Jonathan Mostow
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Mostow is an American
film director
, writer
and producer.
in New Haven
, Connecticut
and Harvard, Mostow also trained at the American Repertory Company and New York City's Lee Strasberg Institute. He helmed several short films and documentaries as well as music videos before making his first feature, the direct-to-video release Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989). He then made the Showtime film Flight of Black Angel
(1991), about a colonel who trains fighter pilots and his troubled protégé who wants to attack the local population.
In 1997 Mostow directed Breakdown
. The thriller, starring Kurt Russell
as a man whose wife seems to have vanished in the desert. He went on to co-found a production company with former executive Hal Lieberman and signed a four-year deal with Universal
. He also spent several years developing The Game
(1997), but opted instead to direct his own original screenplay for Breakdown. Mostow was credited as Executive Producer on the David Fincher
-directed film.
Mostow and Michael Douglas
(who starred in The Game) were to collaborate on a World War II-era submarine film U-571
(2000) but Douglas pulled out due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the director assembled a cast including Harvey Keitel
, Bill Paxton
, Matthew McConaughey
, Jack Noseworthy, Matthew Settle
and Thomas Guiry for U-571, a film about an attempt by the USA to intercept a German U-boat
carrying a coding device. Loosely based on fact (although it really involved British forces, not Americans), the film earned $77 million in domestic receipts. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, and won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing.
In 2003 Mostow directed the third installment of The Terminator
series, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
. The film performed below industry expectations and failed to duplicate the critical reception of its predecessors.
After a six year absence, Mostow returned to direct another film, Surrogates, based on the comic book series
and starring Bruce Willis
. The film was released into cinemas on September 25, 2009 to mixed reviews. Mostow has written the story of the horror thriller The House at the End of the Street, which is currently in production.
He also has produced and created The Megas
with Virgin Comics.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and producer.
Biography
A graduate of Hopkins SchoolHopkins School
The Hopkins School is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational day school, located in New Haven, Connecticut....
in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Harvard, Mostow also trained at the American Repertory Company and New York City's Lee Strasberg Institute. He helmed several short films and documentaries as well as music videos before making his first feature, the direct-to-video release Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989). He then made the Showtime film Flight of Black Angel
Flight of Black Angel
Flight of Black Angel is a 1991 TV aviation film directed by Jonathan Mostow, featuring William O'Leary and Peter Strauss.-Plot:...
(1991), about a colonel who trains fighter pilots and his troubled protégé who wants to attack the local population.
In 1997 Mostow directed Breakdown
Breakdown (film)
Breakdown is a 1997 American thriller film, written and directed by Jonathan Mostow. The film stars Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh and Kathleen Quinlan. The original music score was composed by Basil Poledouris...
. The thriller, starring Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
as a man whose wife seems to have vanished in the desert. He went on to co-found a production company with former executive Hal Lieberman and signed a four-year deal with Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
. He also spent several years developing The Game
The Game (film)
The Game is a 1997 neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn, and produced by Polygram. It tells the story of an investment banker who is given a mysterious gift: participation in a game that integrates in strange ways with his life...
(1997), but opted instead to direct his own original screenplay for Breakdown. Mostow was credited as Executive Producer on the David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
-directed film.
Mostow and Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
(who starred in The Game) were to collaborate on a World War II-era submarine film U-571
U-571 (film)
U-571 is a 2000 film directed by Jonathan Mostow, and starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Thomas Kretschmann, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Noseworthy, Will Estes, and Tom Guiry...
(2000) but Douglas pulled out due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the director assembled a cast including Harvey Keitel
Harvey Keitel
Harvey Keitel is an American actor. Some of his most notable starring roles were in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, Ridley Scott's The Duellists and Thelma and Louise, Ettore Scola's That Night in Varennes, Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Jane Campion's The...
, Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
, Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor.After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused . He then appeared in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact, U-571, Tiptoes, Sahara, and We Are Marshall...
, Jack Noseworthy, Matthew Settle
Matthew Settle
Jeffrey Matthew Settle is an American actor best known for playing Captain Ronald Speirs on the HBO show Band of Brothers and Rufus Humphrey on Gossip Girl.-Career:...
and Thomas Guiry for U-571, a film about an attempt by the USA to intercept a German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
carrying a coding device. Loosely based on fact (although it really involved British forces, not Americans), the film earned $77 million in domestic receipts. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, and won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing.
In 2003 Mostow directed the third installment of The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
series, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
. The film performed below industry expectations and failed to duplicate the critical reception of its predecessors.
After a six year absence, Mostow returned to direct another film, Surrogates, based on the comic book series
The Surrogates
The Surrogates is a five-issue comic book limited series written by Robert Venditti, drawn by Brett Weldele, and published by Top Shelf Productions from 2005 to 2006...
and starring Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
. The film was released into cinemas on September 25, 2009 to mixed reviews. Mostow has written the story of the horror thriller The House at the End of the Street, which is currently in production.
He also has produced and created The Megas
The Megas
The Megas is a 5-issue mini-series from Virgin Comics and film director Jonathan Mostow . Mostow is already reported to be developing the property into a feature film.- Credits :...
with Virgin Comics.
Filmography
- Fright Show (1985) (segment "Dr. Dobermind")
- Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989)
- Flight of Black AngelFlight of Black AngelFlight of Black Angel is a 1991 TV aviation film directed by Jonathan Mostow, featuring William O'Leary and Peter Strauss.-Plot:...
(1991) (TV) - BreakdownBreakdown (film)Breakdown is a 1997 American thriller film, written and directed by Jonathan Mostow. The film stars Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh and Kathleen Quinlan. The original music score was composed by Basil Poledouris...
(1997) - U-571U-571 (film)U-571 is a 2000 film directed by Jonathan Mostow, and starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Thomas Kretschmann, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Noseworthy, Will Estes, and Tom Guiry...
(2000) - Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
(2003) - Surrogates (2009)