Michael Winterbottom

Not to be confused with the classical scholar Michael Winterbottom (academic).
Michael Winterbottom

Michael Winterbottom, 2009
Born (1961-03-29) 29 March 1961
Blackburn, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Film director

Michael Winterbottom (born 29 March 1961) is an English filmmaker. He began his career working in British television before moving into features. Three of his films — Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People — have been nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Winterbottom often works with the same actors; many faces can be seen in several of his films, including Shirley Henderson, Paul Popplewell, John Simm, Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Raymond Waring and Kieran O'Brien.

Early life

Winterbottom was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. He went to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, and then studied English at Balliol College, Oxford before going to film school at Bristol University, where his contemporaries included Marc Evans.[1]

Career

Early television career

Winterbottom's television directing career began with a documentary about Ingmar Bergman and an episode of the children's series Dramarama in 1989. He followed this with the television film Forget About Me in 1990, starring Ewen Bremner, which followed two British soldiers who become involved in a love triangle with a young Hungarian hitch-hiker on their way to Budapest for a Simple Minds concert.

In 1991 he directed episodes of various British TV shows, including the 4-part children's series Time Riders and an episode of Boon. In 1992 he directed the television film Under the Sun about a young British woman traveling in Greece, starring Kate Hardie.

In 1993 he directed an episode of the Inspector Alleyn Mysteries; Love Lies Bleeding, a television film written by Ronan Bennett about a convicted IRA member on a 24-hour home leave from prison in Belfast; and The Mad Woman in the Attic, the pilot of Jimmy McGovern's mystery series Cracker.

He next directed the 1994 mini-series Family, written by Roddy Doyle. Each of four episodes focused on one member of a working-class Dublin family. It was this series that first brought Winterbottom to the attention of filmgoers, when it was edited down into a feature and shown at festivals.

His final early television project was a 1995 episode of the documentary series Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood, focusing on Scandinavian silent cinema.

Film

Butterfly Kiss

Winterbottom's 1995 cinematic debut firmly established his intense visual sense, naturalistic style and compelling use of pop songs to reinforce narrative. The story of a mentally unbalanced lesbian serial killer and her submissive lover/accomplice falling in love as they slaughter their way across the motorways of Northern England. It found only a limited release.

Go Now

That same year, he reunited with Jimmy McGovern for the BBC television film Go Now, the story of a young man who falls ill with multiple sclerosis just as he meets the love of his life. Focusing on the turmoil this causes the couple, the film was given a theatrical release in many countries, including the United States.

Jude

In 1996 Winterbottom adapted his favourite novel, Thomas Hardy's bleak classic Jude the Obscure, the tale of forbidden love between two cousins which had so scandalized British society on its release in 1895 that Hardy gave up novel-writing. It was not Winterbottom's first time approaching the work, having already filmed the pig slaughter sequence at film school. Starring Christopher Eccleston and Kate Winslet, Jude brought Winterbottom wider recognition, his first screening at Cannes and numerous Hollywood offers, all of which he eventually turned down.

Welcome to Sarajevo

Welcome to Sarajevo was filmed on location in the titular city, mere months after the Siege of Sarajevo had ended, adding greatly to its sense of authenticity and allowing frequent intercutting of actual news footage from the combat. The film is based on the true story of a British reporter, Michael Nicholson, who spirited a young orphan girl out of the war zone to safety in Britain.

I Want You

Winterbottom's next two films both had distribution difficulties and were not widely seen. I Want You is a neo-noir sex thriller set in a decaying British seaside resort town. Starring Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola, it was shot in bold primary colors by the Polish cinematographer Slawomir Idziak and was inspired by the Elvis Costello song of the same name.[2] Idziak won an Honourable Mention award at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival for his work on the film.[3]

With or Without You

With or Without You, starring Christopher Eccleston, is a light Belfast-set sex comedy about a couple who are trying desperately to conceive, only for each to have past loves re-enter their lives.

Wonderland

1999's Wonderland marked a decided shift in style for Winterbottom, with its loose, handheld photography and naturalistic, often improvised dialogue which drew comparisons to Robert Altman. Featuring Gina McKee, Shirley Henderson, John Simm, Ian Hart and Stuart Townsend, it is the story of three sisters and their extended family over the Guy Fawkes Day weekend in London.[4] The disparate elements are tied together by an orchestral score by minimalist composer Michael Nyman,[5] who would become a frequent collaborator with Winterbottom.

