I'm going to say Hitchcock.
Most of the serious movies in the last 20 or so years and those particularly from Hollywood try to go for some grandiose, existential, philosophic theme. They often utilise clever script writing to interweave stories and are very deliberate almost to the point of being forensic in their use of symbols and metaphors. I don't have anything against that, however I find it distracting when I'm searching for extraneous meanings rather than concentrating on the story.
My personal preference is for movies that tell about everyday mundane life. A simple story told with honesty, no tricks or gimmicks, that's not forced in it's delivery or attempts to underline it's themes, has most meaning to me. I can think of one movie that I've watched lately that fits that bill:
Whisper of the Heart (1995) by Yoshifumi Kondo. I was surprised actually by how much I enjoyed it.
As for Hitchcock, he's changed the way I
see movies. He's so original and unorthodox. I love how how he builds up the tension. The red herrings he throws at us. You're really kept guessing until the sudden denouement and he often finishes it abruptly so that it's up to the viewer to imagine / discuss the epilogue. I also like how he uses unusually colourful and varied backdrops - most thriller / detective films are quite serious and visually dark/dull. Hitchcock instead goes for beauty, colour and humour which I find incredibly charming.
Jam it back in, in the dark.
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