Taylor Hackford

Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944 in Santa Barbara, CA) is an American film director and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), "The Devil's Advocate" (1997) and "Proof of Life" (2000), and for directing Jamie Foxx to an Academy Award for Best Actor in "Ray" (2004). Hackford served as president of the Directors Guild of America from 2009 to 2013.

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Against All Odds (1984)

Clever

She was a beautiful fugitive. Fleeing from corruption. From power. He was a professional athlete past his prime. Hired to find her, he grew to love her. Love turned to obsession. Obsession turned to murder. And now the price of freedom might be nothing less than ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Rachel Ward  •  James Woods  •  Alex Karras

She was a beautiful fugitive. Fleeing from corruption. From power. He was a professional athlete past his prime. Hired to find her, he grew to love her. Love turned to obsession. Obsession turned to murder. And now the price of freedom might be nothing less than ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Rachel Ward  •  James Woods  •  Alex Karras

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Zack Mayo is an aloof, taciturn man who aspires to be a navy pilot. Once he arrives at training camp for his 13-week officer's course, Mayo runs afoul of abrasive, no-nonsense drill Sergeant Emil Foley. Mayo is an excellent cadet, but a little cold around the heart ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Debra Winger  •  Louis Gossett Jr.  •  David Keith

Zack Mayo is an aloof, taciturn man who aspires to be a navy pilot. Once he arrives at training camp for his 13-week officer's course, Mayo runs afoul of abrasive, no-nonsense drill Sergeant Emil Foley. Mayo is an excellent cadet, but a little cold around the heart ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Debra Winger  •  Louis Gossett Jr.  •  David Keith

Bound by Honor (1993)

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Damian Chapa  •  Jesse Borrego  •  Benjamin Bratt  •  Enrique Castillo

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Damian Chapa  •  Jesse Borrego  •  Benjamin Bratt  •  Enrique Castillo

Proof of Life (2000)

GrippingBrilliantThrillingIntense

Alice hires a professional negotiator to obtain the release of her engineer husband, who has been kidnapped by anti-government guerrillas in South America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Meg Ryan  •  Russell Crowe  •  David Morse  •  Pamela Reed

Alice hires a professional negotiator to obtain the release of her engineer husband, who has been kidnapped by anti-government guerrillas in South America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Meg Ryan  •  Russell Crowe  •  David Morse  •  Pamela Reed

Ray (2004)

UpliftingRealTear-jerkerRomantic

Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jamie Foxx  •  Kerry Washington  •  Regina King  •  Harry Lennix

Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jamie Foxx  •  Kerry Washington  •  Regina King  •  Harry Lennix

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

DarkCleverMysteriousWeird

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Al Pacino  •  Charlize Theron  •  Jeffrey Jones

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Al Pacino  •  Charlize Theron  •  Jeffrey Jones

White Nights (1985)

After his plane crashes in Siberia, a Russian dancer, who defected to the West, is held prisoner in the Soviet Union. The KGB keeps him under watch and tries to convince him to become a dancer for the Kirov Academy of Ballet again. Determined to escape, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Gregory Hines  •  Jerzy Skolimowski  •  Helen Mirren

After his plane crashes in Siberia, a Russian dancer, who defected to the West, is held prisoner in the Soviet Union. The KGB keeps him under watch and tries to convince him to become a dancer for the Kirov Academy of Ballet again. Determined to escape, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Gregory Hines  •  Jerzy Skolimowski  •  Helen Mirren

Love Ranch (2010)

Story of a couple that starts the first legal brothel in Nevada and a boxer they own a piece of.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Helen Mirren  •  Joe Pesci  •  Sergio Peris-Mencheta  •  Gina Gershon

Story of a couple that starts the first legal brothel in Nevada and a boxer they own a piece of.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Helen Mirren  •  Joe Pesci  •  Sergio Peris-Mencheta  •  Gina Gershon

The Mystery of Dante (2014)

A journey in the footsteps of the most famous initiate of Italian Trecento, the author of the celebrated "Divine Comedy". A poet who has inspired some of the most outstanding minds in History.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis Nero
CAST:  F. Murray Abraham  •  Taylor Hackford  •  Franco Zeffirelli  •  Silvano Agosti

A journey in the footsteps of the most famous initiate of Italian Trecento, the author of the celebrated "Divine Comedy". A poet who has inspired some of the most outstanding minds in History.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis Nero
CAST:  F. Murray Abraham  •  Taylor Hackford  •  Franco Zeffirelli  •  Silvano Agosti

The Comedian (2016)

An aging comic icon, Jackie Burke, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Leslie Mann  •  Danny DeVito  •  Edie Falco

An aging comic icon, Jackie Burke, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Leslie Mann  •  Danny DeVito  •  Edie Falco

Casting By (2012)

This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting director Marion Dougherty and shines a light on one of the most overlooked and least understood crafts in filmmaking.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Donahue
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Deborah Aquila  •  Mike Fenton  •  Nessa Hyams