The Claim

Winterbottom followed that project up with his biggest budgeted film, The Claim, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge set in 1860s California. Shot with a budget of $20 million in the wilds of Canada, it was not a financial success and proved an ordeal to make, with Winterbottom himself getting frostbite. The production had previously been ready to shoot in Spain, with sets already built, when financing fell through. Attempts were made to cast Madonna, in a role eventually played by Milla Jovovich and many of the production details and difficulties were explained to the public on an unusually frank official website.

24 Hour Party People

24 Hour Party People documents the anarchic, drug and sex-fueled rise and fall of the influential label Factory Records and the music scene in Manchester from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. As much an ode to the city of Manchester as the story of the contemporary musical world, the film stars Steve Coogan as broadcaster/music-mogul Tony Wilson.[6]

In This World

His 2002 film In This World depicts the harrowing journey of two Afghan refugees from Pakistan, across the Middle East and Europe to Britain which they try to enter with the help of people smugglers. Shot on digital video with non-professional actors who virtually lived out the events of the film, its compelling sense of reality brought Winterbottom numerous awards including a Golden Bear and a BAFTA for best film not in the English language.[7]

Code 46

The futuristic romantic mystery Code 46 is a retelling of the Oedipus myth, in a world where cloning has created people so interrelated that strict laws (the Code 46 of the title) govern human reproduction. Essentially a film noir, it follows a fraud investigator played by Tim Robbins as he investigates a femme fatale played by Samantha Morton. The film's highly stylized settings were created on a limited budget by taking the tiny crew around the world, shooting in places which already looked like one hundred years in the future. Much of the film was shot in Shanghai, while Dubai and Rajasthan in India were also variously mixed to create a multi-ethnic melting-pot culture.

9 Songs

9 Songs, released in 2004, gained attention as the most sexually explicit film ever to receive a certificate for general release in the UK. It charts a year-long relationship between two lovers, almost exclusively through their sexual interaction and various rock concerts the couple attend. During these concerts, the nine songs of the film's title often comment on the couple's relationship. The film became notorious in the UK for its candid scenes of unsimulated sex between the leads, Kieran O'Brien and Margo Stilley.[8]

A Cock and Bull Story

He followed that with 2006's A Cock and Bull Story, which was released in the United States and Australia as Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. It is an adaptation of the famously "unfilmable" The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, one of the earliest novels.[9] Shandy is a narrator so easily distracted in relating his life story that by the end of the book he has not yet come to his own birth. The film, similarly, is about the making of a film of Tristram Shandy, and the impossibility of that task. Moreover, it deals with the impossibility of capturing the complexity of life in a work of art, but the value of the attempt. Steve Coogan stars as himself and as Shandy. The film also marks the end of Winterbottom's lengthy collaboration with writer Frank Cottrell Boyce,[10] who chose to be credited under the pseudonym Martin Hardy.[11]

The Road to Guantanamo

Winterbottom's The Road to Guantanamo is a docu-drama about the "Tipton Three", three British Muslims captured by US forces in Afghanistan who spent two years as prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp as alleged enemy combatants.[12] It was shot in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran (which doubled as Cuba) in the autumn of 2005. It premiered at the Berlinale on 14 February 2006. It debuted in the UK on television, on 9 March, as it was co-financed by Channel 4.[13]

A Mighty Heart

A Mighty Heart is based on the book by Mariane Pearl, wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl.[14] The film stars Angelina Jolie and focuses on the pregnant Mariane's search for her missing husband in Pakistan in 2002. Produced by Jolie's partner Brad Pitt, it was shot in the autumn of 2006 in India, Pakistan and France and premiered out of competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival on 21 May.[15]

Genova

Genova is a family drama about an Englishman, played by Colin Firth, who moves his two American daughters to Italy following the death of his wife. Once there, the oldest girl starts exploring her sexuality, while the younger girl begins to see the ghost of her mother.[16] It co-stars Catherine Keener and Hope Davis and was filmed in the titular city of Genoa, Italy, during the summer of 2007.[14] It was written by Wonderland screenwriter Laurence Coriat. It premiered at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival and Winterbottom later won the Silver Shell for best director at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

The Shock Doctrine

Winterbottom was reunited with his The Road to Guantanamo co-director Mat Whitecross on a documentary based on Naomi Klein's bestselling book The Shock Doctrine. The film follows the use of upheavals and disasters by various governments as a cover for the implementation of free market economic policies that benefit only an elite few. Klein at first disowned the film after learning that it would be composed almost entirely of period footage and narration, with virtually no interview material with sources.[17] The film premiered at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival and aired in the UK on Channel 4's More4 documentary channel on 1 September 2009. It made its American premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, alongside Winterbottom's following film. At the festival, Klein, who had reconciled herself with the filmmakers' approach, participated in a Q&A with Winterbottom and Whitecross.

