This is a very tough question to answer ... Even after a string of bad or subpar films, it is possible for a director to blow us away with something worthwhile if the magical combination of script, cast and crew fall into place ... unfortunately, it is also unlikely ...
So when is it time to just stop ??? ..... with a recent film like SLEEPLESS ( I haven't seen CARD PLAYER ) Dario Argento obviously made a film that fell short of DEEP RED or TENEBRE ... but SLEEPLESS wasn't a total misfire like Romero's BRUISER ... SLEEPLESS was a very similar film to Argento's past giallos, it just wasn't a good one ... and hat keeps my hope alive for Dario ... as with any director, he/she needs to have a supporting cast of crew, writers, actors, etc to be sucessful .... a director needs to have vision, focus and passion in putting together a project ...... personally, I still have hopes for Dario to make a great film ( or films ) ...
Someone like George Romero I'm a bit more worried about ... the guy made such an inept film in BRUISER, and leading up to that his output wasn't exactly prolific .... George, for the longest time, seem to have too much contempt, even resentment, towards filmmaking to instill any sembelence of confidence in his fire or current ability .... I am holding out hope that his fire has been reignighted when he threw his hat back into the DEAD ring ... but with George, I am skeptical, even scared .....
Ya know, these directors have all made their money ... if not a ton, they have made a good living for themselves, and I just can't understand how, if filmmaking is such a passion, they can not put out at least small / low budget / independent films every so often ..... Woody Allen ( yes, even Woody has slipped ) at 70 years old is still making at least one film per year .... and they are not big money makers my any stretch .... The guy still writes, directs and even acts, and he's got what, approx 30 - 35 films under his belt ??? ..... so if John Carpenter or George Romero are such horror masters, where the hell is the finished product ???
Just make some damned movies for cryin' out loud ....
