What does the director do?

My understanding is that Mike Figgis showed no interest in participating in conceiving the shots with his storyboard artist. He gave the artist no direction. The boards were however used on the set and in editing as the guide, to the extent that Figgis phoned the storyboard artist from the editing suite to scold him for "missing a shot." So does Figgis no what he is doing?

Suppose he says that his contribution is to work with the actors, as if Dennis Quade and Sharon Stone would shrivel on screen without his input, or as if in Leaving Los Vegas Nicholas Cage and Elizabeth Shue would have displayed no talent under another director.

Is this a rude thing to bring up, or is anyone else annoyed by the fact that so many lauded directors (who may be respected only because they cast the right actors and didn't get in the way) pass themselves off? Ultimately how is hollywood choosing who is qualified? Maybe if more talented directors learned the secret of how to snow executives there would be better movies. Is there a special kind of hot air?