The Killer Inside Me

Winterbottom's film of Jim Thompson's 1952 noir novel, starring Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba is a period film which follows a small town Texas sheriff (Affleck), who is also a psychotic killer, through his descent into complete madness. It premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and caused controversy for the realistic brutality of its violence toward women.[16] In his defence, Winterbottom said, "It's not the real world. It's kind of a parallel version of the real world. . . . I was taken in by that world."[18]

The Trip

This improvised six-episode comedy series, filmed in the English Lake District, stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as the semi-fictionalized versions of themselves they previously played in A Cock and Bull Story. Coogan, an actor unhappy with his career, agrees to write a series of restaurant reviews for The Observer in order to impress his girlfriend Misha (Margo Stilley). As the series opens, she has dumped him and he invites Brydon to take her place on the vacation. Each episode of the series takes place largely over a different gourmet meal, the restaurant names giving each episode their title. The episodes were edited down into a feature film which premiered at the Toronto International Film festival in September 2010, while the full series aired on BBC Two starting in November, 2010.[19]

Trishna

Winterbottom's modern retelling of Tess of the d'Urbervilles is his third Thomas Hardy film.[20] It stars Riz Ahmed and Freida Pinto and was shot in Jaipur[21] and Mumbai,[22] India in early 2011. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2011. It was released in the UK on 9 March 2012 and in the US on 13 July.[23]

Everyday

Known during its lengthy production variously as Seven Days and then Here and There, the film stars John Simm as a man imprisoned for drug-smuggling and charts his relationship with his wife, played by Shirley Henderson.[24] Written by Winterbottom and Laurence Coriat, the film was shot a few weeks at a time over a five-year period from 2007–2012 to reflect the protagonist's time in prison and achieve an authentic aging process.[14] Everyday premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2012[25] and then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2012.[26] The film was produced by Britain's Channel 4[27] and premiered in the UK on television on 15 November 2012,[28] later released theatrically on 18 January 2013.[29] At the Stockholm International Film Festival in November the film was awarded the FIPRESCI-Award.

The Look of Love

The Look of Love, originally announced as The King of Soho until that title had to be dropped due to a legal dispute,[30] is a biography of famed British pornographer/strip club owner/real estate entrepreneur Paul Raymond which reteams Winterbottom with Steve Coogan, who plays Raymond. The film costars Imogen Poots, Anna Friel and Tamsin Egerton and was written by Matt Greenhalgh.[31] It was released in the UK on 26 April 2013.[32]

The Trip To Italy

Winterbottom filmed a second series of the hit BBC show in the summer of 2013, this time taking Coogan and Brydon on a culinary driving tour through Italy.[33] It follows the route of the Romantics – Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and John Keats.[34] Like the first series, IFC Films will distribute it in the US as a shorter feature-length film[35] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014.[36] The full series aired on BBC Two in April 2014.

The Face of an Angel

Winterbottom returned to Italy in November 2013[37] to shoot The Face of an Angel, starring Kate Beckinsale,[38] Daniel Brühl[39] and Cara Delevingne.[40] The film is written by Paul Viragh and is inspired partly by the book Angel Face by Barbie Latza Nadeau, about the dramatic, headline-making trial, conviction and eventual acquittal of American student Amanda Knox for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher.[41] However the film is not about the actual Knox case, but offers a fictionalized version of it, focusing on instead on a filmmaker who becomes obsessed with the case.[41] Winterbottom traveled to Perugia, Italy in 2010 and attended court hearings in the Knox case for research on the project. He said at the time that the film would be fictionalized and focus on journalists and the media circus surrounding the trial more than on the actual events in dispute.[42] The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[43]

The Emperor's New Clothes

Winterbottom began shooting this documentary in October 2014. The film, hosted by comedian Russell Brand, looks at the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and global economic inequality. It premiered in London on April 21, 2015, followed by its international premiere on April 24, 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival.[44][45]

