The thing to remember that in Hollywood, pretty much ALL directors are SAID to have declined. After building them up, critics turn on them, and then the public rather follows. "Its a rule."
Quentin Tarantino (who was similarly turned against by the critics) thinks that "old directors in their final 20 years" make films of decline because of age, health, and changing audience tastes. I'm not so sure of that one. Maybe it mattered in the "old days" when guys like Frank Capra, Howard Hawks, John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock had no access to top health care(even if rich) or exercise regimens. But TODAY...old guys like Spielberg and Scorsese are still going strong (if a bit less with the hits in Spielberg's case.)
So...the same for Tim Burton.
Except: hey, time flies, but I think one of Burton's "late" films(Sweeney Todd, now 16 years old) is one of the best films he ever made and I believe that 2010's Alice in Wonderland (with a fine Johnny Depp cameo as the Mad Hatter with CGI eyes) was his biggest hit aside from Batman. I thought that Dark Shadows was a 70s-infused kick.
Even as I post this, Burton seems to have a hit streaming series in "Wednesday"(based on an Addams Family character). Young people talk to me about THIS one all the time.
So we can SAY Tim Burton is in decline, but I don't much think so.
PS. Like any true movie artist who "makes it big," Tim Burton PROVED his talent with this run of movies:
Pee Wee's Big Adventure(Pee Wee's NEXT adventure movie was a total flop; Burton made the directorial difference.)
Beetlejuice(Certainly "different," and quite a hit)
Batman. (As Spielberg was given Jaws as reward for his early work, Burton got Batman and Spielberg level status, a blockbuster - HIS Pulp Fiction.)
Edward Scissorhands (Something personal and unique and very moving.)
Batman Returns (Three villains for the price of one; Burton makes the franchise his own, just this once; another blockbuster.)
Ed Wood(Batman buys Burton the privilege of working in black and white and making his best movie.)
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ecarle (14979)
a year ago
THAT run of movies made Tim Burton's reputation; it really didn't matter what he did after that , but Hollywood knows -- he's a proven winner and he can still do whatever he wants, especially after Alice made a billion.
No decline.
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