Ridley Scott
By
User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1276106767)
"Do what you haven't done," Ridley Scott once said when asked about film making, "that is the key. I think."
It is that attitude, his comfort with challenging himself, stepping over his own boundaries, and his obsession with detail that made Ridley Scott into the successful director he has become. The success of this English director has been acknowledged in the box office, at the Academy Awards, and on our TV screens since 1977 when he released his first feature film The Duelists. He has received three Oscars for directing, a Golden Globe, an Emmy Award, and three British Academy Awards for his work over the last few decades. So, "do what you haven't done" and add one of Ridley Scott's world renowned films to your collection today.
Scott's Popular Films
'''Alien''' is a ground breaking science fiction/ horror movie inspired by the Star Wars films and released in 1979. Scott was dedicated to playing with both science fiction and realism throughout the movie and seeing how he could combine the two. His success was overwhelming. The film, which is named for the antagonistwas not only incredibly successful at the box office and with the critics of the time, but it continues to influence science fiction film makers today.
'''Blade Runner''' was released in 1982 as a science fiction film that polarized the critics. Some thought the story of a distopian Los Angeles was poorly paced, while others were highly impressed by the thematic complexity. However, regardless of their disagreements, ''Blade Runner'' is a leading example of the neo-noir genre of film and a powerful representation of Ridley Scott's complex dedication to film making.
'''Thelma and Louise''' is another incredibly successful Ridley Scott film, yet one that is radically different from both ''Alien'' and ''Blade Runner''. Released in 1991, this film was nominated for six Oscars, five of were won. It tells the escape story of two women (hence the title, Thelma and Louise) from their caged lives. This movie was an immediate critical and box office success (it was the highest grossing film of 1991) and became an instant classic for many families. Scott received praise for his lavish visuals throughout the film.
'''Gladiator''' is arguably Scott's most successful film. Nominated for twelve and winning five Oscars including Best Picture, Ridley Scott experimented with the war genre and successfully revived the virtually extinct "Sword and Sandal" genre in this 2000 epic film. The movie follows the story of the Ancient Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius, and his violent and intense life journey. This film was very successful in the box office and is a film that showcases Scott's constant attention to detail.
'''Black Hawk Down''' was released in 2001 and demonstrated Scott's further examination of war films. In this film he took a more modern route than in ''Gladiator, ''exploring the Battle of Mogadishu, a raid integral to the United States' effort to capture Somali warlord Muhammad Farrah Aidid. Similarly to ''Gladiator ''his attention to detail throughout the film is impeccable and the critics responded very positively to his visualizations. Many people though, took issue with the graphic dehumanizing images of the Somalis throughout the film, the same images that were praised by the critics.
'''Other Ridley Scott Films''' include American Gangster, Boy and Bicycle, Kingdom of Heaven, Legend, Hannibal, Someone to Watch Over Me, Robin Hood, Black Rain, Body of Lies, and White Squall.
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