Anthony Stokes assesses the career of Sam Raimi…
When it comes to genre directors it’s harder to find anyone bigger or more respected then Sir Sam Raimi. He has consistently delivered hit after hit and pretty much everything he touches gains a cult following. Raimi has had a lot of commercial success, headlining multiple franchises (Spider-Man, Evil Dead) and producing several movies and TV shows. But how good is he behind the camera?
CAMERAWORK
In the realm of action, Sam Raimi is one of the greats. His action scenes have a way of being really inventive, switching from goofy and fun to scary and tense. Some of his scenes are cartoonish, but definitely in a positive way. A lot of times a fight scene will be really exciting and have you on the edge of your seat and then at a point the score cuts off and it becomes intense and his horror sensibilities take over. Unparalleled in action coordination, the train sequence in Spider-Man 2 is probably the greatest action scene of the past decade.
A lot of problems with directors with over the top aesthetics is that when it’s time for them to slow things down for a dramatic scene they’re incapable of not having their style seep in (see Zack Snyder, Michael Bay). Sam Raimi avoids this trap and balances his heavy camp and cartoonish sequences with finessed laid-back dramatic scenes. He knows how to chill out and let his actors take over for honest genuine character moments, making his talking scenes just as interesting as his action scenes.
GRADE: A+
Comments: He’s world renowned for his camera work, which is amongst the most iconic in the industry. There’s no mistaking a Sam Raimi movie when you see one. Also handles drama extremely well.
WORKING WITH ACTORS
Although some of his actors go a little too over the top even for somebody whose admittedly a huge fan, for the most part Sam Raimi gets good performances out of his casts. Every once in a while there’s someone who sleeps through a role, but Raimi is good at getting energetic and sincere performances out of his actors. Also noteworthy is the fact that he got an actor nominated for an Oscar (Billy Bob Thorton in A Simple Plan), which is testament to any director’s skill.
Sam Raimi seems to like focusing on one character throughout a movie, and giving them an incredibly epic arc where they face against all odds – namely Ash and Peter Parker from the Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies respectively. Bruce Campbell and Tobey Maguire haven’t quite reached a level of acclaim outside of these trilogies. They’re arguably two of the most iconic performances in film and this is where Raimi is at his best. When he picks a project he’s passionate about and gets an actor he likes it’s a match made in heaven.
GRADE: A-
Comments: Gets good performances out of his supporting actors, whilst his leads often deliver iconic roles.
SCRIPT TO SCREEN
Raimi’s hyper, atmospheric approach helps makes scripts better then they would be with a traditional style. I enjoyed Evil Dead, but it didn’t have the best script and Raimi turned it into a cult classic. He also brings out a script’s full potential, creating unique universes in his movies. Even if a script has poor dialogue or weak gags, Raimi transfers these to the screen in a way which makes them work. If anybody needs any proof I suggest seeking out A Simple Plan, a Coen-esque thriller which is easily Raimi’s best restrained work.
GRADE: A-
Comments: Adds life to every project and makes it better then the sum of its parts.
FILMOGRAPHY
Overall, Raimi’s filmography is very impressive. I’d liken him to Steven Spielberg, who also makes fun and inventive movies with a heightened sense of genius behind them. Of course there are a few missteps, but nothing that could be described as horrible. It’s impossible not to note the amount of pure gems he has in his body of work. He revolutionized not only the horror genre with Evil Dead, but also the superhero genre with Spider-Man. Some of his best work is also under appreciated, such as Drag Me to Hell and the aforementioned A Simple Plan.
Raimi’s movies have a constant sense of camp and can switch between goofy to scary in a matter of minutes and still work. They’ve always hit a personal note with me and have been burned into my sub-conscience. He knows how to film spectacle and bring out the kid in us, before turning around and scaring that kid. I loved the Spider-Man trilogy growing up and now as an adult I can appreciate it outside of a visceral level or as a kid’s movie.
GRADE: A-
Comments: A few mediocre films, but overall one of the best and most varied resumes of directors working today.
SUMMARY
CAMERAWORK: A+
WORKING WITH ACTORS: A-
SCRIPT TO SCREEN: A-
FILMOGRAPHY: A-
OVERALL: A-
Pros: Very iconic camera work and has made important staples in several genres. Gets career defining performances out of his actors, and can do drama very well when given good material.
Cons: His movies don’t always have the best pacing and can drag at times. His idiosyncratic tone and deliberate style aren’t always for everyone.
Final Thoughts: Sam Raimi is one of my favorite directors, and for good reason. He’s certainly not flawless, but there’s a reason he’s so respected and hailed as an innovator. He’s extremely passionate about his craft and continues to impress.
Do you agree with this assessment of Sam Raimi’s career to date? Let us know in the comments below…
Anthony Stokes is a blogger and independent filmmaker.
Originally published June 6, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
