Big Budget Bad-Ass Film director Joel Schumacher is dead. The 80-year-old multi-talented director began his career in entertainment as a fashion designer and worked his way into directing after screen-writing, eventually becoming the successful director of a number of blockbuster films as well as smaller productions. According to Hollywood trade magazine Variety:

Joel Schumacher, costume designer-turned-director of films including “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “The Lost Boys” and “Falling Down,” as well as two “Batman” films, died in New York City on Monday morning after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Schumacher brought his fashion background to directing a run of stylish films throughout the 1980s and 1990s that were not always critically acclaimed, but continue to be well-loved by audiences for capturing the feel of the era.

The creme de la crap

Hits and Misses: There’s a saying in Hollywood, you’re only as good as your last success and when it comes to directing films, rare is the director who produces hit after hit. In that respect, Joel Schumacher was the norm. He directed some big hits including Lost Boys, Falling Down, and Batman Forever; and unfortunately, directed the superhero shitshow Batman and Robin (the one with the Bat-nipples-need I say more?). As we’ll see, his overall body of work is solid.

A Solid Career: While the film Batman and Robin is often mentioned in the same sentence as worst movies ever (and there are so many reasons why it deserves this ranking), Schumacher’s overall body of work is solid. He directed films in a number of genres and while he’s often thought of as a director who did blockbuster films, he wasn’t afraid to step outside of the proverbial box, directing films such as 8MM and Cousins.

Some Films to Check Out: If you’re any kind of film buff, you’ve probably seen some of Schumacher’s films, but just in case, here are some good ones to check out: St. Elmo’s Fire, The Lost Boys, Falling Down, Flatliners, and Phone Booth.

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