Who doesn't hate adverts? When they're on television they break up all our favourite shows, in the cinema they are what makes us wait for our cinematic experience, and when you find a great video to watch on the internet, they always seem to be there to pop up and annoy you. But, very rarely, one will come along that you really enjoy watching.
For me, these are the ones that are made by popular film directors. While feature length films and, even to a similar extent, short films are tied down by the need for a narrative, adverts are a great way for many directors to truly unleash their creativity. There needn't be a story, a structure or even any characters, they just have to provoke a thought, a message or an emotion.
Below are nine of my favourite adverts directed by popular film directors.
09) Michael Mann (Heat, Public Enemies, Collateral) - Mercedes Benz
Mann always brings a unique visual style to crime movies. Filmed in HD format on a 35mm print and using only hand held cameras, they have a kind of realism that very few in the genre could ever hope to achieve. This style and his usual crime genre conventions are apparent in his Mercedes Benz advert below.
08) Sofia Copolla (Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette ) - Miss Dior Cherie
Copolla tells her movies through her exquisite visuals far more than her dialogue. It's a style of filmmaking that, although it doesn't challenge the boundaries of cinema much, she has always excelled in since her 2003 hit Lost In Translation. Once again, this advert shows her ability to do this, provoking emotions and thoughts without a single word being said.
07) Joel and Ethan Coen (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Barton Fink) - ThisIsReality.Org
Ah, the Coen Brothers. If anyone is going to make a darkly comic, witty commercial that turns the conventions of advertising on its head it's got to be them. Playing on the cliches of the cleaning product advert, this is a satirical dig at the coal industry.
06) Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums) - American Express
It's stylish, off-beat and its charming, Anderson's commercial features all his usual trademarks from the way the shots are framed, the use of yellow titles and quirky dialogue. Therefore, like his entire body of feature length movies, it's a joy to watch.
05) David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, Wild At Heart, Eraserhead) - Parisienne Cigarettes
Just when you thought it was all getting comfortable, here's a bit of David Lynch for you. The remarkable filmmaker, who is renowned for making films that challenge the medium and even your mind, does the same thing with his cigarette commercial.
04) Jean Pierre Jeunet (Amelie, Delicatessen) - Chanel No. 5
With the colour, the camera movement and, well, the gorgeous Audrey Tautou, Jean Pierre Jeunet's movies are constantly a treat for the eyes. His recent perfume advert is no different with all the usual trademarks that fans of the French film director will come to recognise.
03) Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, The Science Of Sleep) - Smirnoff
One of the most creative directors who is working today, Gondry is an artist posing as a filmmaker and his imaginative style shows through in this all-action Smirnoff commercial.
02) Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) - Adidas
I used to write off Jonze as a director believing that the real creativity in his work came from Charlie Kaufman, but recently, I've come to realise how talented the man is. And although this will spark some controversy, I actually think that this Adidas advert is one of his most stylish and imaginative efforts. Brilliantly made with a clever idea and music from Karen O, this is a must-see.
01) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel, Amores Perros) - Nike Football
But nothing can compare to this years Nike advert. Inarritu, a director whose work is usually full of misery and hopelessness, has created one of the most imaginative, stylistic, funny, fast-paced and entrancing commercials that you'll have the pleasure of seeing. You don't even have to like football to appreciate it! It's a welcome breathe of fresh air from the normal stench of terrible jokes, annoying jingles and infuriating catchphrases. Brilliant stuff.
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