Curtis Hanson

Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American filmmaker. Hanson was born in Reno, Nevada and grew up in Los Angeles, the son of Beverly June, a real estate agent, and Wilbur Hale "Bill" Hanson, a teacher. Hanson dropped out of high school, finding work as a freelance photographer and editor for Cinema magazine. Description above from the Wikipedia article Curtis Hanson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Chasing Mavericks (2012)

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson  •  Michael Apted
CAST:  Leven Rambin  •  Gerard Butler  •  Elisabeth Shue  •  Abigail Spencer

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson  •  Michael Apted
CAST:  Leven Rambin  •  Gerard Butler  •  Elisabeth Shue  •  Abigail Spencer

L.A. Confidential (1997)

MysteriousDarkThrillingDramatic

Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Guy Pearce  •  Danny DeVito  •  James Cromwell

Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Guy Pearce  •  Danny DeVito  •  James Cromwell

8 Mile (2002)

MusicalInspiringCharmingDramatic

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eminem  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Kim Basinger  •  Brittany Murphy

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eminem  •  Mekhi Phifer  •  Kim Basinger  •  Brittany Murphy

Adaptation. (2002)

FunnyOriginalCleverWhimsical

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)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Meryl Streep  •  Chris Cooper  •  Tilda Swinton

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)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Nicolas Cage  •  Meryl Streep  •  Chris Cooper  •  Tilda Swinton

Bad Influence (1990)

Wimpy young executive, Michael is about to get pulverised by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael's life and turns ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Rob Lowe  •  James Spader  •  Lisa Zane  •  Marcia Cross

Wimpy young executive, Michael is about to get pulverised by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael's life and turns ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Rob Lowe  •  James Spader  •  Lisa Zane  •  Marcia Cross

In Her Shoes (2005)

Irresponsible party girl, Maggie is kicked out of her father's and stepmother's home—where she lives for free—and is taken in by her hard-working sister, Philadelphia lawyer, Rose. After Maggie's disruptive ways ruin her sister's love life, Rose turns her out as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Toni Collette  •  Richard Burgi  •  Candice Azzara

Irresponsible party girl, Maggie is kicked out of her father's and stepmother's home—where she lives for free—and is taken in by her hard-working sister, Philadelphia lawyer, Rose. After Maggie's disruptive ways ruin her sister's love life, Rose turns her out as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Toni Collette  •  Richard Burgi  •  Candice Azzara

Lucky You (2007)

A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eric Bana  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Robert Duvall  •  Debra Messing

A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Eric Bana  •  Drew Barrymore  •  Robert Duvall  •  Debra Messing

The Bedroom Window (1987)

Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia sees a girl being attacked from her lover Terry's bedroom window. The assailant flees and his victim is saved. But that same night another girl is found murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Steve Guttenberg  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  Elizabeth McGovern  •  Paul Shenar

Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia sees a girl being attacked from her lover Terry's bedroom window. The assailant flees and his victim is saved. But that same night another girl is found murdered.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Steve Guttenberg  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  Elizabeth McGovern  •  Paul Shenar

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992)

A suburban family chooses seemingly sweet Peyton Flanders as their newborn's nanny. Only much later does the infant's mother, Claire Bartel, realize Peyton's true intentions -- to destroy Claire and replace her in the family. The nail-biting suspense builds quickly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Annabella Sciorra  •  Rebecca De Mornay  •  Matt McCoy  •  Ernie Hudson

A suburban family chooses seemingly sweet Peyton Flanders as their newborn's nanny. Only much later does the infant's mother, Claire Bartel, realize Peyton's true intentions -- to destroy Claire and replace her in the family. The nail-biting suspense builds quickly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Annabella Sciorra  •  Rebecca De Mornay  •  Matt McCoy  •  Ernie Hudson

The River Wild (1994)

While on a family vacation, rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  David Strathairn  •  Joseph Mazzello  •  Stephanie Sawyer

While on a family vacation, rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  David Strathairn  •  Joseph Mazzello  •  Stephanie Sawyer

Losin' It (1982)

Set in 1965, four Los Angeles school friends -- Woody, Dave, Spider and Wendell -- go on a series of misadventures when they head to Tijuana, Mexico, for a night of cruisin', causing trouble, and to lose their virginity.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Jackie Earle Haley  •  John Stockwell  •  John P. Navin, Jr.

Set in 1965, four Los Angeles school friends -- Woody, Dave, Spider and Wendell -- go on a series of misadventures when they head to Tijuana, Mexico, for a night of cruisin', causing trouble, and to lose their virginity.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Jackie Earle Haley  •  John Stockwell  •  John P. Navin, Jr.

