[157] Composer Cliff Martinez has scored eleven Soderbergh films starting with Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) and ending with Kimi (2022). [clarification needed]. [17][18], "When I say this is the most important motion picture you'll ever attend, my motivation is not financial gain, but a firm belief that the delicate fabric that holds all of us together will be ripped apart unless every man, woman, and child in this country sees this film and pays full ticket price, not some bargain matine cut-rate deal. [143] He claims that he no longer reads reviews of his movies. Her nephew (Lucas Hedges) comes along to wrangle the ladies as well as her new literary agent (Gemma Chan) who is desperate to find out about her next book. Here, he opted for the pseudonym Mary Ann Bernard, based on his mother . There was Steven and this new camera.". Neither Tatum nor Soderbergh had any intention of revisiting the Magic Mike universe after the 2016 sequel, Magic Mike XXL, on which Soderbergh served as producer, cinematographer, lead cameraman, and editor (he left directorial duties to his longtime producer Gregory Jacobs). When you break it down you have: His breakthrough led to success in Hollywood, where he directed the crime comedy Out of Sight (1998), the biopic Erin Brockovich (2000) and the crime drama Traffic (2000). Things you buy through our links may earnNew Yorka commission. Im trying to view it as kind of a Japanese line drawing. "[53] Soderbergh's response to such criticism: "I don't think it's going to destroy the movie-going experience any more than the ability to get takeout has destroyed the restaurant business. Its either explicit but kind of clinical, or its just avoided. [143] Richard Brody of The New Yorker stated that Soderbergh is focused on the process of presenting ideas through film rather than their actual realization. What makes that scene funny?Its the turbocharged version of being completely lost creatively, of feeling absolutely overwhelmed and underprepared. I mean, they would give us the outlines of a situation, and then we knew where we had to end up. That shits hard to do when its dry. Faces are in action too. [166], Soderbergh's entire filmography is routinely analyzed and debated by fans, critics, film academics, and other film directors. Ive asked myself that. If Channing and Reid and the choreographic team hadnt created the live show, the movie wouldnt exist. [96][97] The film was released on March 23, 2018[98] and was well received by critics, with Scott Meslow of GQ noting its relevance to the modern plight of women in patriarchal societies, and called it a "nerve-jangling modern-day Kafka story". She would tell you what might come up next, and remind you, because we shot in sequence, which was another incredible gift that Steven gave.. On a scale of laminated-eyebrow drama to Lemon Lady Secrets. As I was walking out the door, I said, Theres no universe where Salmas going to do all that. And when I came back, Salmas like, No, no, no, no! No crew other than Sound. Salma Hayek and Steven Soderbergh on the set of. Industry heads were reportedly watching how the film performed, as its unusual release schedule could have implications for future feature films. I wanted to control that. The result is a collaboration between Soderbergh, Tatum, and screenwriter Reid Carolin that fictionalizes the origin story of a show that actually exists in real life. Since his return from self-proclaimed retirement five years ago, Steven Soderbergh has been working at a breathtaking pace, directing a stream of robust thrillers and talky dramas. From 'Ocean's Eleven' to 'Logan Lucky' to the forthcoming 'No Sudden Move,' Soderbergh has madeand continues to make . Discovery Files Lawsuit Against Paramount Over 'South Park' Streaming Rights Soderbergh's 2020 film Let Them All Talk, was written by Deborah Eisenberg, and starred Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Gemma Chan, Lucas Hedges, and Dianne Wiest. [26], Soderbergh directed Schizopolis in 1996, a comedy which he starred in, wrote, composed, and shot as well as directed. [26][168][169] After directing his first film, Soderbergh's relative youth and sudden rise to prominence in the film industry had him referred to as a "sensation", a prodigy, and a poster boy of the genre's generation. "After Traffic I just stopped completely," says the director. I think the more difficult question is about maintaining the love of the job and of the medium. One night, the next day I was supposed to be giving a lecture, and the auditorium was going to be filled with real people, said Streep, who plays an acclaimed novelist accepting a prestigious award in the movie. I miss when its I dont know if controlled is the right word? I said to Chan that morning, Its Omaha Beach. Thats what I see when I imagine something. [58] Soderbergh directed Che, which was released in theatres in two parts titled The Argentine and Guerrilla, and was presented in the main competition of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, on May 22. [140], In addition to his directing, he is frequently a screenwriter for his films. The purpose of it is to study the aspects of staging in filmmaking. A pioneer of modern independent cinema, Soderbergh is an acclaimed and prolific filmmaker.. Soderbergh's directorial-breakthrough indie drama Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) lifted him into the public spotlight as a notable presence . [10] The film was considered to be the most influential catalyst of the 1990s Independent Cinema movement. But they didnt tell us how to get there.. Disagreements between Sony and Soderbergh about revisions to Steven Zaillian's version of the screenplay led to Soderbergh's dismissal from the project only days prior to filming in June 2009. One of my favorite moments in any of your movies is the close-up of Andie MacDowell in Sex, Lies, and Videotape where she figures out who her husband is sleeping with. "This is the holy grail . After I saw it in London, I got on the phone that night and told everybody what I wanted to do, which