Auteur Vs Metteur-en-Scene

In auteur theory, auteurs create their own movies which serve as artistic reflections of the creators themselves. Metteur-en-scenes, on the other hand, create films that do not incorporate their individual styles. The auteur becomes a figurehead in cinema with a style that is unique to him or her alone. Quentin Tarantino’s unique style which is included in all of his films allows for his classification as an auteur. His use of excessively violent images and crude language have defined his style and developed him as an auteur.

Someone like Peter Jackson, who does have a unique film style, may not be considered an Auteur because of his films. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is an adaptation of the Tolkien novels. Since Jackson is basing his film off of the work of others, he is no longer an auteur, regardless of the fact that his films are characterized with a unique style (excessively long walking scenes).

According to the Sarris concentric circle test, an Auteur needs to develop films with personal style, technical competence, and interior meaning. Quentin Tarantino’s films consistently embody all of these aspects; however, Peter Jackson’s films do not reflect complete artistic control of the director. An auteur is a complex and completely original director whose works reflect their personal style and serve as a projection of their mind alone.