How do you judge good directing in a movie?

Question

Is it by the way the actors are controlled? By looking at a movie, how do you judge if the director did a good job or not?

Answer 1

It's all about the performances, the pace of the film, the themes it presents, the messages it leaves behind and the emotion you feel once the credits role.

The Director is responsible for every aspect of the film, not just camera angles and acting.  Sure, he has departments that look after many things for him (camera, art, sound etc) but he still oversees the whole project and ensures the film he envisioned ends up on the screen no matter what.

It's a lot more involved, in-depth and personal than a lot of people think.

Answer 2

A good films defines and makes a good director.  Best example:  Robert Rodrieguez.

In reality, a good director is responsible for all aspects of the movie and to get good performances even out of bad actors, staff or editing.

Answer 3

Well I'm picky so I have high standards...The acting has to be very good and BELIEVABLE I hate it when actors/actresses overdramatize a role to the point where it seems FAKE or when they show little emotion and don't put their whole heart and soul into the role they're playing, so they have to choose a good cast. Also they have to have a little creativity in their films. I can't tell you how many movies I've seen recently (like the Mummy 3) that take bits and pieces from other movies that we've all seen a thousand times and put it in their movies. It gives us nothing to look forward to.

Answer 4

I think the director does a job job if the acting was directed to the approiate age they were targeting for that movie.

so i think anyway lol.  

Answer 5

How well the movie keeps you feeling like you're actually there... How well the shots/angles work to convey the mood... tension, excitement etc.  

For example, when two main characters meet each other for a final battle, what works better?  A closeup of their faces, a split screen, or a wide shot showing their surroundings where you can't really see their expressions?  

When a phone rings in the middle of a scene how is it shown? Zoom away from the actors and show it on a table? Or have the actor walk over to it?

When someone gets on a bus in one scene  (maybe people are talking for a few minutes) when they get off is something obviously different, like the time of day or bus number?

If someone loses their sword during a fight and the camera angle changes, is the sword in the same place in the next shot, or did it mysteriously jump to a different position?  

Directors have to make those kinds of choices all the time.

Ultimately the director has to make sure that everything in  the movie just WORKs... that someone who doesn't already know the script can to follow what's happening and that the performances are compelling.

Answer 6

Basically if the angles are good and up close shots of the movie.