"The Wallflower Critical Guide to Contemporary North American Directors" encompasses the careers of over 500 directors working in the United States and Canada today. In comprehensively covering a wide range of film-makers - from established luminaries such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and Kathryn Bigelow, through independent mavericks like Quentin Tarantino, Hal Hartley, Jim Jarmusch and the Coen brothers, to innovative emerging talents including Spike Jonze, Lisa Krueger, Todd Solondz, Kimberly Peirce, and David O. Russell -the evolving landscape of contemporary film- making is brought into sharp focus. For each director, the volume provides brief biographical material, a complete filmography, and critical analysis of individual works.