Those Who Make the Movies

Let's face it, without a director movies would never be what they are today. Like favorite movies, directors are just as plentiful and amazing. My questions are: Who is you favorite director? What makes you love their films? How do they influence your work?

For me personally I'd be torn between 6 or so directors. Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, John Huston, Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone. Obviously there are countless other names; Quintin Tarantino, Frank Capra, Buster Keaton, John Ford, etc. The first six however have such control over the cameras movements. Spielberg's use of the low tracking shot, Paul Thomas Anderson and Martin Scorsese's longer then average shots that move gracefully through the scenes, John Huston's use of lighting and gritty realism, Akira Kurosawa's use of elements and the telescope lens, and Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western style. Each influences me in their own way and there are countless others. If I was to truly say who influences me the most, I'd say Sergio Leone but my favorite would have to be P.T. Anderson.

So please share, this is a question that's been on my mind for a long time.