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David Mamet
David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony Award, Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and ''Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first gained critical acclaim for a trio of 1970s off-Broadway plays: ''The Duck Variations'', ''Sexual Perversity in Chicago'', and ''American Buffalo (play), American Buffalo''. His plays ''Race (play), Race'' and ''The Penitent (play), The Penitent'', respectively, opened on Broadway theater, Broadway in 2009 and previewed off-Broadway in 2017. Feature films that Mamet both wrote and directed include ''House of Games'' (1987), ''Homicide (1991 film), Homicide'' (1991), ''The Spanish Prisoner'' (1997), and his biggest commercial success, ''Heist (2001 film), Heist'' (2001). His screenwriting credits include ''The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film), The Postman Always Rings Twice'' (1981), ''The Verdict'' (1982), ''The Untouchables (film), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of United States cities by population, third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. As the county seat, seat of Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, the List of the most populous counties in the United States, second-most populous county in the U.S., Chicago is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area, often colloquially called "Chicagoland" and home to 9.6 million residents. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a Chicago Portage, portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Mississippi River watershed. It grew rapidly in the mid-19th century. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless, but ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
House Of Games
''House of Games'' is a 1987 American neo-noir film about con-men and confidence scams by David Mamet, his directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay, based on a story he co-wrote with Jonathan Katz. The film's cast includes Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Ricky Jay, and J. T. Walsh. Plot Psychiatrist Margaret Ford has achieved success with her recently published book about obsessive-compulsive disorder, but feels unfulfilled. Her patient, Billy Hahn, says his life is in danger because he owes money to a criminal figure named Mike Mancuso. He threatens suicide, brandishing a gun. Margaret persuades him to surrender the weapon to her and promises to help him. That night, Margaret visits a pool hall called House of Games where she confronts Mike. He is willing to forgive Billy's debt if Margaret accompanies him to a back-room poker game and watch for the tell of George, another player: he plays with his ring when he bluffs. She agrees, and notices George playing with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Unit
''The Unit'' is an American action-drama television series created by David Mamet that aired on CBS from March 7, 2006, to May 10, 2009, with the total of four seasons and 69 episodes. The series focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force. It starred Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Scott Foley, Audrey Marie Anderson, Max Martini, Abby Brammell, Demore Barnes, Michael Irby, and Nicole Steinwedell. At the time of its original broadcast, ''The Unit'' was one of CBS' most successful series, earning high television ratings and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. On May 19, 2009, CBS cancelled the series after four seasons. Premise Based on show producer Eric L. Haney's book '' Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit'', ''The Unit'' was created for television and executive produced by David Mamet and Shawn Ryan. The show is produced by The Barn Pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oleanna (play)
''Oleanna'' is a 1992 two-character play by David Mamet, about the power struggle between a university professor and one of his female students, who accuses him of sexual harassment and, by doing so, spoils his chances of being accorded tenure. The play's title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of utopia. Mamet adapted his play into a 1994 film of the same name. Plot summary Act I Carol, a college student, is in the office of her professor, John. She expresses frustration that she does not understand the material in his class, despite having read the assigned books and attending his lectures. Of particular concern is a book written by John himself, wherein he questions the modern insistence that everyone participate in higher education, referring to it as "systematic hazing". While talking with Carol, John is often interrupted by the phone ringing. He is about to be granted tenure along with a handsome raise. Anticipating this, John is about to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oleanna (film)
''Oleanna'' is a 1994 drama film written and directed by David Mamet based on his 1992 play and starring William H. Macy and Debra Eisenstadt. The plot concerns a contentious meeting between a student and a college professor. Macy reprised his role from the original stage production. The film was nominated for a Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. Plot Carol, a college student, goes to talk to her professor, John, to discuss a failed grade she received from him. John is on track to be granted tenure and is also anticipating closing a deal on a new house for him and his wife. Carol is frustrated with the material John teaches, particularly a book written by him. At one point during a heated argument between the two, John puts his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, but Carol recoils at the gesture. Although John initially appears insensitive to Carol's concerns, he tells her he "likes her" and agrees to give her an "A" grade if she'll return to his office to discuss t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glengarry Glen Ross (film)
''Glengarry Glen Ross'' is a 1992 American dark comedy-drama film directed by James Foley and written by David Mamet, based on his 1984 Pulitzer Prize–winning play of the same name. The film depicts two days in the lives of four real-estate salesmen and their increasing desperation when the corporate office sends a motivational trainer with the threat that all but the top two salesmen will be fired within one week. Like the play, the film is notorious for its use of profanity, leading the cast to refer to the film jokingly as " Death of a Fuckin' Salesman". The title of the film is derived from the names of two of the real-estate developments being peddled by the salesmen: Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. The film was critically acclaimed. The world premiere was held at the 49th Venice Film Festival, where Jack Lemmon was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Al Pacino was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. However ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hannibal (2001 Film)
