Andrew Niccol is a famous director and screenwriter, whose efforts gave birth to many successful films. The “Arms Baron”, “The Truman Show”, “Gattack”, “Simon”, “Terminal” - only a part of them. What else can you tell about this talented person, his work and personal life?
Andrew Niccol: The Beginning of the Way
The director and screenwriter was born in New Zealand, a joyful event occurred in June 1964. Andrew Niccol was born in an ordinary family, among his relatives there are no people associated with the world of cinema.
After graduating from Auckland Gymnasium, Niccol moved to the UK. For about ten years, the young man was engaged in the study of directing, earned a living by shooting commercials. Of course, Andrew dreamed of more, which prompted him to move on.
First movie
“Gattaka” is a picture thanks to which Andrew Niccol first attracted the attention of the public. A fantastic melodrama was released in 1997, he worked on its creation as a director and screenwriter. The tape tells the story of the world of the future, where people are born in laboratories. Those who are born in the traditional way are doomed to a sad end. Therefore, the main character Vincent Freeman is forced to hide the story of his birth from society. Of course, the secret is constantly under threat of disclosure.
The melodrama "Gattaka" appealed to the audience, earned high praise from critics. The director’s first creation won nominations for the Oscars and Golden Globes, and for the first time he felt the taste of fame.
The Truman Show
The Truman Show is the first film to be written by Andrew Niccol. He was forced to postpone work on this fantastic story, since a large budget was required to shoot the picture. Many film studios reacted favorably to the script, but there were no people willing to take risks and contact a newcomer to the world of cinema.
After the success of the film “Gattaka”, the situation changed for the better, the famous producer Scott Rudin became seriously interested in the project. Filming of the fantastic film "The Truman Show" was entrusted to Peter Weir, a key role played by Jim Carrey. The film was presented to the audience in 1998, it tells the story of a man who suddenly realizes that his whole life is one big television series.
The fantastic drama The Truman Show was even more successful than Gattaka, won three Golden Globe awards and several Oscar nominations.
Top movies
"Simone" is the next film that Andrew Niccol presented to the public. His biography indicates that this happened in 2002. A fantastic melodrama tells the story of a famous director who is faced with a creative crisis. In search of a way out of it, the hero creates a virtual actress, with which amazing adventures begin. The key role was brilliantly played by Al Pacino.
“Terminal” is a drama whose script Niccol also worked on. The picture tells about the misfortunes of a man accidentally stuck in one of the airport terminals. The image of the protagonist was embodied by Tom Hanks, the tape was released in 2004. Then, the crime drama The Armory Baron, which Andrew himself shot, was presented to the audience. She tells the story of the legendary criminal Victor Bout, whose role was played by Nicolas Cage.
After the release of The Armory Baron, Andrew Niccol took a long pause. The filmography of the master only in 2011 acquired a new picture. She became a fantastic melodrama "Time", telling about a fictional world. It is inhabited by people who recognize only one currency, which is time. At the age of 25, men and women stop aging, but are forced to pay for further life. Only the richest are able to afford immortality, while the poor are forced to fight for every minute in the world of the living. The audience liked the picture, as evidenced by the high box office, but critics reacted negatively to it.
What else to see
In 2013, Andrew Niccol, whose films and biography are discussed in this article, directed the fantastic drama The Guest. The film tells the story of the struggle of people and aliens who intend to capture their bodies. The picture was greeted by the audience coolly.
The military drama “Good Murder”, which was released in 2014, was not particularly successful. The picture tells of the misfortunes of a pilot who controls an unmanned fighter. In the afternoon, the hero takes part in the fight against terrorists, and in the evenings quarrels with his wife and children. He is tired of such a life, but sees no way to change it for the better.
Personal life
Niccol is not one of the stars who like to talk about his personal life, so there is little information about this. It is known that the director is married to the Canadian model Rachel Roberts, who gave him a daughter Ava and a son Jack. For some time he was married to actress Grace Sullivan, which can be seen in his first film "Gattaca", the reasons for the divorce remained behind the scenes.