Andrew Davis(born November 21, 1946) is an American filmmaker, known for having directed several successful action and thriller films during the 1980's and '90s.[1]His best known works includeAbove the Law(1988),Under Siege(1992),The Fugitive(1993),Chain Reaction(1996),A Perfect Murder(1998), andHoles(2003). He was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Directorand aDirectors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature FilmforThe Fugitive.
Andrew Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis in 2024 | |
| Born | November 21, 1946 Chicago, Illinois,U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign(B.A., 1968) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Father | Nathan Davis |
| Relatives | Richie Davis(brother) |
| Website | andrewdavisfilms |
Early life and education
editDavis was born on thesouth sideofChicago, Illinois,and has directed several films using Chicago as a backdrop. He is the son of actorNathan Davisand Metta Davis, and the brother of musicianRichard "Richie" Peter Davis(co-founder of the cover bandChicago Catz) and Jo Ellen Friedman. Davis had his father fill out manycharacter rolesthroughout the years, notably as the grandfather toShia LaBeouf's character in the Disney filmHoles.Davis' paternal grandparents wereRomanian Jewishimmigrants.
After attending theHarand Camp of the Theater Artssummer camp program andBowen High School,Davis went on to study journalism at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignwhere he was issued a degree in journalism in 1968.[2]It was not long before his interest incivil rightsandanti-warissues converged with his growing interest in filmmaking.
Davis was mentored by cinematographer and directorHaskell Wexler,with whom he worked onMedium Cool.Wexler and Davis reunited in 2014 to discuss the film before a screening at the Pollock Theater on the campus of theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara.[3]
Career
editCinematographer
editDavis began his film career in earnest as adirector of photographyonblaxploitationfilms likeCool Breeze,Hit Man,andThe Slamsin the 1970's.[4]He shot two features for directorJonathan Kaplan,and one forPaul Bartel.He was asecond unitcinematographer onRobert Downey Sr.'s 1980 filmUp the Academy.He shot, co-wrote, and was an associate producer of the 1975 independent filmPaco,directed byRobert Vincent O'Neiland starringJosé FerrerandAllen Garfield.
Early films
editHis first feature film as a director was the 1978 semi-biographical pictureStony Island.The film had a theatrical release in 1978 and was eventually released on DVD on April 24, 2012.[5]Stony Islandcentered on young musicians forming a band in their impoverished south side neighborhood. The film stars veteran musicians like saxophone playerGene Bargeand soul singerRonnie Barronas well as relative newcomers likeDennis Franz,Edward "Stony" Robinson,Rae Dawn Chong,Susanna Hoffsand Davis brotherRichie Davis.Roger Ebertdescribes the movie in a 2012 article, "The energy, I gather, came in large part from the performers themselves. The movie is more or less based on fact; the director and co-writer, Andy Davis, has a brother,Richie Daviswho was the last white kid on the block down on Stony Island, and actually was involved in a band something like the one in the movie. "[6]
In 1981, Davis directed a horror film titledThe Final Terror,which was released in 1983. The film was produced by Joe Roth and features several early performances from stars likeRachel Ward,Daryl Hannah,andJoe Pantoliano,among others. Davis co-wrote a screenplay for a Harry Belafonte projectBeat Streetwhich was a rap musical featuring breakdancing and the street music culture of early eighties New York City. Mike Medavoy and Orion Pictures tapped Davis to direct the Chuck Norris vehicle,Code of Silence.
Davis co-wrote, produced and directed a film titledAbove the Lawfor Warner Brothers in 1988. This film is most notable for being the feature film debut ofSteven Seagal.Davis then went back to Orion with his projectThe Package,working withGene HackmanandTommy Lee Jones.
1990s
editDavis brought Jones with him to his next project, which was originally titledDreadnaughtbut eventually carried the titleUnder Siege.In the picture Davis re-teamed with Seagal to create the top grossing fall film of 1992.
His 1993 filmThe Fugitivereceived seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, while Jones won for Best Supporting Actor, which is his only Oscar win to date. The Academy ultimately gave the 1993 Best Picture award toSchindler's List.That year Davis was also honored with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director by the Hollywood Foreign Press. The Directors Guild of America nominated him for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Direction.
Roger EbertreviewedThe Fugitivein 1993. He commented: "Andrew Davis'The Fugitiveis one of the best entertainments of the year, a tense, taut and expert thriller that becomes something more than that, an allegory about an innocent man in a world prepared to crush him. "Ebert observed that" Davis paints with bold visual strokes "and that he" transcends genre and shows an ability to marry action and artistry that deserves comparison with Hitchcock, yes, and also with David Lean and Carol Reed. "[7]
Davis continued directing big budget adventures throughout the 1990s includingSteal Big Steal Little,Chain Reaction,andA Perfect Murder.