This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting director Marion Dougherty and shines a light on one of the most overlooked and least understood crafts in filmmaking.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Donahue
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Deborah Aquila  •  Mike Fenton  •  Nessa Hyams

Parker (2013)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jason Statham  •  Jennifer Lopez  •  Nick Nolte  •  Michael Chiklis

A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jason Statham  •  Jennifer Lopez  •  Nick Nolte  •  Michael Chiklis

Bukowski: Born Into This (2003)

Director John Dullaghan’s biographical documentary about infamous poet Charles Bukowski, Bukowski: Born Into This, is as much a touching portrait of the author as it is an exposé of his sordid lifestyle. Interspersed between ample vintage footage of Bukowski’s ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Dullaghan
CAST:  Charles Bukowski  •  Harry Dean Stanton  •  Sean Penn  •  Bono

Director John Dullaghan’s biographical documentary about infamous poet Charles Bukowski, Bukowski: Born Into This, is as much a touching portrait of the author as it is an exposé of his sordid lifestyle. Interspersed between ample vintage footage of Bukowski’s ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Dullaghan
CAST:  Charles Bukowski  •  Harry Dean Stanton  •  Sean Penn  •  Bono

Teenage Father (1978)

About a high school boy who accidentally got his girlfriend pregnant. They both agree that they’ll give up the baby for adoption when the child is born…. turns out things are not so simple.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jeannie Dimter Barton  •  Susan Cronkite  •  Suzanne Crough  •  Gary Mathew

About a high school boy who accidentally got his girlfriend pregnant. They both agree that they’ll give up the baby for adoption when the child is born…. turns out things are not so simple.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Jeannie Dimter Barton  •  Susan Cronkite  •  Suzanne Crough  •  Gary Mathew

Bukowski (1973)

Charles Bukowski is filmed going to a poetry reading in San Francisco.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski is filmed going to a poetry reading in San Francisco.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Charles Bukowski

Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)

St. Louis, 1986. For Chuck Berry's 60th, Keith Richards assembles a pickup band of Robert Cray, Joey Spampinato, Eric Clapton, himself and long-time Berry pianist, Johnnie Johnson. Joined on stage by Etta James, Linda Ronstadt and Julian Lennon, Berry performs his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Chuck Berry  •  Keith Richards  •  Ingrid Berry  •  Eric Clapton

St. Louis, 1986. For Chuck Berry's 60th, Keith Richards assembles a pickup band of Robert Cray, Joey Spampinato, Eric Clapton, himself and long-time Berry pianist, Johnnie Johnson. Joined on stage by Etta James, Linda Ronstadt and Julian Lennon, Berry performs his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Chuck Berry  •  Keith Richards  •  Ingrid Berry  •  Eric Clapton

The Idolmaker (1980)

Complex

Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Ray Sharkey  •  Peter Gallagher  •  Joe Pantoliano  •  Paul Land

Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Ray Sharkey  •  Peter Gallagher  •  Joe Pantoliano  •  Paul Land

Everybody's All-American (1988)

Louisiana football star Gavin Grey had it all. He was an All-American champion who married his high-school sweetheart, homecoming queen Babs Rogers, and who was a hero to his hometown. Yet after a failed professional career, Gavin realizes that fame and success ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  Jessica Lange  •  Timothy Hutton  •  John Goodman

Louisiana football star Gavin Grey had it all. He was an All-American champion who married his high-school sweetheart, homecoming queen Babs Rogers, and who was a hero to his hometown. Yet after a failed professional career, Gavin realizes that fame and success ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Dennis Quaid  •  Jessica Lange  •  Timothy Hutton  •  John Goodman

Dolores Claiborne (1995)

Dolores Claiborne was accused of killing her abusive husband twenty years ago, but the court's findings were inconclusive and she was allowed to walk free. Now she has been accused of killing her employer, Vera Donovan, and this time there is a witness who can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Kathy Bates  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Judy Parfitt  •  Christopher Plummer

Dolores Claiborne was accused of killing her abusive husband twenty years ago, but the court's findings were inconclusive and she was allowed to walk free. Now she has been accused of killing her employer, Vera Donovan, and this time there is a witness who can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taylor Hackford
CAST:  Kathy Bates  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh  •  Judy Parfitt  •  Christopher Plummer

Melville, le dernier samouraï (2020)

Like nobody else Jean-Pierre Melville influenced modern filmmaking. This documentary follows his creative process step by step, showing him becoming the father of the Nouvelle Vague and one of the most iconic directors of French cinema.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cyril Leuthy
CAST:  Laurent Grousset  •  Rémy Grumbach  •  Volker Schlöndorff  •  Taylor Hackford

Like nobody else Jean-Pierre Melville influenced modern filmmaking. This documentary follows his creative process step by step, showing him becoming the father of the Nouvelle Vague and one of the most iconic directors of French cinema.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cyril Leuthy
CAST:  Laurent Grousset  •  Rémy Grumbach  •  Volker Schlöndorff  •  Taylor Hackford
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