David O. Russell
David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an American film director and screenwriter. He has been praised for the loose, comic energy that characterizes his work, and is notorious for his explosive confrontations with cast members. He has won 2 Independent Spirit Awards for writing and directing as well as the Audience Award at Sundance, and a Writers Guild of America Award. Russell was awarded Best First Screenplay and Best First Feature from the Independent Spirit Awards for his first work, the independent dark comedy “Spanking the Monkey” (1994). In addition, the film won him the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. His work in the early 2010s, "The Fighter" (2010), "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012) and "American Hustle" (2013), was highly critically acclaimed, with each film racking up multiple Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Editing. The films had their best success in the acting categories, however, with Christian Bale and Melissa Leo winning the Supporting Actor & Actress Oscars for "The Fighter," and Jennifer Lawrence winning the award for Best Actress in "Silver Linings Playbook."
American Hustle
(2013)
FunnyCleverDramaticSlow moving
A conman and his seductive partner are forced to work for a wild FBI agent, who pushes them into a world of Jersey power-brokers and the Mafia. (more)
A conman and his seductive partner are forced to work for a wild FBI agent, who pushes them into a world of Jersey power-brokers and the Mafia. (more)
Silver Linings Playbook
(2012)
EmotionalRomanticUpliftingBeautiful
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. (more)
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. (more)
Adaptation. (2002)
Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan ... (more)
Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan ... (more)
I ♥ Huckabees
(2004)
A husband-and-wife team play detective, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means. (more)
A husband-and-wife team play detective, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means. (more)
Spanking the Monkey (1994)
Bright young student Raymond Aibelli is forced to sidetrack an important medical internship because his mother, Susan, is recovering from a broken leg. When he isn't tasked with the most mundane aspects of Susan's recuperation, Raymond finds distraction in a ... (more)
Bright young student Raymond Aibelli is forced to sidetrack an important medical internship because his mother, Susan, is recovering from a broken leg. When he isn't tasked with the most mundane aspects of Susan's recuperation, Raymond finds distraction in a ... (more)
Three Kings (1999)
A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that's destined to change everything. (more)
A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that's destined to change everything. (more)
Flirting with Disaster
(1996)
Adopted as a child, new father Mel Colpin decides he cannot name his son until he knows his birth parents, and determines to make a cross-country quest to find them. Accompanied by his wife, Nancy, and an inept yet gorgeous adoption agent, Tina, he departs on an ... (more)
Adopted as a child, new father Mel Colpin decides he cannot name his son until he knows his birth parents, and determines to make a cross-country quest to find them. Accompanied by his wife, Nancy, and an inept yet gorgeous adoption agent, Tina, he departs on an ... (more)
The Fighter
(2010)
RealEmotionalPowerfulInspiring
Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime. (more)
Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime. (more)
Accidental Love
(2015)
A small town waitress gets a nail accidentally lodged in her head causing unpredictable behavior that leads her to Washington, DC. Sparks fly when she meets a clueless young senator who takes up her cause - but what happens when love interferes with what you stand for? (more)
A small town waitress gets a nail accidentally lodged in her head causing unpredictable behavior that leads her to Washington, DC. Sparks fly when she meets a clueless young senator who takes up her cause - but what happens when love interferes with what you stand for? (more)
Soldiers Pay (2004)
From director David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) comes the controversial documentary chronicling the soldier's struggle with the current war in Iraq. Interviews with soldiers and with Iraqis who played extras in "Three Kings." (more)
From director David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) comes the controversial documentary chronicling the soldier's struggle with the current war in Iraq. Interviews with soldiers and with Iraqis who played extras in "Three Kings." (more)
Joy
(2015)
A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. (more)
A story based on the life of a struggling Long Island single mom who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. (more)
Hal (2019)
Past Forward (2016)
An unreliable story, a parallax view wherein the scenarios, characters, costumes, genres, and endings, repeat and morph, refusing the logic of conventional narrative. (more)
An unreliable story, a parallax view wherein the scenarios, characters, costumes, genres, and endings, repeat and morph, refusing the logic of conventional narrative. (more)
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
(2019)
Pauline Kael (1919–2001) was undoubtedly one of the greatest names in film criticism. A Californian native, she wrote her first review in 1953 and joined ‘The New Yorker’ in 1968. Praised for her highly opinionated and feisty writing style and criticised for her ... (more)
Pauline Kael (1919–2001) was undoubtedly one of the greatest names in film criticism. A Californian native, she wrote her first review in 1953 and joined ‘The New Yorker’ in 1968. Praised for her highly opinionated and feisty writing style and criticised for her ... (more)
Divine Trash (1998)
The life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters. (more)
The life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters. (more)
Students of 'The Graduate' (2007)
This short documentary from 2007 features filmmakers, critics and historians discussing the cinematic achievement and ongoing influence of "The Graduate." (more)
This short documentary from 2007 features filmmakers, critics and historians discussing the cinematic achievement and ongoing influence of "The Graduate." (more)
Amsterdam
(2022)
In the 1930s, three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney—witness a murder, become suspects themselves and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history. (more)
In the 1930s, three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney—witness a murder, become suspects themselves and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history. (more)
Hairway to the Stars (1989)
The arms race goes to the beauty parlor with Bette Davis in The Letter. (more)
The arms race goes to the beauty parlor with Bette Davis in The Letter. (more)
Super Toys
Two groovy ’70s toy sales reps go on a life-and-death mission to save themselves, their marriage and their live-wire 12-year-old daughter while on the road in Middle America. (more)
Two groovy ’70s toy sales reps go on a life-and-death mission to save themselves, their marriage and their live-wire 12-year-old daughter while on the road in Middle America. (more)