John Moore (movie director)
Encyclopedia
John Moore is an Irish
director
, producer
, and writer
.
, Ireland
and attended Dublin Institute of Technology
, where he attained a degree in Media Arts. Upon completing his course, Moore genuinely believed that he wouldn't go on to work within the medium of film, but after a few years, that promptly changed. After graduating, he wrote and directed a series of short films in Ireland. Several of these shorts have featured on Irish TV networks over the years, and along the way Moore founded an Irish-based production company called Clingfilms. He then went on to direct several commercials, including the launch advertisement for Dreamcast, which 20th Century Fox
found so impressive they gave him the $17 million (BTL) budget for Behind Enemy Lines (2001).
To date, Moore has made four films for 20th Century Fox: Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix
(2004), The Omen
(2006), and Max Payne
(2008). Despite receiving mixed reviews, both Behind Enemy Lines, and The Omen
did well at the box office. Flight Of The Phoenix, however, received mainly negative reviews and grossed barely $35 million worldwide, much less than the film's budget. Max Payne
was released on October 17, 2008, also receiving mainly negative reviews, though the film did top the U.S. box office on its opening weekend with $18 million domestic with figures similar to those of Behind Enemy Lines and an ultimate worldwide gross of a slightly lower $85 million. It has been announced Moore will direct the film Virulents, due for release in 2011.
Moore was considered to direct X-Men: The Last Stand
at one point, but was beaten by Brett Ratner
. He was also considered to direct the reboot of Friday the 13th
, but the position ended up going to Marcus Nispel
.
In September 2008, Moore was involved in a serious dispute with the MPAA over the certification of his film, Max Payne
. The MPAA gave the film an R rating initially, which Moore argued viciously against. The rating was a month later changed to PG-13, just before theatrical distribution.
Moore is now pegged to direct the Northern Lights starring Taylor Lautner for Paramount during the summer of 2010. The film will be released at an unspecified date in 2011.
John Moore has now officially signed on to direct the fifth installment of the 'Die Hard' franchise, Die Hard 5.
During the production of Behind Enemy Lines, Moore was almost hit by a tank that was blasting through a wall. A stuntman managed to push him safely out of the way.
has described Moore as "a Peckinpahesque, neo-Eisenstein
stylist whose grade-B material (Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix
, The Omen
) has kept him from receiving the acclaim he deserves". In his review of Max Payne
, White had stated that Moore "explores genuine, contemporary anxiety [and that] his images are richer than his plots".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Early life and career
Moore was born in DundalkDundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and attended Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
, where he attained a degree in Media Arts. Upon completing his course, Moore genuinely believed that he wouldn't go on to work within the medium of film, but after a few years, that promptly changed. After graduating, he wrote and directed a series of short films in Ireland. Several of these shorts have featured on Irish TV networks over the years, and along the way Moore founded an Irish-based production company called Clingfilms. He then went on to direct several commercials, including the launch advertisement for Dreamcast, which 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
found so impressive they gave him the $17 million (BTL) budget for Behind Enemy Lines (2001).
To date, Moore has made four films for 20th Century Fox: Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix
Flight of the Phoenix (2004 film)
Flight of the Phoenix is a 2004 remake of a 1965 film, both based on the 1964 novel The Flight of the Phoenix, by Elleston Trevor, about a group of people who survive a plane crash in the Gobi Desert and must build a new plane out of the old one to escape. The film stars Dennis Quaid, Tyrese...
(2004), The Omen
The Omen (2006 film)
The Omen is a 2006 remake of Richard Donner's The Omen of 1976 and a part of The Omen series. Directed by John Moore and written by David Seltzer, the film stars Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick...
(2006), and Max Payne
Max Payne (film)
Max Payne is a 2008 noir action film based on the 2001 video game of the same name by Remedy Entertainment. It was written by Beau Thorne and was directed by John Moore. The film stars Mark Wahlberg in the title role as Max Payne, Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Jim Bravura and...
(2008). Despite receiving mixed reviews, both Behind Enemy Lines, and The Omen
The Omen (2006 film)
The Omen is a 2006 remake of Richard Donner's The Omen of 1976 and a part of The Omen series. Directed by John Moore and written by David Seltzer, the film stars Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick...
did well at the box office. Flight Of The Phoenix, however, received mainly negative reviews and grossed barely $35 million worldwide, much less than the film's budget. Max Payne
Max Payne (film)
Max Payne is a 2008 noir action film based on the 2001 video game of the same name by Remedy Entertainment. It was written by Beau Thorne and was directed by John Moore. The film stars Mark Wahlberg in the title role as Max Payne, Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Jim Bravura and...
was released on October 17, 2008, also receiving mainly negative reviews, though the film did top the U.S. box office on its opening weekend with $18 million domestic with figures similar to those of Behind Enemy Lines and an ultimate worldwide gross of a slightly lower $85 million. It has been announced Moore will direct the film Virulents, due for release in 2011.
