Great directors really, really make my day. Think about the Coen brothers, or Clint or Hitchcock, Billy Wilder. They are so reliable that you can pick up any of their movies and find some enjoyment. With their better films, you are taken away.
I've always loved Breaking Away, which I consider one of the best sports films ever. I think it is perfect, so it's a great movie, not just a sports movie. Peter Yates, the director, seems to like variety; he also directed Bullitt, the Steve McQueen cop flick, and the Dresser, which I just watched.
This one is not about bicyclists or cops, but about an aging stage actor, played by Albert Finney, in WWII England. Finney's character has a dresser, Norman, played by the incredible Tom Courtenay, whose job it is to keep Finney on track and on stage. It's basically babysitting with costume changes. One day Finney starts to deteriorate - fast - and Norman has to cajole him, plead with him, threaten him, manipulate him through a performance of King Lear.
This is incredible acting - by everybody - and a beautifully made film. If you just like movies as art, pick this one up.
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