The Trip to Spain

Winterbottom will reunite with Coogan and Brydon for a third series in which the duo will travel through Spain. It is set to film in mid-2016.[46]

Potential future projects

The Vatican Connection

Winterbottom was attached, as of May 2014, to direct a feature adaptation of Richard Hammer's 1982 book The Vatican Connection, the true story of how NYPD detective Joe Coffey uncovered connections between the Vatican and the Mafia while investigating a local New York mobster, leading to a global investigation. It will be written by Paul Viragh, based on an earlier script by Alessandro Camon.[47]

The Longest Cocktail Party

In October 2011, it was announced that Winterbottom was attached to direct an adaption of Richard DiLello's 1973 book, The Longest Cocktail Party. It would tell the story of Apple Corps, the record company formed by The Beatles in 1968. It would follow the company and its staff, including DiLello and Derek Taylor, from 1968 to its closure in 1970, when The Beatles split. The book was set to be adapted by Jesse Armstrong and co-produced by Andrew Eaton and Liam Gallagher. Since 2011, nothing more has been heard of the project. [48]

Bailout

Winterbottom was attached, as of May 2011, to direct this adaptation of author Jess Walter's novel The Financial Lives of the Poets, which Walter adapted for the screen.[49] Starring Jack Black, the film follows a man who loses his job and must keep his family afloat by working as a pot dealer.[50]

The Promised Land

Jim Sturgess, Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen were at one point set to star in this political thriller set in 1930s/1940s Palestine. Sturgess and Macfadyen were to play two British police officers hunting Zionist militant Avraham Stern, while Firth would play an official of the British Mandate government. The screenplay was written by Winterbottom and Laurence Coriat. Although the film never entered production, Winterbottom did shoot documentary footage in Israel with surviving participants in the events.[51]

Personal life

Winterbottom married Sabrina Broadbent and had two daughters with her, but the couple divorced.[16] Broadbent later wrote Descent: An Irresistible Tragicomedy of Everyday Life, her debut novel and a roman à clef about their marriage.[52]

Filmography

  • Rosie the Great (1989, TV)
  • Forget About Me (1990, TV)
  • Under the Sun (1992, TV)
  • Love Lies Bleeding (1993, TV)
  • Family (1994, TV)
  • Butterfly Kiss (1995)
  • Go Now (1995)
  • Jude (1996)

