I was thinking . . . would I pick a filmmaker whose best work was in the past, or perhaps pick a filmmaker whose best work could be in the future?

I'm not sure Coppola can pull off another Godfather (I happen to like all three of them, btw), but I'd pick him for the former.

I never know what the Coen boys have in store for me, and I suspect their best work may lie ahead. I pick them for the latter.

Eastwood and Stone might be also-rans.

And then of course there is that master of the film that is just kinda fun and makes you smile N stuff, which is NOT a worthless thing on this ball of muck, none other than: (fill in the blank)

Herring405