The Little Dragons (1980)

Karate experts attempt to rescue a girl who was kidnapped by a mother and her two psycho sons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Charles Lane  •  Ann Sothern  •  Chris Petersen  •  Sally Boyden

Karate experts attempt to rescue a girl who was kidnapped by a mother and her two psycho sons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Charles Lane  •  Ann Sothern  •  Chris Petersen  •  Sally Boyden

Too Big to Fail (2011)

An intimate look at the epochal financial crisis of 2008 and the powerful men and women who decided the fate of the world's economy in a matter of a few weeks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Topher Grace  •  Paul Giamatti  •  James Woods  •  Matthew Modine

An intimate look at the epochal financial crisis of 2008 and the powerful men and women who decided the fate of the world's economy in a matter of a few weeks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Topher Grace  •  Paul Giamatti  •  James Woods  •  Matthew Modine

Wonder Boys (2000)

Grady is a 50-ish English professor who hasn't had a thing published in years—not since he wrote his award winning 'Great American Novel' 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Michael Douglas  •  Tobey Maguire  •  Frances McDormand  •  Katie Holmes

Grady is a 50-ish English professor who hasn't had a thing published in years—not since he wrote his award winning 'Great American Novel' 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Michael Douglas  •  Tobey Maguire  •  Frances McDormand  •  Katie Holmes

North by Northwest: One for the Ages (2009)

A discussion of North by Northwest and its influence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Leva
CAST:  Curtis Hanson  •  Guillermo del Toro  •  William Friedkin  •  Francis Lawrence

A discussion of North by Northwest and its influence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Leva
CAST:  Curtis Hanson  •  Guillermo del Toro  •  William Friedkin  •  Francis Lawrence

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (2009)

Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and others as they discuss the films and style of the Master of Suspense.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Leva
CAST:  Alfred Hitchcock  •  Francis Lawrence  •  William Friedkin  •  Guillermo del Toro

Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and others as they discuss the films and style of the Master of Suspense.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Leva
CAST:  Alfred Hitchcock  •  Francis Lawrence  •  William Friedkin  •  Guillermo del Toro

The Children of Times Square (1986)

An alienated teenage boy runs away from home and ventures to New York City where he falls in with a gang of juvenile delinquents working as drug dealers and pickpockets for a shady crime boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Howard Rollins  •  Joanna Cassidy  •  David Ackroyd  •  Larry B. Scott

An alienated teenage boy runs away from home and ventures to New York City where he falls in with a gang of juvenile delinquents working as drug dealers and pickpockets for a shady crime boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Howard Rollins  •  Joanna Cassidy  •  David Ackroyd  •  Larry B. Scott

Sweet Kill (1972)

Horror and suspense in the story of a psychotic maniac who literally "loves" women to death.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Tab Hunter  •  Cherie Latimer  •  Nadyne Turney  •  Isabel Jewell

Horror and suspense in the story of a psychotic maniac who literally "loves" women to death.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Tab Hunter  •  Cherie Latimer  •  Nadyne Turney  •  Isabel Jewell

Crítico (2008)

Seventy critics and filmmakers discuss cinema around the conflict between the artist and the observer, the creator and the critic. Between 1998 and 2007, Kléber Mendonça Filho recorded testimonies about this relationship in Brazil, the United States and Europe, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kleber Mendonça Filho
CAST:  Gus Van Sant  •  Carlos Saura  •  Walter Salles  •  Michel Ciment

Seventy critics and filmmakers discuss cinema around the conflict between the artist and the observer, the creator and the critic. Between 1998 and 2007, Kléber Mendonça Filho recorded testimonies about this relationship in Brazil, the United States and Europe, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kleber Mendonça Filho
CAST:  Gus Van Sant  •  Carlos Saura  •  Walter Salles  •  Michel Ciment

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008)

Jack L. Warner, Harry Warner, Albert Warner and Sam Warner were siblings who were born in Poland and emigrated to Canada near the turn of the century. In 1903, the brothers entered the budding motion picture business. In time, the Warner Brothers moved into film ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Schickel
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Carroll Baker  •  Warren Beatty  •  James Cagney

Jack L. Warner, Harry Warner, Albert Warner and Sam Warner were siblings who were born in Poland and emigrated to Canada near the turn of the century. In 1903, the brothers entered the budding motion picture business. In time, the Warner Brothers moved into film ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Schickel
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Carroll Baker  •  Warren Beatty  •  James Cagney
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