No one can predict the future. But it is possible to observe a new artist’s incredible debut project and predict the arc of their career. From Rob Reiner (This Is Spinal Tap) to Rian Johnson (Brick) to Greta Gerwig (Ladybird), certain directors are undeniably brilliant from the very start and just keep getting better as they go. But in the year 2000, one person set a new high bar for the directorial debut.
