"This book refreshes the argument about the role of the director through the practice of evaluative criticism, discussing twelve recent films, including Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999), Les Chansons d'amour (Christophe Honorâe, 2007), and Winter Sleep (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2014). This book argues that in each of its twelve case studies, the director's work is central to the achievement of economy, unity, eloquence, subtlety, depth, vigour, vividness and intensity. By offering critical readings of twelve films from mainstream film culture, Contemporary Directors' Cinema demonstrates that cinema remains vital as a directors' medium"--