''Hannibal'' is a 2001 American horror film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by David Mamet and Steven Zaillian. Based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, it is a sequel to the 1991 film '' The Silence of the Lambs''. Its plot follows disgraced FBI special agent Clarice Starling as she attempts to apprehend the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter before his surviving victim, Mason Verger, captures him. Anthony Hopkins reprises his role as Lecter, while Julianne Moore replaces Jodie Foster as Starling and Gary Oldman plays Verger. Ray Liotta, Frankie R. Faison, Giancarlo Giannini, and Francesca Neri also star. Harris published ''Hannibal'' eleven years after the publication of '' The Silence of the Lambs'' (1988). Scott became attached while directing '' Gladiator'' (2000), and signed on after reading the script pitched by Dino De Laurentiis, who had produced '' Manhunter'' (1986), the first Lecter film. Principal photography commenced ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wag The Dog
''Wag the Dog'' is a 1997 American black comedy political satire film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Produced and directed by Barry Levinson, the film centers on a spin doctor and a Hollywood producer who fabricate a war in Albania to distract voters from a presidential sex scandal. The screenplay by Hilary Henkin and David Mamet is loosely adapted from Larry Beinhart's 1993 novel '' American Hero''. The title of the film comes from the English-language idiom " the tail wagging the dog", used to indicate attention that is purposely being diverted from something of greater importance to something of lesser. ''Wag the Dog'' was released one month before the news broke of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal and the bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan by the Clinton administration in August 1998, which prompted the media to draw comparisons between the film and reality. The comparison was also made in December 1998, when the administration initia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hoffa (film)
''Hoffa'' is a 1992 American biographical crime drama film directed by Danny DeVito and written by David Mamet, based on the life of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. Most of the story is told in flashbacks before ending with Hoffa's mysterious disappearance. The story makes no claim to be historically accurate, and in fact is largely fictional. Jack Nicholson plays Hoffa, and DeVito plays Robert Ciaro, an amalgamation of several Hoffa associates over the years. The film features John C. Reilly, Robert Prosky, Kevin Anderson, Armand Assante, and J. T. Walsh in supporting roles. The original music score was composed by David Newman. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox and released on December 25, 1992. The film received predominantly mixed reviews and grossed just $29 million against its $35 million budget, with critics being polarized over Nicholson's performance and criticizing the film's story. Plot On July 30, 1975, Jimmy Hoffa and his longtime friend Bobby Ciaro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Untouchables (film)
''The Untouchables'' is a 1987 American crime film directed by Brian De Palma, produced by Art Linson and written by David Mamet. It stars Kevin Costner, Charles Martin Smith, Andy García, Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. Set in 1930 Chicago, the film follows Eliot Ness (Costner) as he forms the Untouchables team to bring Al Capone (De Niro) to justice during Prohibition. It is the third film on which De Niro and De Palma collaborated, after '' Greetings'' (De Niro's first lead in a feature role) and ''Hi, Mom!''. The screenplay is loosely based on Ness's and Oscar Fraley's 1957 book '' The Untouchables'' and the real-life events on which it is based, although most of its plot is fictionalized. The Grammy Award-winning score is composed by Ennio Morricone and features period music by Duke Ellington. ''The Untouchables'' premiered on June 2, 1987, in New York City, and went into general release on June 3, 1987, in the United States. The film grossed $106.2 million worl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Verdict
''The Verdict'' is a 1982 American legal drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by David Mamet, adapted from Barry Reed's 1980 novel of the same name. The film stars Paul Newman as a down-on-his-luck alcoholic lawyer in Boston who accepts a medical malpractice case, initially to make money and improve his own tenuous situation. But he discovers while working the case that he is doing the right thing and serving justice. Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea and Lindsay Crouse appear in supporting roles. ''The Verdict'' garnered critical acclaim and box office success. It was nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Newman), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mason), and Best Adapted Screenplay. Plot Once-promising attorney Frank Galvin is an alcoholic ambulance chaser. As a favor, his former partner Mickey Morrissey sends him a medical malpractice case which is all but certain to be s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 Film)
''The Postman Always Rings Twice'' is a 1981 American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Bob Rafelson and written by David Mamet (in his screenwriting debut). Starring Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange, it is the fourth adaptation of the 1934 novel by James M. Cain. The film was shot in Santa Barbara, California. Plot Frank Chambers, a drifter, stops for a meal at a diner outside Depression-era Los Angeles and ends up working there. The diner is operated by a young, beautiful woman, Cora Smith, and her much older husband, Nick Papadakis, a hardworking but unimaginative immigrant from Greece. Frank and Cora begin an affair soon after they meet. Cora is tired of her situation, married to an older man she does not love and working at a diner that she wishes to own and improve. She and Frank scheme to murder Nick to start a new life together without her losing the diner. Their first attempt at the murder is a failure, but they succeed with their second attempt. The local ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