References and notes

  1. ↑ Hill, Claire (17 January 2004). "Dark Marc". The Western Mail. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  2. ↑ "Wettbewerb/In Competition". Moving Pictures, Berlinale Extra (Berlin): 24. 11–22 February 1998.
  3. ↑ "Berlinale: 1998 Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  4. ↑ Wise, Damon; "Smile — you're on candid camera" Guardian.co.uk, 9 September 2000
  5. ↑ Jeffries, Stuart; "The walking wounded of Wonderland" Guardian.co.uk, 18 January 2000
  6. ↑ Morley, Paul; "Shooting the past" Guardian.co.uk, 23 February 2001
  7. ↑ Bedell, Geraldine; "A Winterbottom's tale" Guardian.co.uk, 1 February 2004
  8. ↑ Jeffries, Stuart; "'I am the opposite of ashamed'" Guardian.co.uk, 24 January 2005
  9. ↑ Mullan, John; "A taste of Shandy" Guardian.co.uk, 18 October 2005
  10. ↑ Winterbottom films scripted by Cottrell Boyce include A Cock and Bull Story, Code 46, 24 Hour Party People, The Claim, Welcome To Sarajevo, Butterfly Kiss and Forget About Me.
  11. ↑ Dawtrey, Adam; "Phantom scribe gets BIFA nom" Variety.com, 27 November 2005
  12. ↑ Stafford Smith, Clive; "Out of sight" Guardian.co.uk, 14 February 2006
  13. ↑ Sweney, Mark; "Winterbottom signs Channel 4 exclusive" Guardian.co.uk, 14 February 2006
  14. 1 2 3 Pulver, Andrew; "Rapid response unit" Guardian.co.uk, 14 September 2007
  15. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: A Mighty Heart". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  16. 1 2 3 Johnston, Sheila; "Michael Winterbottom interview: on his film 'Genova'" Telegraph.co.uk, 31 March 2009
  17. ↑ Jones, Sam; "Naomi Klein disowns Winterbottom adaptation of Shock Doctrine" Guardian.co.uk, 28 August 2009
  18. ↑ Sherryl Connelly, "Jessica Alba leaves screening of 'The Killer Inside Me,' stirring outrage at Sundance over violence", New York Daily News, 26 January 2010
  19. ↑ Jones, Sam; "Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are reunited... to do lunch" Guardian.co.uk, 25 July 2010
  20. ↑ "Rising Actor Riz Ahmed Joins Michael Winterbottom’s ‘Trishna’" The Playlist, 4 February 2011
  21. ↑ "Movie Talkies". Movie Talkies. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  22. ↑ "Freida’s secret shoot at Chakala for Holly biggie". Fenilandbollywood.com. 2011-04-16. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  23. ↑ "Watch: New U.K. Trailer For Michael Winterbottom's 'Trishna' Starring Freida Pinto | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  24. ↑ "Exclusive: Domestic Poster For Michael Winterbottom's 'Trishna' Starring Freida Pinto | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  25. ↑ "Telluride Review: Michael Winterbottom’s ‘Everyday’ Is Uneven, But Emotionally Rewarding | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  26. ↑ Archived 29 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ Published Friday, 13 July 2012, 22:21 BST (2012-07-13). "Channel 4 reveals 2012/13 drama lineup: John Simm, Gabriel Byrne, more – TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  28. ↑ "Everyday". Channel 4. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  29. ↑ "UK Film release schedule – past, present and future". Launching Films. Film Distributors' Association. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  30. ↑ "Michael Winterbottom's 'King Of Soho' Faces Legal Challenge As Rival Project Mounts, Possibly Starring Tom Hiddleston | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  31. ↑ "Imogen Poots, Anna Friel & Tamsin Egerton Join Steve Coogan In Michael Winterbottom's 'The King Of Soho'" The Playlist, 17 February 2012
  32. ↑ "The Look of Love". Facebook. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  33. ↑ "Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon Set To Travel Italy With Michael Winterbottom For Sequel To 'The Trip' | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  34. ↑ Seale, Jack (2013-04-26). "Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan confirm The Trip series 2 will shoot in Italy". Radio Times. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  35. ↑ Fleming, Mike. "IFC Films Lands U.S. Rights To Michael Winterbottom-Helmed 'The Trip To Italy'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  36. ↑ http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/sundance-2014-adds-a-most-wanted-man-the-raid-2-the-trip-to-italy-frank-much-more-20131209
  37. ↑ "When in Rome...: Kate Beckinsale begins filming for new role as a journalist in Amanda Knox film". Daily Mail (London). 11 November 2013.
  38. ↑ http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/kate-beckinsale-joins-michael-winterbottoms-the-face-of-an-angel/
  39. ↑ http://collider.com/daniel-bruhl-the-face-of-an-angel/
  40. ↑ http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/10/10/cara-delevingne-amanda-knox-movie-face-of-an-angel/
  41. 1 2 Mitchell, Wendy (2013-05-18). "The Trip team sets off for Italy; Goalpost books sales | News | Screen". Screendaily.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  42. ↑ Kington, Tom (1 October 2010). "Colin Firth lined up to play Meredith Kercher murder journalist". The Guardian (London).
  43. ↑ http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-adds-films-from-kevin-smith-michael-winterbottom-roy-andersson-sion-sono-more-to-2014-lineup-20140729
  44. ↑ Richford, Rhonda (27 October 2014). "StudioCanal Adds Michael Winterbottom Documentary Ahead of AFM". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  45. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (5 March 2015). "Tribeca Film Festival Sets Spotlight, Midnight & Special Screening Sidebars". Deadline.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  46. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/15/the-trip-heads-to-spain-steve-coogan-rob-brydon?CMP=share_btn_tw
  47. ↑ http://www.screendaily.com/news/winterbottom-to-directvatican-connection/5071894.article
  48. ↑ "Michael Winterbottom to direct Beatles film". BBC News. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  49. ↑ Fleming, Mike. "CANNES: Jack Black Teams For ‘Bailout’ Comedy With Director Michael Winterbottom". Deadline.
  50. ↑ "The Financial Lives of the Poets: Jess Walter: 9780061916045: Amazon.com: Books". Amazon.com. 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  51. ↑ "Michael Winterbottom Talks 1930's Palestine-Set British Terrorism Tale, 'The Promised Land'" The Playlist, 15 June 2010
  52. ↑ Emma Hagestadt (4 June 2010). "You Don't Have to be Good, By Sabrina Broadbent". The Independent (London). Retrieved 29 August 2013.

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