The release of Martin Scorsese‘s Shutter Island marks Leonardo DiCaprio and the renowned director’s fourth film together after The Aviator, Gangs of New York, and The Departed. In honor of the duo, here are my top ten Director/Actor collaborations over the years of cinema.
10. Kevin Smith & Jason Lee
I know it’d be really easy for me to call on Jason Mewes (Jay) for a Kevin Smith collaboration since they played alongside each other in a lot of Smith‘s films. However, I respect Jason Lee more as both of them have grown in films over the years together. Now Smith doesn’t have to make the same dick and fart joke films (or so we hope with Cop Out due next week) and Jason Lee has become a household name after four seasons on TV as Earl Hickey.
Films together? Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2002), Jersey Girl (2004), Clerks II (2006)
9. Spike Lee & John Turturro
Spike Lee is one of the most visually eye catching filmmakers from the ’90s and it seems whenever he needed a New York-born Italian he had John Turturro on speed dial.
Films together? Do The Right Thing (1989), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Clockers (1995), Girl 6 (1996), He Got Game (1998), Summer of Sam (1999), She Hate Me (2004), Miracle at St. Anna (2008)
8. James Cameron & Michael Biehn
When I think about a pair that have made some of my favorite science-fiction films I can’t help but think of James Cameron and Michael Biehn. This relationship didn’t last long, but it is definitely something you notice watching the ’80s James Cameron films.
Films together? The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989)
7. Steven Soderbergh & George Clooney
Can you tell I’m digging deep for this list? Say what you will about the highly varying director that is Soderbergh but he makes some brilliant films. He’s been lucky enough to have George Clooney, a huge name in Hollywood, to help him make more of his independent efforts become more financially viable and get them made so we would have something brilliant to enjoy.
Films together? Out of Sight (1998), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Solaris (2002), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Syriana (2005), The Good German (2006), Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)
6. Tim Burton & Johnny Depp
I do believe that these two are attached at the hip. Many of Burton‘s best films star Johnny Depp. I like to imagine that whenever Burton signs on to do a film there’s a clause in his contract that Depp must at least be the second lead in it.
Films together? Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hallow (1999), Corpse Bride (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber from Fleet Street (2007), Alice in Wonderland (2010)
5. Paul Thomas Anderson & Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Paul Thomas Anderson is one of my favorite directors and Phillip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favorite actors, so how could I not be pleased that by some chance the two seem to be always be working together. This is one of my favorite pairings of and I hope they never stop working together. It looks like things won’t change with The Master.
Films together? Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch Drunk Love (2002), The Master (2011)
4. Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro
When someone mentions director and actor in the same breath the first names following are Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. They have made some of the many classics of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s in American cinema and in turn made themselves household names.
Films together? Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), New York New York (1977), Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1982), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995)
3. Billy Wilder & Jack Lemmon
It’s impossible to deny the brilliance of Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon. Before Jessie Eisenberg and Michael Cera the king of the neurotic romantic interest was this duo.
Films together? Some Like it Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), Irma La Douce (1963), The Fortune Cookie (1966), Avanti! (1972)
2. John Carpenter & Kurt Russell
It’s hard to express how much I’ve fallen in love with this duo in the last few years. I’ve never been the biggest horror fan but whenever these two come together no matter what genre they work in I can’t help but enjoy it so much that it transcends geekdom and becomes just darn creepy.
Films together? Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Escape from L. A. (1996)
1. Akira Kurosawa & Toshiro Mifune
In the last month I’ve been hosting my own personal crash course in film education with a marathon of Akira Kurosawa films and since he tended to cast Toshiro Mifune in every film he did it was easy to call this the greatest collaboration of all time.
Films together? Drunken Angel (1948), The Quiet Duel (1949), Stray Dog (1949), Rashomon (1950), Scandal (1950), The Idiot (1951), Seven Samurai (1954), I Live in Fear (1955), Throne of Blood (1957), The Lower Depths (1957), The Hidden Fortress (1958), Bad Sleep Well (1960), Yojimbo (1961), Sanjuro (1962), High and Low (1963), Red Beard (1965)
Do you agree with these collaborations? Will DiCaprio and Scorsese be on the list in the years to come?