“One-hit wonder” is a term universally associated with the music business. A label that doesn’t want any credible artist, but for those more concerned with the financial reward than their actual musical integrity, it’s a title that can nonetheless be thrillingly lucrative. Streams, streams, streams = royalties, royalties, royalties, unless of course the artist is with Spotify…
From The Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” and Los Del Rio’s “Macarena” to PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”, there have been countless songs that epitomize the art of the one-hit wonder . Yet, unlike music, the one hit miracle is rarely spoken of in the movie sphere, despite the fact that there are countless films that have marked the beginning and end of the careers of several filmmakers at the same time. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve never made another good movie, but it does mean they’ve never made a really popular movie.
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck – The Lives of Others
WHO? With a name that defies the laws of memory, being simultaneously memorable for its impressive length, yet instantly forgettable for its sheer complexity, Florian Henckel von Dommersmarck’s film career reflects the very nature of his name. That means it’s hard to remember despite him directing the gripping, evocative and moving Cold War film, The lives of others.
The lives of others is sometimes regarded as one of the greatest German films ever made and won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The tense picture follows undercover cop, Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe), who is tasked with eavesdropping on the lives of two lovers, who soon become inseparable from their respective existences.
Mathieu Kassovitz-La Haine
Unfortunately for Kassovitz, the Frenchman’s prolific and lavish acting talents didn’t translate when he moved into the directing hemisphere. The gritty 1995 crime classic, La Haine was an anomaly in an otherwise patchy landscape. With a staggering 100% Rotten Tomatoes record, the film that won Kassovitz the Cannes Best Director award chronicles the day in the life of three friends who navigate the prominence of a suburban Parisian high-rise district during a riot over a controversial shooting by the police.
Mary Harron – American psychopath
Directing Christian Bale in one of his career-defining performances is certainly nothing to scoff at, especially when you consider that film American psychopath. The horror-thriller was directed by a woman, Mary Harron, which was relatively rare for the time, almost 25 years ago, and the film propelled Bale to Hollywood stardom. Told from the villain’s perspective, American psychopath thwarts the sociopathic tendencies of Patrick Bateman (Bale), a wealthy investment banker driven by an unbridled bloodlust.
Richard Kelly – Donnie Darko
Newmarket movies
Of course, it might be an odd choice, given the fact Donnie Darko was a commercial flop at the box office, grossing back a measly $7 million. However, in subsequent years, the sci-fi fantasy picture has become a cult hit. The same cannot be said of the director, Richard Kelly, whose feature debut promised a prosperous life in filmmaking, but was sadly flattered to cheat. While some people call his second attempt, Southland Talesan underrated masterpiece, it never got off the ground Donnie Darko.
Gary Oldman – No mouth
Named 21st on Time-out‘s list of 100 best British films ever, 1997’s Zero by mouth was Gary Oldman’s decorated introduction to the world of directing. The gritty south-east London crime drama remains Oldman’s first and only film to date, and leaves us pondering what could have been. Starring Laila Morse and Ray Winstone in the central roles, the 1990s film tells the story of a dysfunctional working-class family, forced to deal with issues such as physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Marlon Brando – One-Eyed Jacks
Marlon Brando is a name steeped in a rich history of classic cinema. Known for his method acting, the Hollywood legend appeared in some of the biggest movie titles of the 20th century, from The godfather Unpleasant On the water side. In 1961, after Stanley Kubrick was unceremoniously fired, Brando assumed directing responsibilities for the film. One-eyed Jacks. The western about a cowboy’s journey for retaliation would be his only merit.
The disappearing
An unforgettable thriller from the 1980s and one of the best films in the Netherlands. The disappearing thrust George Sluizer’s name into the Hollywood spotlight. With public praise from the likes of Roger Ebert and legendary director Stanley Kubrick, the only way out for Sluizer was, or so it seemed…
The Dutch filmmaker never replicated the highlights of The disappearingand then he disappeared into the abyss. The expected transition from international cinema to Hollywood did not materialize and his advance in the film chain stalled.
Carnival of Souls
Another case of “oh, what could have been” is Herk Harvey and his only feature film, Carnival of Souls. A cult classic of the horror genre, the film follows Mary (Candace Hillingoss), who after a drag race accident is haunted by terrifying visions, flashbacks and a mysterious figure she associates with a derelict old carnival grounds. Despite the cult following as a result of Harvey’s creation, as well as the critical fanfare, he would not go on to make another narrative film.