Director Study- Sam Mendes

MOVIES:

Bond 23: 2011 (pre-production)
Away we go: 2009
Revolutionary Road: 2008
Jarhead: 2005
Road to Perditon: 2002
American Beauty: 1999
Company: 1996 (TV)
Cabaret: 1993 (TV)

Samuel Alexander "Sam" Mendes was born on the 1st August 1965 in Berkshire, England. Mendes was educated at Cambridge University and joined the Chichester Festival Theatre following his graduation in 1987.

Soon after this he directed actress Dame Judi Dench in "The Cherry Orchard", this was his first directorial debut in the international field. For this film he won a Critics Circle Award for 'Best Newcomer'.

Film: American Beauty

Year: 1999

In 1999, Sam Mendes directed his first feature film, American Beauty.

The film is about the Burnham family. Lester Burnham is suffering a mid-life crisis that affects the lives of his family. Lester has a materialistic wife Carolyn and rebelling daughter Jane who hates him. Carolyn is a real estate agent who is wrapped up in her job and takes on an affair with business rival. Jane falls in love with a strange boy next door who is a drug dealer andlives with a very strict marine father and a speechless mother. Lester's mid-life crisis causes him to drastically change his life around when he quits his job and works at a fast food restaurant. He starts working out to gain the attention of Angela, a friend of Jane's. Lives eventually change and not for the best.

In 2000 Mendes won Best Director at the Academy Awards for American Beauty, which was rear for a first-time film Director.

The film won five Oscars all up: Best Actor for Kevin Sacey, Best Director for Sam Mendes, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Film. The film grossed $356.3 million worldwide.

Film: Jarhead

Year: 2005

In 2005, Mendes directed the war film Jarhead. The film grossed $96.9 million world
wide. The film focused on the boredom and other psychological challenges of wartime, instead of
being a traditional action film.
Jarhead is based on U.S Marine, Anthony Swofford. Jake Gyllenhaal played in the lead role as Swofford. Swofford experiences the toughness of bootcamp and becomes good mates with a marine called Troy. The two land in the middle of a desert under a blazing sun with hours of boredom and moments of complete terror. Swofford, Troy, and their fellow soldiers rely on their sense of humor, and their friendship to deal with a situation that doesn't much resemble what they expected. The title 'Jarhead' is a metaphoric term refering to the troops heads as jars that are in need of 'filling'

Film: Revolutionary Road

Year: 2008

In 2008, Mendes directed Revolutionary Road, starring his ex-wife, Academy Award winner Kate Winslet, along with Academy Award Nominee, Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Film is about a young married couple, Frank and April Wheeler and their life in the suburbs. Frank has a job he hates in New York City. April is a stay at home mum, who looks after there two daughters. In their neighbourhood in the 1950's couples thrived to live the 'american dream' with their lavish houses, husbands with secure jobs and a typical house mother. April feels like they are both "resigning from life" so they both decide to move to Paris so that April can work and Frank can do something with his life that will be fufilling to himself. During the preparation of moving April finds out she is pregnant. The pregnancy puts there dreams to a sudden halt and the couple goes through numerous relationship struggles and life changes as they try to achieve their dream.

Revolutionary Road was nominated for 3 Oscars at the 2009 Academy Awards. The categories were Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Costume Design and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Micheal Shannon.