Curtis Hanson — American Director born on March 04, 1945,

Curtis Lee Hanson is an American film director, film producer and screenwriter. His directing work includes the psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, the neo-noir crime film L.A. Confidential, the comedy Wonder Boys, the hip-hop biopic 8 Mile, and the romantic comedy-drama In Her Shoes... (wikipedia)

I prefer stories about people who are, in a sense, trying to find better versions of themselves.
You can dress it up, but it comes down to the fact that a movie is only as good as its script.