meant setting aside the Magic Mike Broadway show that wed been developing for quite a while. You usually zero in on directorial influences for each project and they become key ingredients.The three filmmakers I was thinking about while we were doing this one were Ernst Lubitsch, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Lina Wertmller. [19][20] In 1991, he directed Kafka, a biopic of Franz Kafka written by Lem Dobbs and starring Jeremy Irons. Watch on. [90][91], In February 2016, Soderbergh officially came out of his retirement to direct a NASCAR heist film, Logan Lucky, starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and Daniel Craig, among others. [144] Film critic A. O. Scott has noted that Soderbergh has a critical interest in exploring the impact capitalist economies have on living an ethical life and the detractions associated with materialism. I want to talk a bit about the class anxieties woven into the movie, which are there even when the characters arent directly addressing them. Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Jon Hamm, Amy Seimetz, Brendan Fraser, and other stars of the director's new film 'No Sudden Move' talk about being on-set with Soderbergh. [13] For his script, Soderbergh received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 62nd Academy Awards. It's helpful for everybody to have a sense of what's working and what's not . As Wiest told EW, "The only equipment was sound equipment. "I try and make sure they're OK, and when they're in the zone, I leave them alone. And short., Wiest revealed the film was shot with no equipment. Watch the first trailer for Let Them All Talk below. [73] For his then-final feature film, he directed the psychological thriller Side Effects, which starred Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones. A spit take to me is just always funny, and I wish I had more of them in my filmography. [50][51] Theater-owners, who at the time had been suffering from dropping attendance rates, did not welcome so-called "day-and-date" movies. I wrote down some lines from Magic Mikes Last Dance that seem as if they might mean something to you beyond their function in the movies plot. Was one of your takeaways that if you make sure to get a lot of close-ups of people thinking, you can get out of a lot of jams when youre editing?Oh, absolutely. Also, I didnt follow through on it, but I had this idea: I wanted to create a logo for IMAX showings with a trademark card that says, Photographed in GUYMAX., Its a pity, in my opinion, that American movies dont have a place for Channing Tatum to be dancing all the time.I think if you asked him, he would tell you he left it all on the field. [130], Soderbergh's films are centered on suspenseful and ambient soundscapes. Channing in that scene is what I feel like when Im dreaming about work at night, which is that everything is going wrong and Im not prepared. Let Them All Talkis set to launch on HBO Max in December. The current campaign has been largely digital,. The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, These Oscar Categories Are the Hardest to Predict, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, Why TR Looks Different from Every Other Movie of 2022, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. Shot in the summer of 2012, it starred Michael Douglas as legendarily flamboyant pianist Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover Scott Thorson. Jorge Luis Borges described something as two bald men fighting over a comb. All the audience cares about is the story and the characters. "[67], In August 2011, Soderbergh served as a second unit director on The Hunger Games and filmed much of the District 11 riot scene. He has stated that he does not want it seen by the public, and only intended it for the cast. It opened in selected theaters and HDNet simultaneously, and four days later on DVD. Its interesting the way its presented because it is a dance routine. They both have their clothes on, but theyre basically having sex in a variety of positions. Then it was made in two weeks, and it was a free ride on the boat., Related What Does the Ending of 'American Psycho' Mean? Tatum is the only cast member reprising his role from the previous movies, but Steven Soderbergh, who helmed the first movie, returned to direct Magic Mike's victory lap. I told [Soderbergh] he was gonna ruin everything for every director, and every production designer, and everything else, because he made the movie for 25 cents I know thats what I was paid, Streep said. [60][61], Soderbergh's first film of 2009 was The Informant!, a black comedy starring Matt Damon as corporate whistleblower Mark Whitacre. When we were doing the dance stuff, we had multiple cameras going, usually at least two, sometimes three. I could only get two or three takes of each angle because the light would dump and it wouldnt match what had come before. Channings great at playing someone whos not quite prepared for the thing theyre being asked to do. Hook (1991) Let me say for the record that I am a Spielberg defender, as many of us born in the '70s and '80s are hardwired to be. [32], Soderbergh (second from left) with cast and crew of, 19901997: critical and commercial downturn, 20092016: mainstream success and brief hiatus, Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 00:57, Louisiana State University Laboratory School, San Francisco International Film Festival, Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, "Source: Steven Soderbergh Came Clean to Wife About Fathering a Child While Separated", "Steven Soderbergh on Quitting Hollywood, Getting the Best Out of J.Lo, and His Love of Girls", "Steven Soderbergh | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie", "My favourite Cannes winner: sex, lies and videotape | Henry Barnes", "Steven Soderbergh Festival de Cannes 2018", "How Steven Soderbergh's 'sex, lies and videotape' Still Influences Sundance After 25 Years", "sex, lies, and videotape Movie Review (1989)", "Critics' Notebook; For the Cannes Winner, Untarnished Celebrity", "This Man Has a Brilliant Plan