Posted:
This is a very subjective thing and it's difficult to make a balanced view.
For sure, directors have to have the vision, the passion, the skill to bring all the actors and technicians and scriptwriters into a cohesive team. They need to plan and edit and have adequate cast.
Sometimes, even with great directing and script, if the actors are subpar in their roles, no matter how much 'push' for a movie to succeed there is, it will fail.
A weak script can be sometimes overcomed through good acting and great cinematography, superb music- good editing can also help.
No matter how good the vision, if the script or editing isn't cohesive, or the music score isn't enhancing, the film might falter in places or even be a flop, even with most successful actors.
Sometimes, even if the director is visionary, the actors are great and the script is good, choppy editing or subpar music might impact a movie negatively.
There are, of course, directors thats are in the spotlight as much as the actors. This can be because they are considered geniuses, or innovative, or have done a number of hits, or they have a specific USP to present a movie (or they are simply lucky to have great scriptwriters and cinematographers, good actors and editors, and like to take some 'shine' on themselves)..
The basis varies- how media influences the public views also matters a lot.
For some actors and directors, a lot of excuses are being supported by media and BW insiders. For others, any mistake is taking huge proportions.
In the end, it's about manipulation- how much an actor or director has 'clout' or skill to manipulate media to write positive things about them, to make excuses for mediocre movies, to single out an actor or director, to make viewers believe in their project - these things are what can turn the fate of a movie from flop to hit, or how the 'written history' of a movie will be presented.
4