Who’s the Better Director? Lars von Trier or Brian De Palma

Welcome to the inaugural season of Face/Off! This season, we’re pitting two directors with similar backgrounds against one another and letting YOU, the commenters, decide on who reigns supreme!

You have to decide which director is better than the other? Various factors could play into your decision from who takes the biggest risks to who has the more distinctive style. Remember, it isn’t so much about which director has made the most money at the box office or won the most awards, but, in your mind, which director simply makes better films.

Let’s analyze the filmography of today’s challengers.


Lars von Trier

1970s, 1980s & 1990s Directorial Features: The Orchid Gardener (1977), Images of Liberation (1982), The Element of Crime (1984), Epidemic (1987), Europa (1991), Breaking the Waves (1996), The Idiots (1998)

2000s & 2010s Directorial Features: Dancer in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003), Dear Wendy (2004), Manderlay (2005), The Boss of It All (2006), Antichrist (2009), Melancholia (2011), Nymphomaniac (2013), The House That Jack Built (2018)


Brian De Palma

1960s & 1970s Directorial Features: Murder a la Mod (1968), Greetings (1968), The Wedding Party (1969), Hi, Mom! (1970), Dionysus in ’69 (1970), Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972), Sisters (1972), Phantom of the Paradise (1974), Obsession (1976), Carrie (1976), The Fury (1978), Home Movies (1979)

1980s & 1990s Directorial Features: Dressed to Kill (1980), Blow Out (1981), Scarface (1983), Body Double (1984), Wise Guys (1986), The Untouchables (1987), Casualties of War (1989), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Raising Cain (1992), Carlito’s Way (1993), Mission: Impossible (1996), Snake Eyes (1998)

2000s & 2010s Directorial Features: Mission to Mars (2000), Femme Fatale (2002), The Black Dahlia (2006), Redacted (2007), Passion (2012), Domino (2019)


Only one can move on. Let the Face/Off begin!

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Face/Off: Trier vs. De Palma

Who's the better director?


Discuss in the comments below your favorite films from each director and who should advance to the next round.

Author: Marmaduke Karlston

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute Doc, uh, are you telling me you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?"