Nolan vs. PTA

But Anderson can't even write a decent script anymore.  I'm curious to hear his fans explain why audiences care so little about him, to the point where Malick can outgross him.  

Yeah, you need to stop thinking that this is agreed-upon fact.

I didn't even go there because I wasn't sure if that was a comment on how much improvisation there reportedly was in Phantom Thread. I do not know how much of a script there truly was in advance. But looking at just the finished product the "script" is excellent. 

Nolan is just so much more popular by multiple orders of magnitude. If it was directors who have had more of a balance of acclaim and commercial success like The Coens or even David Lynch you might be able to say they would be more respected and viewed as "better" even if Nolan was more popular, but PTA doesn't have anything as big as those guys biggest movies (or Twin Peaks). PTA is more in cult-director Wes Anderson territory and even Anderson has had a couple minor hits. 

PTA is in that pre-Cape Fear Scorsese kinda zone where he's had a lot of critical success along with a fan following and some pop culture impact but no runaway box office hit. It just takes one hit or partnering with a major actor (Joaquin again post-Joker could help) to reframe his career to the public.

My take:


PTA is kind of disadvantaged in that he inhabits a lesser era than previous decades. The era where PTA got the biggest chunk of praise is 2007-present. Very few films released in that period is ever talked about like an all-time great.

He's beating his peers easily in acclaim these days, but the competition is weaker. Had he been around earlier, we'll see how he stands up against Scorsese, Coppola, Altman, and etc. Which then maybe he won't seem as strong anymore.

There Will Be Blood clearly stands out, but it's not The Godfather. It doesn't change the game like The Godfather does, or make the type of statement about America like The Godfather. It's not Vertigo. It certainly doesn't, or will ever have the kind of revisionist critics behind it like Vertigo slowly accrued. By the 80s, it became painfully apparent nobody will ever make Vertigo again. No matter how many times DePalma tried. I don't see that type of distinction with TWBB. Can nobody make TWBB ever again? I highly doubt that. This is why I don't there's anything left to uncover about it. It's not an overly complex film. I also think there's much less to it than some other greats like La Dolce vita, Charm le discreet de la bourgeoisie, Last Year at Marienbad. I don't see its status increasing through the years. It'll have the same reputation it does now, which is still very good - but I don't think its status will increase like Vertigo, The Godfather, Citizen Kane, and Mulholland Dr has.

Is Nolan anywhere near a GOAT? No not even close, but my personal opinion is that Interstellar (his best) beats PTA's best (The Master). They both have really good movies (Punch Drunk Love, Inception). Decent (The Dark Knight, There Will Be Blood). and misfires (Magnolia, The Dark Knight Rises). So they're about at the same level... so it's especially interesting these are the two biggest names competitively going at it these days.... seeing as they're both about at a similar level of quality.

Both are entry-level tier directors. In the upper 15th percentile among every known working director there is. But among big name directors..... they're somewhere near the lower half.

Nolan is a machinist. PTA is an artist.

That. 100%.

Well, personally I think Nolan is better than Anderson in pretty much aspect - technically, artistically, telling the story, etc. And he has build such a huge lead that I doubt this will change.
Generally I guess Anderson will be higher regarded by critics, Nolan by general public. And among film fans both will have their fair share of fans.

Greatly respect your opinion and consider that maybe your mind has changed in the last 3 years, but I would love to get your full thoughts on Phantom Thread.