Why I think Tarkovsky is the best director ever

I know he is an inconceivable director, a remarkable director.His narration style,themes are all so brilliant.

I just don't know if i'll ever understand the hype that surrounds Tarkovsky. I honestly don't. With the exception of Andrei Rublev (which I thought was fantastic) I have completely disliked almost every one of his films. Everytime I'm about to see another one of his films, I tell myself it's going to be great and i'm going to love it, and everytime my hopes are crushed. First it was Solaris, then the Sacrifice. I was almost going to give up after the Sacrifice, but I remained optimistic and looked forward to Andrei Rublev. I watched Rublev and all expecations were fufilled. There was a part of me that was worried that it might be the sacrifice, except 3 1/2 hours, which very likely could've kill me. Luckily, it was nothing like the Sacrifice (or any of Tarkovkys other films). It seemed completely different to me, and the strange thing is, is that at 210 minutes, this seems like the shortest Tarkovsky film and the one with the best pacing and overall flow.

So again, my hopes remained high that i'd enjoy the mirror. I watch the mirror and, while it was no Rublev, it certaintly was better than the sacrifice. I think I could grow to really like it in the future.

Now today I put in Nostalghia and again question the praise of Tarksovky and this film. I disliked it as much as the sacrifice if not more.

Many of the characters i've seen in Tarkovkys films are some of the most bland and uninteresting characters that i've ever been shown on film. I know the pacing of his films are deliberate, and the abscense of a score or anything artificial are excluded for a reason, but why? The problem is, I dont really care. I just can't bring myself to anyalyze a film that I didn't enjoy AT ALL. I could analyze a wall with a layer of paint drying as well, but I'd rather try and decode a Bunuel film personally.

I really have nothing against Tarkovsky as a person. From what I've read on him and from what i've seen in interviews, he seems like a highly intelligent person who i'm in agreeance with on many issues, including the cinema (among other things). I guess we just have a very different view of what art is.

You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it on the streets...

Spielberg is better, Jaws is way better than any Tarkovsky film.

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"Its because films like this one and others like Stalker, Andrei Rublev and Solaris that i'm sure that Andrei Tarkovsky is the best director ever. If anoyone as a different opinion, please let me know, I would like know your opinions..."
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You might be just right. Considering his awesome opus (rather short one comparing to other greats) he might be the best ever. One could only wonder (dream!) what 'more' he would deliver, if he had a chance to work more...

I DO think he was a genius, a true artist and unique filmmaker (I like his works VERY much), but considering all I slightly prefer Bunuel and Bergman and maybe Kurosawa (just my personal taste).
Any of them made at least 5 masterpieces (that's movies to be watched, enjoyed and cherished 100s years from now)...so this is really a tough vote.
In any case - TOP 5 ever without any doubt (IMHO).


vivaLuis

1)I'm not sure if Tarkovsky is the Best, tough he is in the Olympus of directors... right there with Bergman, Kubrick, Kurosawa, Buñuel, Fellini and Scorsese. I'm sure we can agree there, that is a top 7, rankings would differ between all of us, but certainly this 7 directors would be the greatest. That said:
2) Nostalghia is the Best Film by Andrei. That's my opinion. I remeber I had class at 7am, I started watching Nostalghia at 3am, thinking that probably I would fall asleep and resume it in the morning after class. Nostalghia hypnotized me, kept me awake (I would say almost without blinking) until its end. Then I had to go for a walk and have a smoke to make up in my mind the masterpiece that I've just seen, that level of art beyond expectations.
3) Altough I haven't seen the Staker (very difficult to find here in Costa Rica, my country), I've seen Nostalghia, Andrei Rublev, the Mirror, the Sacrifice and Solaris. All masterpieces except for the Sacrifice, it is an excellent movie but not a masterpiece as the other 4 I've seen.
4) Finally as a reply to the las post. I will name masterpieces by Buñuel: that Obscure Object of Desire, Viridiana, el Angel Exterminador, Belle de Jour, los Olvidados and Un Chien Andalou. Brilliance on cinema each and everyone.

PD: spielberg and Tarkovsky don't play in the same league of cinema don't compare them, I like Spielberg (not particulary Jaws, actually I think Munich is his best film). Again don't compare them, unfortunately Steven is going to lose.

[deleted]

Definitely one of my favorite director and though I am yet to see his Nostalghia and Sacrifice, I loved Andrei Rublev, Stalker and really liked Solyaris and Ivan's Childhood. I am eager to watch the two not seen movies asap. I simply love the way he portraits his character, their inner conflict with the usage of very less dialogues and more of background images, and the characters expressions.

For me he is the best director becaus he conciously used his art to try to make the world and human beings better. He didn't just make netertainment films, he made films that point out human faults and imperfections.