Where is Our Next Spielberg?

There has been a hole in the cinematic landscape for some time now. Original movies by directors making mass impact on the pop culture at large must be the anomaly. This underlines Steven Spielberg's assets as a director. He has developed and filmed concepts that are of such grand appeal, his string of movies through the later part of the 70s and most of the 80s are unrivaled in their scope and release.

Which begs the question: Can this be duplicated?

"No" is the general answer, but there are several markers in today's film industry that make Spielberg's achievements forever unique.

Summer blockbusters today rely heavily on branding. This is the anti-thesis for original ideas, as properties with built-in audiences stand a greater chance of getting made than something like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. That doesn't mean it's not happening, however. District 9 is a perfect example of a well-made science fiction concept with large appeal. And Avatar - 'nuff said. These examples are shining lights in what is hoped to be a shift in thinking. Young filmmakers may be given a chance to stick to their guns and make that movie they've wanted to make, and Spielberg is a blueprint for many of them.

The Blockbuster. Jaws, while not an original concept, was the first of what we have come to know as the "blockbuster". There have been little movies in recent years that went on to major success - 300 is an example.

Zack Synder is on possible route to make a large cinematic impact on the new decade. While his visual style is more of his calling card than the way he constructs a scene or directs memorable performances from his actors, Snyder is adept at storytelling. His subject choices are varied, and he works capably throughout them.

Christopher Nolan is another director with a talented eye toward storytelling. Memento is a widely regarded modern classic. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are also classics within the "branded" confines. His other films, Insomnia and The Prestige are very well-acted character pieces. Nolan can bring the blockbuster movie to the audience's door while also delivering those well-directed character moments - see The Joker from The Dark Knight.

Prolific. In the late 70s and early 80s, Spielberg put out exemplary work on a timely basis. That's hard to find today, but Jason Reitman has done so. Thank You for Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air are all fantastic films released within the last five years. Reitman seems to prefer smaller films, but it would be interesting to see a large budget feature from him in the future.

There are other exciting filmmakers - Brick's Rian Johnson and District 9's Neil Blomkamp come to mind as well as blockbuster storytellers like Jon Favreau. The coming decade will offer new films from all of these interesting directors.

Of course, Steven Spielberg's career cannot be duplicated. Throughout all of his films, Spielberg's most successful ventures focused on character and heart, collected in blockbuster gift-wrapping. As filmgoers, we like to hang our hats on filmmakers we can rely on, which is our own form of branding. However, new and innovative storytelling will never go out of style, and it is the rare storyteller that can make each of his movies that rare transcendent experience.