2000s
editIn the fall of 2001, Davis was set to release Warner Brother'sCollateral DamagestarringArnold Schwarzenegger.However, the initial release date was pushed in an effort to be sensitive to the tragedies of 9/11, as the film's plot and content too closely echoed the tragedy. The film was finally released theatrically in 2002.[8]
In 2003, Davis developedHolesfor theWalt Disney CompanystarringShia LaBeouf,Sigourney Weaver,Patricia Arquette,Tim Blake Nelson,Jon Voight.Louis Sacharand Davis developed the script based on Sachar'schildren's novel of the same name.A.O. Scott's review inThe New York Times(written in April) called it "the best film released by an American studio so far this year".[9]
Davis filmed the Disney/Touchstone feature film,The Guardianin 2006. The film focuses on the Rescue Swimmers of theU.S. Coast Guardand starsKevin CostnerandAshton Kutcher.Costner plays a legendary rescue swimmer who returns to the training facility to bring up the next generation of swimmers, including a rescue swimmer played by Kutcher. Production was halted when the film'sNew Orleanslocation was ravaged byHurricane Katrina.The real-life Coast Guard advisers on the film were immediately deployed to rescue victims of the storm.
2010s to present
editIn April 2024 in France at the Reims Polar Film Festival, Davis was the guest of honor with a career tribute ceremony.Stony Islandwas also featured at the 25th anniversary ofEbertfestin Champaign Illinois in April 2024 featuring a live performance by the films costar and Davis’ brotherRichie Davis,and his band, The Chicago Catz.
In 2024, Davis published his first novel,Disturbing the Bones.[10]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Paco | No | Associate | Yes | Also cinematographer |
| 1978 | Stony Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1983 | The Final Terror | Yes | No | No | Also cinematographer |
| 1985 | Code of Silence | Yes | No | No | |
| 1988 | Above the Law | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1989 | The Package | Yes | Co-producer | No | |
| 1992 | Under Siege | Yes | No | No | |
| 1993 | The Fugitive | Yes | No | No | |
| 1995 | Steal Big Steal Little | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1996 | Chain Reaction | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1998 | A Perfect Murder | Yes | No | No | |
| 2002 | Collateral Damage | Yes | No | No | |
| 2003 | Holes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | The Guardian | Yes | No | No | |
| 2020 | Mentors - Tony & Santi | Yes | No | Yes | Documentary |
Cinematographer only
edit| Year | Title | Director | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Cool Breeze | Barry Pollack | |
| Private Parts | Paul Bartel | ||
| Hit Man | George Armitage | ||
| 1973 | The Slams | Jonathan Kaplan | |
| 1975 | Lepke | Menahem Golan | |
| 1976 | Mansion of the Doomed | Michael Pataki | |
| The Stronger | Lee Grant | Short film | |
| 1977 | Crash! | Charles Band | |
| 1979 | Over the Edge | Jonathan Kaplan | |
| Hot Rod | George Armitage | ||
| 1980 | Up the Academy | Robert Downey Sr. | 2nd unitphotography |
| 1984 | Angel | Robert Vincent O'Neil |
Awards and honors
edit| Institution | Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 1994 | Best Director | The Fugitive | Nominated |
| Chicago International Film Festival | 1978 | Gold Hugo | Stony Island | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | 1994 | Outstanding Directing – Feature Film | The Fugitive | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 1994 | Best Director | Nominated |
References
edit- ^Weinraub, Bernard(October 26, 1992)."The Talk of Hollywood; Director Who Blends Action With a Bit of Art".The New York Times.RetrievedDecember 14,2010.
- ^Kagan, Jeremy(April 26, 2000)."Biography 1994".Directors Close Up.USA:Focal Press.p. 223.ISBN0240804066– via Internet Archive.
- ^Flores, Gilberto (November 27, 2013)."'Medium Cool' Revisited ".The Bottom Line.Associated Students of the University of California, Santa Barbara.RetrievedFebruary 25,2014.
- ^Spence, D. (April 17, 2003)."An Interview with Andrew Davis"(Interview).IGN.Archived fromthe originalon October 29, 2005.RetrievedMarch 24,2007.
- ^Bey, Lee (April 4, 2012)."Revisiting 'Stony Island': Soulful 1970s Chicago cult film hits the streets again".WBEZ91.5.Archived fromthe originalon June 5, 2013.RetrievedMay 3,2013.
- ^Ebert, Roger(November 24, 1978)."Stony Island".RogerEbert.com(Review).RetrievedFebruary 25,2014.
- ^Ebert, Roger(August 6, 1993)."The Fugitive"(Review).RogerEbert.com.RetrievedMarch 14,2018.
- ^Ebert, Roger(February 8, 2002)."Collateral Damage".RogerEbert.com(Review).RetrievedFebruary 26,2014.
- ^Scott, A. O. (April 18, 2003)."Holes (2003) Holes (2003) FILM REVIEW; Not Just for Children, a Suspenseful Allegory of Greed, Fate and Racism".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 23,2022.
- ^"Disturbing the Bones by Andrew Davis, Jeff Biggers: 9781685891459 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books".PenguinRandomhouse.com.RetrievedAugust 2,2024.