Andrew Davis(born November 21, 1946) is an American filmmaker, known for having directed several successful action and thriller films during the 1980s and 1990s.[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,
Career
edit1969 - 1978: Early works to directorial breakthrough
editFor the 1969 filmMedium Cool,Davis was mentored by cinematographer and directorHaskell Wexlerwith 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]
Davis continued his film career as adirector of photographyfor the filmsCool Breeze(1972),[4]Private Parts(1972),[5]Hit Man(1972),[6]andThe Slams(1973).[7]
In 1975, Davis was credited for his writing, cinematography, and producing for the family filmPaco,directed byRobert Vincent O'Neiland starringJosé FerrerandAllen Garfield.[8]Also in 1975, Davis was the director of photography forMenahem Golan'sLepke.[9]
Afterwards he worked on twoCharles BandfilmsMansion of the Doomed(1976) as cinematographer,[10]andCrash!(1977) as director of photography.[11]
On this period of his life Davis said "when I went to work forGene CormanforCool Breeze,Hit Man,Private Parts,andThe Slams,they had small $300,000 budgets or less. It allowed me to see what it took to make a movie. I worked with first time directors, learned with them, and could recommend things, so I was able to get my hands in the works. Everybody was a character. When I worked with Menahem Golan forLepke,I got to shoot in 35mm anamorphic Panavision and Tony Curtis was a big actor. There were fancy sets and arclights, so it was a big deal for me. I worked on some other really small movies with Charles Band likeCrash!andMansion of the Doomed.I did this because I wanted to see what it was like to make a movie for very little money. This allowed me to later say ‘let’s try to makeStony Island’."[12]
His 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.[13]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. "[14]
1979 - 1985: continued career and action film breakthrough
editMoving forward, Davis was credited as director of photography for the filmHot Rod(1979),[15]Over the Edge(1979),[16]andAngel(1983).[17]He was asecond unitcinematographer onRobert Downey Sr.'s 1980 filmUp the Academy.
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.
1986 - 1993: Major successes and wide recognition
editDavis 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.
Davis 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. "[18]
1995 to 2019: Subsequent films to hiatus
editDavis continued directing big budget adventures throughout the 1990s includingSteal Big Steal Little,Chain Reaction,andA Perfect Murder.
In 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.[19]
In 2003, Davis directedHoles,an adaptation ofLouis Sachar'sbook by the same name,for theWalt Disney CompanystarringShia LaBeouf,Sigourney Weaver,Patricia Arquette,Tim Blake Nelson,andJon Voight.[20]The film is about a boy who is sent to a mysterious juvenile detention camp where he uncovers buried secrets. Davis chose to directHolesto show he was capable of making more than action films such asThe FugitiveandCollateral Damage.He encouraged author Sachar to participate in the production and adapt the novel into a screenplay. To break down the novel's action into a film, Davis and Sachar storyboarded over 100 scenes on 3-by-5 note cards, each of which had specific time allotments. Sachar said Davis "went through and said, 'Now as you rewrite it, this card should take half a minute, this one should take three minutes, this one should take one minute, and so on.'"[21]The film went on to receive favorable reviews.[22]A.O. Scott's review inThe New York Timescalled it "the best film released by an American studio so far this year".[23]In the US the film grossed $67,406,573 theatrically, and $56.2 million on home video.[24]
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.
Afterwards Davis went on a hiatus, he explained that "the things that were being offered to me were bad action movies that I didn’t want to do. I became busy developing my own films, and then I was marrying children, burying parents, and being a grandfather."[12]
2020 to present: Current work
editIn 2020, Davis released his documentaryMentors—Toni & Santiat theSanta Barbara International Film Festival.[25]It is the relationship between two renowned photographers,Santi Visalli,87, andTony Vaccaro,97, characterized by friendship and a mentor-protégé dynamic. Davis madeMentors: Tony & Santias a labor of love, After an encounter where Visalli credited Vaccaro as a pivotal influence on his life. It moved Davis, who recognized the opportunity to explore not only their relationship but also the broader themes of mentorship and creativity. With access to their vast photographic archives, Davis crafted a documentary that celebrates their personal and professional journeys while reflecting on the profound impact of mentorship on art.[26]Matt Fagerholm ofRogerEbert.comcalled it "a gem" and explained that Davis enrichesMentorswith endearing moments of the subjects' personalities, like playful banter and lighthearted remarks, instead of being strictly biographical. Fagerholm also pointed out the opening, and said that Davis powerfully captures the emotional warmth of a reunion between two friends and collaborators.[25]
In 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, which he co-wrote withJeff Biggers,the thrillerDisturbing the Bones.[27]Jim Hemphill ofIndieWiresaid that "one of the great pleasures ofDisturbing the Bonesis the wealth of detail that accumulates from page one and never lets up. "[28]
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.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"Paco".TVGuide.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^ab"Made in Chicago: Andrew Davis on his Career and Disturbing the Bones (CIFF 2024)".FilmInt.nu.November 13, 2024. Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 28,2025.
- ^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.
- ^"Hot Rod".TVGuide.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"Over the Edge".TVGuide.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.
- ^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.
- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.Archived fromthe originalon January 27, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 27,2025.
- ^Debruge, Peter (April 18, 2003)."Dig Deeper".The Austin Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on February 10, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 10,2023.
- ^HolesatRotten Tomatoes
- ^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.
- ^"Year End 2003 Top-selling titles (combined VHS and DVD)".variety.com.December 31, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon January 27, 2025.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^ab"SBIFF 2020: The Night, Mentors—Tony & Santi | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert".www.rogerebert.com.January 19, 2020. Archived fromthe originalon January 27, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 27,2025.
- ^Woodard, Josef (January 15, 2020)."SBIFF: Andrew Davis Interviewed".The Santa Barbara Independent.Archived fromthe originalon January 27, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 27,2025.
- ^"Chicago filmmaker Andrew Davis debuts first thriller novel 'Disturbing the Bones'".ABC7 Chicago.October 23, 2024. Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 28,2025.
- ^Hemphill, Jim (October 23, 2024)."The Director of 'The Fugitive' Returns to What He Does Best — but Not on the Big Screen".IndieWire.Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2025.RetrievedFebruary 1,2025.