Honorable Mentions
Narrowly missing out on a spot on the list was Zach Braff‘s debut “Garden State,” because whatever one thinks of him more recently (and yes, his Kickstarter campaign got up a lot of noses), the film itself is a charming three-hander that is unfairly damned in retrospect for having captured the indie zeitgeist so well at the time. Charles Dance‘s “Ladies in Lavender” (sunk, we have to believe, by that terribly fusty name) is actually a weird and well-crafted drama featuring great performances, while Clark Gregg‘s “Choke,” Dustin Hoffmann‘s “Quartet,” and Vera Farmiga‘s “Higher Ground” also provide some strong acting showcases, but perhaps fall just a little too flat elsewhere for us to get super excited about.
John Krasinski‘s “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” has an absolutely amazing cast (amongst whom Bobby Cannavale and Christopher Meloni are particularly memorable) but its talky, Neil LaBute-lite take on the David Foster Wallace short story collection lacks real punch, while Luke and Andrew Wilson‘s debut “The Wendell Baker Story” is almost parodically Wilsonian (it stars Luke and Owen) in its likability, but so insubstantial as to be completely forgettable. And this writer has a soft spot for Drew Barrymore‘s roller derby movie “Whip It,” but we can’t make any particular claims for its greatness.
And the rest
Some others we excluded on the grounds of the directors not being hugely well known as actors, at least Stateside, prior to directing: Richard Ayoade‘s “Submarine” and Andrea Arnold‘s “Red Road” were both not listed for this reason, despite both being definite favorites of ours. Lena Dunham technically qualifies, but again, we don’t feel she was fully established as an actress prior to becoming a writer/director, just as someone like Madonna was not best known as an actress before directing and, let’s face it, “W.E.” wouldn’t have got within shouting distance of our top ten anyway. Hyphenated hyphenate James Franco‘s debut according to his IMDb page is something called “Fool’s Gold” (2005) but it’s unavailable, so we did our duty and watch the same year’s “The Ape” instead, which is time we’ll never get back: suffice to say as exhausting as it is to keep up with Franco’s output, he’s come a long, long way as a filmmaker.
But if Lake Bell is right now the most recent example of an actor taking the reins, she’s not going to be for long. Ryan Gosling‘s “How to Catch a Monster” is due in 2014, Keanu Reeves‘ “Man of Tai Chi” is still awaiting a U.S. release (as is Jean Dujardin‘s “The Players“) and Jason Bateman‘s “Bad Words” will premiere at TIFF 2013. Who have we missed? Who do you think made the leap most successfully and who do you wish would stay on the other side of the camera? Tell us below. — Jessica Kiang and Rodrigo Perez
"Some stick with it to become better known in the latter role like Ron Howard, Rob Reiner or Sofia Coppola; some seem to scratch the itch and don't necessarily long to get behind the camera again (Tom Hanks, John Malkovich); while others occasionally dabble but never stray too far from the day job (Al Pacino, Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi); and still others achieve the kind of fame in both areas that means theyâll be Oscar-winning hyphenates forever (Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson)."
Agreed with this assessment. There are quite a few (Robert Duvall, Tim Robbins, Gary Oldman, Tim Roth and Robert De Niro are prime examples) who venture into directing when they have a story they want to tell, one that won't be told unless they do so. But acting has always been their main thing, even if they prove themselves able behind the camera.
How about Denzel Washington? I thought his directorial debut, Antwone Fisher, was outstanding.
Ethan Hawke's THE HOTTEST STATE is one of my favorite indie films as well.
Mark Webber's EXPLICIT ILLS & THE END OF LOVE are great independent films from a solid young actor.
Ben affleck. THE TOWN !
Ben Affleck Gone Baby Gone – MY FAVORITE
Richard Ayoade's Submarine is like the best debut film by an actor ever.
Todd Field and 'In the Bedroom'
where the fuck is mel gibson?
@1974 am sure you never saw the movie stupid haters.In the land of blood and honey was such a great move,very hard to watch but well done .Angelina did an awesome job the accolades the film recieved were well deserved and the movie is been used in universities to teach sexual violence in wars.She really has a good eye for a director looking forwed to unbroken
I think Ben Affleck did a phenomenal job with Gone Baby Gone, but The Three Burials of… (I can't spell it) is a fantastic movie and Tommy Lee Jones goes above and beyond with it.
Robert Redford – Ordinary people. He won an Oscar.
KELLY I mean
GENE KELLE, On The Town
Other commentors, they've gone for movies less than 10 years old so no Clooney or Charles Laughton and mostly have picked established actors, though I guess Tom McCarthy is an exception.
If you actually read the intro paragraph these parameters are established!
Great list, really enjoyable read. I like that you went for more recent stuff, and Whip It would have made my list purely for its like-ability.
Todd Field, George Clooney and Scott Cooper should be here.
What about Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter? Granted it's his only directed work but still…
'I'm Still Here' really is genius. phoenix gave arguably the best performance of all time. unfortunately it is beyond categorization.
De Niro – A Bronx Tale?
I recently worked as a PA on two actor-turned-director movies, one by Chris Messina and the other is Helen Hunt. Both make great directors and both will be great movies.
I recently worked as a PA on two actor-turned-director movies, one by Chris Messina and the other is Helen Hunt. Both make great directors and both will be great movies.
I recently worked as a PA on two actor-turned-director movies, one by Chris Messina and the other is Helen Hunt. Both make great directors and both will be great movies.
I recently worked as a PA on two actor-turned-director movies, one by Chris Messina and the other is Helen Hunt. Both make great directors and both will be great movies.
Michael Keaton, The Merry Gentlemen.
alan rickman – the winter guest
I would make the argument Whip It! is a great film unfairly forgotten. It was written off as a stupid GIRL POWER thing, but it's really sweet, and aside from a misstep or two, and some rough editing, a terrific debut for Barrymore. Plus it has fantastic performances from Marcia Gay Harden and Kristen Wiig.
What about Vincent Gallo? Or Dennis Hopper?
No love for Clooney's CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND?
In the Land of Blood and Honey strong debut??? Honestly, it is one of the worst movies recently.
Where are Todd Field (In the Bedroom) and Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart)? I think their feature debuts are better than most of movies listed here.