1994)
When Tarantino started writing Reservoir Dogs, I wonder if he knew posters of Mr. Blonde saying “Are you gonna bark all day little doggy, or are you gonna bite?” would end up on the wall of every dorm room in the country?
He may not have known that, but I’m sure he had an inkling that he was about to make a masterpiece.
Reservoir Dogs is a film that completely masters the art of non-linear storytelling. The brilliant script jumps back and forth showing the audience only what it needs to see in order to appreciate the moment.
It is also a masterclass in dialogue, pace and style. It also blends components of many different genres and types of films. Tarantino was a true student of the game well before entering the mix himself.
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton (2007)
What I love most about Michael Clayton being Tony Gilroy’s directorial debut is that he demonstrates a level of poise some directors never develop.
It often takes those who do many years and several films to do so. As a first-timer, I’m sure Gilroy was eager to make his mark on cinema. One could have hardly blamed him for getting a little heavy-handed without directions, cuts, and much more.
However, Pollack’s script was already jam-packed with potent dialogue and searing subtext. Gilroy showed a tremendous amount of restraint in giving the actors and scenes enough space to breathe.
Gilroy also proved himself pretty adept at directing true movie stars. He demonstrated this ability again with Julia Roberts (Duplicity) and Matt Damon (The Bourne Legacy).
Gilroy didn’t just help Clooney bring his A game, but he also got absolutely stellar performances out of Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton.
Chad Stahelski - John Wick (2014)
The original John Wick film built a world rich enough to spawn three sequels and a spin-off, in just 101 minutes. Much like the other films on this list, it is hard to imagine pulling off such a feat in your directorial debut.
Stahelski took a relatively innocuous inciting incident and spun it into an all-out war that has spanned four films, and several continents, and cost roughly 500 characters their lives.
What makes John Wick so great though is that Stahelski cut his teeth as a stunt coordinator and performer. This tells us that while Stahelski was only involved in one aspect of filmmaking, he understood its place in the overall process and how stunts could enhance a film.
In John Wick, the action and stunts are essential to what makes the movie so distinctive and memorable, however, they are not the only thing that does so. John Wick is a simple, yet powerful story that is well-written.
This movie has its cake and eats it too, by being well written and story forward, and still allowing the stunts and fight choreography to shine. This is a powerful blend that few action thrillers have ever achieved.
Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman (2020)
Making a great movie is hard enough. Making a great movie on your first attempt is nearly impossible. Making a great movie on your first attempt that also has something incredibly important to say while holding a mirror up to society.
Promising Young Woman does just that. It is a powerful commentary on sexual violence and misogyny.
Much like Stahelski, Fennell is really able to coax an incredible performance out of her leads. Everything about this movie, right down to casting so many well-known “nice guys” from TV shows we love (Adam Brody, Max Greenfield) showed us that Fennell truly understood the story she was trying to tell.
Having a deep understanding of the script and what makes it work is such a great skill that many first-time directors don’t possess. Fennell proves an exception to the rule.
