Movies News

PROFILES: Best director nominees

Feb 23, 2011, 11:40 GMT

Los Angeles - Darren Aronofsky, David O Russell, Tom Hooper, David Fincher, and Joel Coen and Ethan Coen are nominated for the Academy Award for best director.

Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan - A 42-year-old director, Aronofsky was a standout film student who financed his first feature film, the psychological thriller Pi, through 100-dollar donations from family and friends. It won him the best director award at the Sundance Film Festival. Aronofsky enjoyed widespread acclaim for his next film, Requiem for a Dream, though his third movie, the big-budget The Fountain, was a commercial and critical flop. He returned to his roots in The Wrestler, which garnered critical raves and numerous awards, and despite numerous opportunities to direct studio films he continued in the independent sector with Black Swan.

David O Russell, The Fighter - A controversial director, Russell's reputation for losing his temper and clashing with cast and crew members has limited the number of films he has directed, despite his undoubted talent. His first well-known work was Three Kings, starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, which was a critical and commercial success. It was followed by the existential comedy I Heart Huckabees, which was less successful. Following that, he waited six years before directing The Fighter, which follows a boxer's rise despite his meddling family.

Tom Hooper, The King's Speech - A British director who honed his skills directing acclaimed television dramas, Hooper's feature film debut came in 2004 with Red Dust, a South African drama starring Hilary Swank. His other work includes Elizabeth I, starring Helen Mirren, and The Damned United about legendary football manager Brian Clough. Hooper took on The King's Speech after hearing from his mother about the play on which it was based.

David Fincher, The Social Network - The American Fincher is best known for his dark and stylish thrillers such as Seven, Fight Club, Panic Room and Zodiac. He was nominated for best director in 2009 for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and his work on the Social Network won him the best director Golden Globe. Fincher, 48, got his start in movies after directing commercials and music videos for the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson and Aerosmith.

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, True Grit - The Coen brothers are prolific American filmmakers known for writing, directing and producing their films as a team. Their darkly humourous style often features criminal capers that go wrong and intricate plot twists. Their first feature film was Blood Simple, and their other early work included Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy and Fargo. Other films include The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Intolerable Cruelty, No Country For Old Men, Burn After Reading and A Serious Man.