to Destroy Hollywood", "Sex, Lies, and Videotape: 50 Favorite Indie Films Skyline Indie Film Fest", "Kafka Movie Review & Film Summary (1992) | Roger Ebert", "King of the Hill; A Boy of the 30s With Grit and Wit", "Steven Soderbergh's The Underneath plays like a dry run to later triumphs", "Steven Soderbergh Throws Himself Under The Bus For 'The Underneath'; Talks Criterion 'King of The Hill', "The 100 Greatest Movies of the Nineties", "The New Cult Canon: The Limey filmmaker commentary track", "Both Sides Now. The filmmaker in him didn't die as he . It's the motivated reasoning that he's a "genius" that's allowed him to survive for so long. Ive always been interested in what people do to make a living. And so every part of my process, as I continue to try and optimize it, is about creating an environment in which the scene and the performances feel alive and like theyre happening in front of you. Its so central to all of our lives. Youve gotta step up to her level. [33] He ventured into his first biographical film in 2000 when he directed Erin Brockovich, written by Susannah Grant and starring Julia Roberts in her Oscar-winning role as a single mother taking on industry in a civil action. Soderbergh nearly filmed a feature adaptation of the baseball book Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt and Demetri Martin. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us this time. [59] Soderbergh shot his feature film The Girlfriend Experience in New York in 2008. The cast recently sat down withEntertainment Weeklyto give them the details of the new movie. [152][153] Singani is a traditional spirit of Bolivia, and Soderberg doesnt like to label singani a brandy, because he says, "Millennials hate brandy." Hes like Matthew Broderick in the body of Burt Lancaster.There is a thing that came out of conversations with Salma that I was really happy with when hes teaching one of the dancers. Certainly, I feel that American movies have gotten a little weird about sex. [46] Matt Singer of IndieWire called it a "Great Sequel About How Hard It Is to Make a Great Sequel. Salma Hayek Pinault . IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. [145], Starting with Out of Sight (1998), Soderbergh's heist films explore themes of vengeance, characters on a mission, and the morality of crime. She was always there. Hes such a cool cucumber when you first meet him, and a few minutes later hes completely losing it.Right! As far as Im concerned, the scene had better prove to me that it needs to be here. [9] Its critical performance led it to become a worldwide commercial success, grossing $36.7million on a $1.2million budget. [112] It was released on HBO Max on July 1, 2021. [38] In the same year, Soderbergh made Full Frontal, which was shot mostly on digital video in an improvisational style that deliberately blurred the line between which actors were playing characters and which were playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Benicio del Toro played Argentine guerrilla Ernesto "Che" Guevara in an epic four-hour double bill which looks first at his role in the Cuban Revolution before moving to his campaign and eventual death in Bolivia. Theyre bookends. As of 2018, Soderbergh's entire feature filmography has grossed over US$2.2billion worldwide in sales. Catherine Zeta-Jones received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Helena in Traffic and reteamed with him for Ocean's Twelve and Side Effects. But when it coheres, when theres an overarching grammar that is being employed and its not just, Oh, I can throw the camera around. And thats always been central to these movies: Mikes attempts to make a living while hes figuring out what hes good at. Critical, public and commercial reception to Soderbergh's directorial feature films as of August 29, 2022. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. [81], In May 2013only months into his retirementSoderbergh announced that he would direct a 10-part miniseries for Cinemax called The Knick. Steven Soderbergh would go on to explain that there was a "great parallel" between Alan Krumwiede's method of spreading information and the way the MEV-1 virus infected the world throughout . At 26, Soderbergh became the youngest solo director to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the film garnered worldwide commercial success, as well as numerous accolades. Soderbergh would later refer to Schizopolis as his "artistic wake-up call". Lets do it! He found further popular and critical success with the Ocean's trilogy and film franchise (200118); Che (2008); The Informant! There was no compelling reason to make a third film prior to that. You should just service the viewer, make your point, and move on. [45], Soderbergh directed Ocean's Twelve, a sequel to Ocean's Eleven, in 2004. That sounds like an awesome collaborationreally freeing for everyone involved. Steven held the camera in a wheelchair and just rolled along. For . ", Soderbergh (in 2013) on the influence his methodological choices have on his films. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. I mean, Im excited about people seeing the movie and, eight minutes in, watching this sequence between Channing and Salma which involves activity that you dont see movie stars engage in very often. Im aware that this stuff is gonna get judged and compared to other movies that have musical sequences. I think you pull it, Joshua Jackson says to Lizzy Caplan sensually. The last 25 minutes of Steven Soderbergh 's new star-studded crime drama, No Sudden Move which opened in theaters and on HBO Max on Thursdaytakes a turn you likely won't see coming. How long can you keep going like that? [66] Grossing $135.5million on a $60million budget, Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called his film a "smart, spooky thriller about a thicket of contemporary plaguesa killer virus, rampaging fear, an unscrupulous bloggeris as ruthlessly effective as the malady at its cool, cool center. Whats their job? Theres no way in hell Im going to do that! 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