50. SIDNEY LUMET
THE EVIDENCE: Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976)
WHY HIM: At an age when most directors are either retired, dead, or fighting a losing battle with the artists they used to be, Lumet, 84, is still the quintessential actor's director (see 2007's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead). Need more proof? He's led 18 of his stars to Oscar nominations. — Chris Nashawaty
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