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6 Divisive Directors Whose Work Is Always Interesting To Watch

Some film directors, it seems, can do no wrong. Their resumes contain both hits and misses – just like everyone else – but they repel criticism like Teflon repels stains. Kathryn Bigelow, the Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams – whether they deliver a career best, or a bit of a stinker, they are revered and beloved, regardless. Not everyone has that privilege, though. Some directors are divisive in a way that is seismic and astonishing – and the reasons for the difference are varied and multitudinous.

Michael Bay

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It is an inescapable truth that films by Michael Bay generate extraordinarily large box office results, while receiving critical reactions that imply filmmaking quality of mediocre levels, at best. It is not clear how he does it, nor how he can maintain any kind of directing career while accumulating the kind of reviews that would have immediately sunk a female director the first time out of the gate. But, he does it, and it seems set to continue.

From 1995’s Bad Boys, 1996’s The Rock, 1998’s Armageddon, and 2001’s Pearl Harbour, Michael Bay established himself as an action film director who could deliver high concept, glossy fare, featuring box-office draw names striding purposefully away from explosions, while a number one pop song swells on the soundtrack.

The air seemed to be slowly leaking from his box office tyres, however, with 2003’s Bad Boys II and 2005’s The Island – which were both relatively disappointing in financial terms, as well as generating terrible reviews. But, he came back swinging and kickstarted a Transformers franchise in 2007 that – nine years and four films later – has smashed through the $1 billion box office barrier. As a result, we will soon have to endure Transformers 5 – which will undoubtedly be a critical flop, while filling the studio coffers with lots and lots of money.