From critic to director?
How many critics have turned into film making? The French New Wave auteurs like Francois Truffaut and Claude Chabrol started out as a critics. Also Peter Bogdanovich and Paul Schrader were notable film critics. Roger Ebert also wrote screenplays for Russ Meyer, but I wouldn't count him in.
So, critics who turned into directors and had a notable and acclaimed film making career?
Francois Truffaut
Claude Chabrol
Paul Schrader
Peter Bogdanovich