Yeah, I agree it's important to "study the masters", but isn't it also cool when a director comes out of nowhere and creates something really new and original? It's that creativity especially that separates great film (and art) from simple storytelling. That's the excitement, that's the beauty. Like the Beatles in music, breaking the mold, doing something in a way that hasn't been done before.

A couple more examples in the area of film that come to mind: Pulp Fiction by Tarrantino and Punch Drunk Love by P.T. Anderson. Both those films to me seem really original and creative. They're refreshing to watch, even on the 100th viewing.