Andrew Niccol(born 10 June 1964)[1]is a New Zealand screenwriter, producer, and director. He wrote and directedGattaca(1997),Simone(2002),Lord of War(2005),In Time(2011),The Host(2013), andGood Kill(2014).[2]He wrote and co-producedThe Truman Show,which earned him a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplayand won him theBAFTA Awardin the same category. Hishigh-conceptscience fiction filmstend to explore social, cultural and political issues; artificial realities,simulationsand themale gazeare frequent themes in his work.[3][4][5]
Andrew Niccol | |
|---|---|
 Niccol in 2012 | |
| Born | 10 June 1964 Paraparaumu,New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, Film director, Film producer |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
His filmGood Killwas selected to compete for theGolden Lionat the71st Venice International Film Festival.[6][7]
Early and personal life
editNiccol was born inParaparaumu,New Zealand, and grew up inAuckland,where he attendedAuckland Grammar Schoolbeginning in 1973. He left New Zealand at age 21 and began directingTV adsin London, which he did for more than ten years before his directorial debut,Gattaca(1997). During production ofSimone,he met model and actressRachel Roberts,with whom he has two children, Jack, born in 2003 (who also played "Young Nicolai" in the 2005 filmLord of War) and Ava, born in 2008.
Career
editDirecting
editNiccol has directed the filmsGattaca(1997),Simone(2002),Lord of War(2005),In Time(2011),The Host(2013), andGood Kill(2014) (reuniting after 17 years with actorEthan Hawkein a lead role; Hawke also appeared inLord of Waras a supporting character named Jack Valentine). He has also directed a short film entitledThe Minutes(2012), which is a documentary-esque, narrative tie-in toIn Timethat describes in more detail the world and characters from the film.[8]
For his directorial debut and first film (which he also wrote),Gattaca(1997), he won a Best Film award from theSitges - Catalan International Film Festivaland both a Special Jury Prize and the Fun Trophy from theGérardmer Film Festival.
For his filmLord of War(2005), he received a Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking from theNational Board of Review.
In June 2021, Niccol was named as the director and writer of a film based on theChristchurch mosque shootingscalledThey Are Us.[9]The filmmakers' choice to focus on Ardern's response rather than the victims generated criticism within New Zealand.[10][11]In response to public backlash, Niccols confirmed that the film's development had been put on hold until a full consultation with theNew Zealand Muslim communityhad been conducted.[12][13]
Writing and producing
editNiccol's breakthrough screenplay was his script for the filmThe Truman Show(1998), directed byPeter Weirand starringJim Carrey.He also served as a producer on the film. The film received anAcademy Awardnomination forBest Original Screenplay(Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) and aGolden Globesnomination for Best Screenplay in 1999 and won aBAFTAaward for Best Screenplay, aSaturn Award for Best Writingor Best Writer, an Awards Circuit Community Award for Best Original Screenplay and Best Motion Picture, aHugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation(shared withPeter Weir), and anOnline Film Critics SocietyAward for Best Original Screenplay. He has written all the films he has directed and produced several of them.
In 1999, Niccol received the ALFS Award for "Screenwriter of the Year" from theLondon Critics Circle Film Awardsfor his screenwriting work on the screenplays ofThe Truman Show(1998) andGattaca(1997).
Niccol co-wrote the story forThe Terminal,directed bySteven Spielberg.He also served as an executive producer on the film.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Gattaca | Yes | Yes | No |
| 1998 | The Truman Show | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | Simone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2004 | The Terminal | No | Story | Executive |
| 2005 | Lord of War | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2011 | In Time | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2013 | The Host | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2014 | Good Kill | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2018 | Anon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBA | I, Object | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^"Andrew Niccol biography and filmography".Tribute.ca.1964-06-10.Retrieved2014-01-14.
- ^"The Films of Andrew Niccol - Reviews by David Nusair".Reelfilm.Retrieved2014-01-14.
- ^Bozzola, Lucia."Andrew Niccol Biography".Rotten Tomatoes.Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2014.Retrieved13 January2014.
- ^Foley, Michael P. (Spring 2006)."Plato, Christianity, and the Cinematic Craft of Andrew Niccol".Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture.9(2). Project Muse: 43–67.doi:10.1353/log.2006.0014.Retrieved13 January2014.
- ^Bozzola, Lucia (2014)."Andrew Niccol".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon 24 January 2014.Retrieved13 January2014.
- ^"International competition of feature films".labiennale.org.Venice. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2014.Retrieved24 July2014.
- ^"Venice Film Festival Lineup Announced".Deadline Hollywood.24 July 2014.Retrieved24 July2014.
- ^Mortimer, Adam Egypt (2013-05-23),The Minutes,retrieved2020-01-14
- ^Ritman, Alex (10 June 2021)."Rose Byrne to Play New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Andrew Niccol's 'They Are Us'".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 10 June 2021.Retrieved11 June2021.
- ^Rahman, Abid (11 June 2021)."Jacinda Ardern Film Causes Backlash In New Zealand, Accusations of" White Saviorism "".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2021.Retrieved11 June2021.
- ^"Thousands sign petition denouncing mosque attacks film".Radio New Zealand.12 June 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 12 June 2021.Retrieved12 June2021.
- ^McClure, Tess (23 July 2021)."They Are Us: controversial film about Christchurch attacks put on hold".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 24 July 2021.Retrieved24 July2021.
- ^Kronast, Hannah; Henry, Holly (23 July 2021)."Development of Christchurch attack film They Are Us put on hold".Newshub.Retrieved24 July2021.