Movies w/ Strong Directorial Style

Well for starters...

Akira Kurosawa - try Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Ran

Francis Ford Coppola - try The Conversation and the first 2 Godfathers if you haven't already

Werner Herzog - Try Aguirre Wrath Of God and maybe something more recent like Rescue Dawn

Fritz Lang - try M and Metropolis

David Lean - try Lawrence Of Arabia and The Bridge On The River Kwai

Alfred Hitchcock - try Psycho, North By Northwest, Vertigo and Rear Window

That's off the top of my head - there are plenty more but I'm running out the door. I shall return.

Don't be embarassed mate, there's a shitload of great film-makers out there and only a finite amout of time in the day. Hell, at least you're looking to expand your cinephile palette. I'm always excited to help someone discover more filmic goodness.

For A Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly are two of the best directed films you'll likely see. Just tons of fantastic moments in both films and lots of techniques which would become common cinematic language in the following years.

If you're wanting stylisation then I'd suggest getting your Jean-Pierre Jeunet on. His films Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children and Amelie are perfect examples of a director's style being at the front and centre of a film. 

For some Italian filmmaking try La Strada and La Dolce Vita by Fellini. 

The king of these directorial showcases probably has to be À bout de Souffle (Breathless) by Goddard

It's probably a bit of an odd choice, but if you haven't seen it give Shutter Island a go. It's a perfect example of how a great director can make an okay story just absolutely sing. 

I agree with everything Spike just said - especially about introducing yourself to Leone.

Watch Yojimbo followed by A Fistfull Of Dollars for two brilliant directors takes on essentially the same story.

A few more suggestions...

Orson Welles - Citizen Kane and Touch Of Evil are muse-watches.

Even tho he only made one film, Charles Laughton almost didn't need to make another when that film is Night Of The Hunter - if you haven't watched it get on that shit asap.

John Huston - try The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure Of Sierra Madre and The African Queen

Clint Eastwood - try High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven

Terry Gilliam - try Brazil, The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen and The Fisher King.

Oliver Stone - try Platoon, JFK and The Doors

John Carpenter - do his Kurt Russell triple - Escape From New York, The Thing and Big Trouble In Little China

David Lynch - watch Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man and Lost Highway

No offense Henry, you seem like a fine guy and I'd never discourage someone trying to educate themselves (God knows I've asked dumb questions doing the same) but this thread seems pretty silly. If a movie's good, chances are it's in no small part to the director. Asking what movies have strong directorial style is like asking what movies are worth seeing. 

But if you want to be pointed in the right direction, this book would be a good place to start.

Ah ok. I believe that what you're looking for is formalism.

One name to add for you to check out if you haven't already: John Woo.