Director Curtis Hanson passed away yesterday at the age of 71. Word is that Alzheimer had forced a retirement five years ago.
Eminem won a Song Oscar for his collaboration with Curtis Hanson in "8 Mile"
Hanson's brush with A list "prestige" was brief (3 Oscar nominations for producing, co-writing, and directing the much-admired LA Confidential) but his career was a fine example of versatile craftsmanship. He served as an important reminder that there's more to directing than auteurial stamps...
It's hard to come up with a through line for his work but think of all of his solid entertainments and then marvel at how different they were from each other! We're confident he would have been an even bigger deal within the studio system as a very strong director-for-hire.
The best thing about his work, other than its versatility, might have been how frequently he took a chance on non-famous actors and gave them early wins like Anthony Mackie, Russell Crowe, or Julianne Moore. Or the fact that he put actors in roles other people might not have even considered them for for various reasons related to typecasting or where they were in their careers at the time like Meryl Streep (The River Wild), Michael Douglas (Wonder Boys), and Kim Basinger (LA Confidential, Oscar win).
Which of his best known works is your second favorite -- knowing that everyone loves LA Confidential most?
• Losin' It (1983) which gave Tom Cruise his first lead role a few months before Risky Business
• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992) the out of nowhere hit that gave us an early sassy Julianne Moore - you can see this film's influence in so many mainstream hot-topic suburban trash thrillers
• The River Wild (1994) Meryl's only action heroine role!
• Wonder Boys (2000) which was probably thisclose to being an Oscar success -given its stand alone Editing nomination and the celebrated performances
• 8 Mile (2002) which capitalized on the peak of Eminem and brought the world Anthony Mackie (as Eminem's arch-rival "Papa Doc")
• In Her Shoes (2005) His most underrated gem, with Toni Collette & Cameron Diaz as bickering sisters
Here are some online remembraces in case you haven't seen them...
RIP Curtis Hansen . Thank you for believing in me & standing your ground. In reality you made my job a career. Love & respect my friend.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) September 21, 2016
Eminem reacts to the death of Curtis Hanson in a statement to Billboard. pic.twitter.com/2vRIfg7IlW
— Eminem News (@SlimShadyEmNews) September 21, 2016
It was an honor to make "Bad Influence" with Curtis Hanson. So smart, so kind and a great storyteller. I will miss him.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) September 21, 2016
At 21, Curtis Hanson took the glamour shots of Faye Dunaway that helped convince Arthur Penn and Warren Beatty to cast her as Bonnie. RIP.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 21, 2016
So sad to here of Curtis Hanson's death. He was a lovely man & a terrific story teller. RIP x https://t.co/kZDcekq3xS
— Kim Cattrall (@KimCattrall) September 21, 2016
This saddens me deeply. I worked with Curtis on #TooBigToFail. Great director and the nicest man. RIP, dear friend. https://t.co/UMo04Vbaeu
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 21, 2016
I'd always see Curtis Hanson at L.A. repertory theaters. Erased that line between people who made films and those that loved them. #RIP
— Tim Grierson (@TimGrierson) September 21, 2016
RIP Curtis Hanson. LA CONFIDENTIAL to WONDER BOYS to 8 MILE is as good and varied a run as any director has had in the past 20 years.
— Steven Hyden (@Steven_Hyden) September 21, 2016
You amplified the world, Curtis Hanson - RIP https://t.co/eumAUh7pg5
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) September 21, 2016