Sam Mendes

By Spencer Johnston

Sam Mendes

• Sam Mendes is an English stage and film director most famous for the movies American Beauty, Skyfall and Oliver!

• He was born in 1965 and has been involved in cinema since 1999.

Directing Style

• His style as a director is often described as being very varied. When working in theatre he would he was famous for his dark reinventions of often light-hearted plays.

• In cinema he likes to focus on emphasizing the personal traits of his characters and is known for often subtly breaking down the fourth wall within his movies and stage productions.

• His genre of movies usually revolve around action, however he has made a number of dramas.

American Beauty• American Beauty focuses around a character called Lester Burnham,

whom has a mid-life crisis when he falls in love with his daughters best friend.

• This acts as a catalyst for Lester to make many changes in his life and how the changes affect those around him

• Many different themes are explored within the movie including romantic and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, self-liberation, and redemption.

• American Beauty won 5 Oscars at the 72nd academy awards including Best picture and Best Director for Sam Mendes.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJh5wdvdfVE

Skyfall

• Skyfall was the 23rd bond movie and the third in which Daniel Craig starred as James Bond.

• It received generally very positives reviews from critics and received two Oscars at the 85th academy awards.

• Sam Mendes was praised for his ‘dazzling and audacious’ portrayal of the movie.

• This movie is beautifully shot and has very interesting dialogue. The script within this movie was a lot more accomplished than any Bond movie I had ever previously seen.

Jarhead

• Jarhead is a biographical war film based on the writings of Marine Anthony Swofford.

• The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx.• The movie explores key war themes such as

loyalty, stewardship as well as what is right and what is wrong.

• I particularly liked this movie as it is beautiful shot and it was extremely emotional and thought provoking.

Why I chose Sam Mendes?