Directors to Watch: Part 4 – Movies Spotlight – September 2014

One of the great things about cinema is its constant inflow of great talent. These are three directors who having been active for many years but are about to debut potentially very impressive work in the States, thereby introducing themselves to a bigger audience.

David Ayer

Filmography to Date:

David Ayer, 46, got his start after leaving the U.S. Navy rewriting the script for the WWII thriller U-571 (using his own Navy service experiences as reference – today, however, it is a film he is not proud of as it distorts history; while it is fictional, it presupposes that American troops captured the German Enigma code when it was really the British). He then collaborated on the script for The Fast and the Furious. Next, he wrote his first solo screenplay, Dark Blue. He did extensive research into the Los Angeles Police Department for the film, this lead to him writing another LA-based crime drama Training Day. Sticking with what was working, he was hired based on a story pitch to write the action movie S.W.A.T.

Ayer had made a name for himself writing crime dramas about police in Lose Angeles. In 2005 he got a chance to write and direct his own film. Harsh Times is a lot darker than his previous work, but still featured many of the same themes. He then directed the more action-oriented Street Kings. Next, he wrote and directed his best film to date End of Watch – this time effectively employing a found-footage style. Earlier this year, Ayer wrote and directed Sabotage. It is more of an action film than his previous work, but just does not work. It is by far his worst film as a director.

2014 Film:

Ayer leaves Los Angeles police crime dramas behind to return to the WWII period. He writes and directs Fury, an action war/drama about a battle-hardened Sherman tank five-man crew. It is near the end of the war, but they are tasked with a deadly mission behind enemy lines. The film stars Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Pena. The film is garnering a lot of buzz as a potential Oscar contender. Here is the trailer. The film comes out October 17^th.

Upcoming:

Ayer does not have any new films in production, but he has been rumored to be attached to remakes of Commando and The Wild Bunch.

Career Highlights:

1)      Training Day (2001) – writer (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

2)      Harsh Times (2005) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

3)      End of Watch (2012) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

Lynn Shelton

Filmography to Date:

Lynn Shelton, 48, is a primary figure in the American independent film style known as mumblecore (other prevalent members include Jay and Mark Duplass). She got her start writing and directing her own micro-budget films We Go Way Back and My Effortless Brilliance. In 2009, she had her first quasi hit with Humpday, a film that played very well at Sundance – winning a Special Jury Prize. She also won the Independent Spirt Awards’ John Cassavetes Award for the film. She then started to make her characteristically low-budget feeling films with bigger-named actors. The first is my favorite of her films so far Your Sister’s Sister, and then Touchy Feely.

Shelton has also made a career directing episodes of television. She has done good work on Mad Men, Ben and Kate, and New Girl.

2014 Film:

Shelton’s new film Laggies is slated to come out October 24^th. It is about Megan, a woman in her late twenties who is still not ready to grow up. So, she decides to hang out with a high school girl she meets, hiding from her life. It is an interesting reversal of the man-child character that comedy has done to death. Shelton is directing with the script from newcomer Andrea Seigel. The film stars Keria Knightley, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Sam Rockwell. It is garnering a lot of positive buzz as being incredibly fun. It played to very good reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Here is the trailer.

Upcoming:

Upcoming, Shelton is directing the pilot for the new ABC comedy Fresh Off the Boat about a Taiwanese family making their way in 1990s America. She is also working on a new film called Open to Anything.

Career Highlights:

1)      Your Sister’s Sister (2011) – writer, director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks

Morten Tyldum

Filmography to Date:

Morten Tyldum, 47, got his start in his home country of Norway, working on television. In 2003, he made his first feature Buddy. He next made the crime thriller Fallen Angels; however, it was his next film that propelled him into Hollywood.

 In 2011, he made the fantastic crime thriller Headhunters (which you should see if you have not). The film mixes strong violence with black comedy, striking visuals and a great twisty story. The film also showcases Tyldum’s ability to get really strong performances from his actors (Aksel Hennie is wonderful in it).

2014 Film:

Tyldum’s new film is The Imitation Game. It is based on the true story of mathematician/logician Alan Turing, an Englishman who helped the Allies win WWII by cracking the Enigma code. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keria Knightley, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, and Allen Leech. It is among my most anticipated films for 2014 – and, from what I have seen, it looks excellent. I am interested to see if the film gets into the darker side of Turing life (he was chemically castrated by the British government because he was gay). Here is the trailer. It is slated for release November 21^st.

Upcoming:

Tyldum has a few projects that he is in various stages of development – that said, he is likely to become a very in-demand filmmaker after The Imitation Game.

Career Highlights:

1)      Headhunters (2011)* – director (Blu-ray, Video On-Demand, Trailer)

*Editor’s picks