Moore was considered to direct X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It was directed by Brett Ratner and stars an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones,...
at one point, but was beaten by Brett Ratner
Brett Ratner
Brett Ratner is an American film director, film producer and music video director. He is best known for directing the Rush Hour film series, The Family Man, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Tower Heist. He was also a producer on the Fox drama series, Prison Break.- Early life :Ratner was...
. He was also considered to direct the reboot of Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th (2009 film)
Friday the 13th is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Marcus Nispel and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, which began in 1980 and the twelfth Friday the 13th film in total...
, but the position ended up going to Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel is a German–American feature film director and producer, and formerly a director of television commercials and music videos. Many of his films have been remakes, all of which have met with a negative critical reception....
.
In September 2008, Moore was involved in a serious dispute with the MPAA over the certification of his film, Max Payne
Max Payne
Max Payne is a BAFTA Award–winning third-person shooter video game developed by Finnish developers Remedy Entertainment and published by Gathering of Developers in July 2001 for Microsoft Windows. Ports created later in the year for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and the GameBoy Advance were published by...
. The MPAA gave the film an R rating initially, which Moore argued viciously against. The rating was a month later changed to PG-13, just before theatrical distribution.
Moore is now pegged to direct the Northern Lights starring Taylor Lautner for Paramount during the summer of 2010. The film will be released at an unspecified date in 2011.
John Moore has now officially signed on to direct the fifth installment of the 'Die Hard' franchise, Die Hard 5.
Personal life
Moore's partner is Fiona Connon, a makeup artist whom he met through an industry friend early in his career in Ireland. They have one child, Buzz.During the production of Behind Enemy Lines, Moore was almost hit by a tank that was blasting through a wall. A stuntman managed to push him safely out of the way.
Critical evaluation
For the most part, Moore's films have proved more popular with audiences than critics. By contrast, critic Armond WhiteArmond White
Armond White is a New York-based film and music critic known for his provocative and idiosyncratic film criticism, which some have characterized as contrarian. He is currently the editor of City Arts, for which he also writes articles and reviews...
has described Moore as "a Peckinpahesque, neo-Eisenstein
Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
stylist whose grade-B material (Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix
Flight of the Phoenix (2004 film)
Flight of the Phoenix is a 2004 remake of a 1965 film, both based on the 1964 novel The Flight of the Phoenix, by Elleston Trevor, about a group of people who survive a plane crash in the Gobi Desert and must build a new plane out of the old one to escape. The film stars Dennis Quaid, Tyrese...
, The Omen
The Omen (2006 film)
The Omen is a 2006 remake of Richard Donner's The Omen of 1976 and a part of The Omen series. Directed by John Moore and written by David Seltzer, the film stars Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick...
) has kept him from receiving the acclaim he deserves". In his review of Max Payne
Max Payne (film)
Max Payne is a 2008 noir action film based on the 2001 video game of the same name by Remedy Entertainment. It was written by Beau Thorne and was directed by John Moore. The film stars Mark Wahlberg in the title role as Max Payne, Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Jim Bravura and...
, White had stated that Moore "explores genuine, contemporary anxiety [and that] his images are richer than his plots".
Filmography
- Jack's Bicycle (1990) [short film]
- He Shoots, He Scores (1995) [short film]
- Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
- Flight of the PhoenixFlight of the Phoenix (2004 film)Flight of the Phoenix is a 2004 remake of a 1965 film, both based on the 1964 novel The Flight of the Phoenix, by Elleston Trevor, about a group of people who survive a plane crash in the Gobi Desert and must build a new plane out of the old one to escape. The film stars Dennis Quaid, Tyrese...
(2004) - The OmenThe Omen (2006 film)The Omen is a 2006 remake of Richard Donner's The Omen of 1976 and a part of The Omen series. Directed by John Moore and written by David Seltzer, the film stars Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick...
(2006) - Max PayneMax Payne (film)Max Payne is a 2008 noir action film based on the 2001 video game of the same name by Remedy Entertainment. It was written by Beau Thorne and was directed by John Moore. The film stars Mark Wahlberg in the title role as Max Payne, Mila Kunis as Mona Sax, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as Jim Bravura and...
(2008) - Virulents (2011) [announced]
- The Book of Lost Things [unannounced release date]
- Final Orbit [announced]
- A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)