Clean or Textured Images?

What type of image do you prefer?

As clean as possible with no grain, no lens flare and the lowest possible ISO? No distractions from the story.

Or with grit and grain to enhance and amplify the mood and emotion?

In photography I didn’t really consider those options as different schools of thought, but it seems more that way in filmmaking. That directors tend to prefer and advocate for one approach over the other.

High resolution, sharp, modern lenses, or softer vintage lenses with all their quirks.

A matte box or lens hood to control flare, or adding filters and intentionally shooting towards the sun to exaggerate it?

Here’s a good discussion on the topic with examples.