Jonathan Mostow

{{Short description|American film director, screenwriter and producer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jonathan Mostow

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|11|28}}

| birth_place = Woodbridge, Connecticut, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, producer

| father = George Mostow

| spouse = Laurie Sandell (2018–present)

}}

Jonathan Mostow (born November 28, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed films such as Breakdown (1997), U-571 (2000), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), and Surrogates (2009).{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-24-et-word24-story.html|title=Can Bruce Willis regain star power with 'Surrogates'?|work=Los Angeles Times|first=John|last=Horn|date=September 24, 2009|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

Early life

Mostow was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut.{{cite web|url=http://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne=18385.html|title=Jonathan Mostow|work=AlloCiné|access-date=December 25, 2018}} His father George Daniel Mostow was a mathematician, and his mother is a social worker. He graduated from Harvard University. He also trained at the American Repertory Company and the Lee Strasberg Institute.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/278351|title=Interview with Surrogates Director Jonathan Mostow|work=Digital Journal|first=Jay David|last=Murphy|date=August 27, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2018}} He grew up in a Conservative Jewish household.{{cite web| url = https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/8063/| title = Mostow Terminates Fans' 'T3' Fears}}

Career

In 1989, Mostow directed a direct-to-video horror comedy, Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers.{{cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2000/05/04/mostow/|title=Mission from Mostow|work=Salon|first=Michael|last=Sragow|date=May 4, 2000|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

Mostow was originally attached to direct The Game (1997), with Kyle MacLachlan and Bridget Fonda for the lead roles.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-david-finchers-criterion-approved-the-game-105803/|title=5 Things You Might Not Know About David Fincher's Criterion Approved 'The Game'|work=IndieWire|first=Benjamin|last=Wright|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=December 25, 2018}} However, he ended up being an executive producer after David Fincher came on to direct. In 1997, he directed Breakdown, a thriller film starring Kurt Russell.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/08/kurt-russell-five-best-moments|title=Kurt Russell: five best moments|work=The Guardian|first=Benjamin|last=Lee|date=January 8, 2016|access-date=December 25, 2018}} Around the same time, he signed a deal with Universal Pictures.{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=1997-06-30|title=MOSTOW INKS DEAL AT U|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/mostow-inks-deal-at-u-1117342302/|access-date=2021-01-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}} Both Mostow and Lieberman received a TV deal, via his Mostow/Lieberman Productions company to Studios USA.{{Cite web|last=Adalian|first=Josef|date=2000-02-18|title=Mostow, Lieberman ink TV deal|url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/mostow-lieberman-ink-tv-deal-1117776579/|access-date=2021-01-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In 2000, Mostow directed a World War II-era submarine film, U-571.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-06-28-0006280024-story.html|title='U-571' should be diving for deep cover|work=The Baltimore Sun|first=Bill Scanlan|last=Murphy|date=June 28, 2000|access-date=December 25, 2018}} He assembled a cast including Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, TC Carson, and Jon Bon Jovi.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/25/u-571-reel-history|title=U-571: You give historical films a bad name|work=The Guardian|first=Alex |last=von Tunzelmann|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=December 25, 2018}} The film topped the U.S. box office chart.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/rookies-torpedoed-1117781050/|title=Rookies torpedoed|work=Variety|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=April 30, 2000|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

In 2003, Mostow directed the third installment of the Terminator film series, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/vpage/the-candid-candidate-1117890558/|title=The candid candidate|work=Variety|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=August 7, 2003|access-date=December 25, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/columns/mostow-makes-most-of-t3-opportunity-1117888211/|title=Mostow makes most of 'T3' opportunity|work=Variety|first=Michael|last=Fleming|date=June 19, 2003|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

Mostow co-wrote a comic book series, The Megas, with John Harrison.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mostow-coronates-his-megas-105688|title=Mostow coronates his 'Megas'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Borys|last=Kit|date=February 27, 2008|access-date=December 25, 2018}} Illustrated by Peter Rubin, it was published on Virgin Comics in 2008.

Mostow returned to direct another film, Surrogates, in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/14087/underappreciated-directors-jonathan-mostow|title=Underappreciated directors: Jonathan Mostow|work=Den of Geek|first=Simon|last=Brew|date=February 26, 2009|access-date=December 25, 2018}} Based on the comic book series, it starred Bruce Willis.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/07/surrogates-sci-fi-crime-drama-stays-true-to-comics-roots/|title=Surrogates' Sci-Fi Crime Drama Stays True to Comic's Roots|work=Wired|first=Scott|last=Thill|date=July 21, 2009|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

In 2017, Mostow directed The Hunter's Prayer, an action thriller film starring Sam Worthington.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/reviews/film-review-hunters-prayer|title=Film Review: The Hunter's Prayer|work=Film Journal International|first=Edward|last=Douglas|date=June 8, 2017|access-date=December 25, 2018}}

Personal life

On October 7, 2018, Mostow married writer Laurie Sandell.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/fashion/weddings/laurie-sandell-jonathan-mostow.html | title = Laurie Sandell, Jonathan Mostow | work = The New York Times | date = October 7, 2018 | access-date = December 25, 2018 | page = ST14 | archive-date = 2020-08-22 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200822215746/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/fashion/weddings/laurie-sandell-jonathan-mostow.html }} The two met through JDate in 2014.

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer ! Notes
1985 \| Fright Show \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Segment "Dr. Dobermind"
1989 \| Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers \| {{yes}} \| {{Partial\|Story}} \| {{yes}} \| Role: Cryonics Lab Technician; direct-to-video
1997 \| Breakdown \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2000 \| U-571 \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2003 \| Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
2009 \| Surrogates \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|
rowspan=2 \| 2012 \| House at the End of the Street \| {{no}} \| {{Partial\|Story}} \| {{no}} \|
Playing for Keeps \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|
2017 \| The Hunter's Prayer \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Producer

! Notes

1985

| Fright Show

| {{yes}}

| Segment "Dr. Dobermind"

1989

| Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers

| {{yes}}

| {{Partial|Story}}

| {{yes}}

| Role: Cryonics Lab Technician; direct-to-video

1997

| Breakdown

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2000

| U-571

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2003

| Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2009

| Surrogates

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

rowspan=2 | 2012

| House at the End of the Street

| {{no}}

| {{Partial|Story}}

| {{no}}

Playing for Keeps

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

2017

| The Hunter's Prayer

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

Executive producer

The Game (1997)
Hancock (2008)
The Hunter's Prayer (2017)

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year(s) ! Title ! Director ! Executive Producer ! Notes
1998 \| From the Earth to the Moon \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| Episode "Le Voyage Dans La Lune"
2014–2015 \| The Last Ship \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Episode "Phase Six"
2023-2024 \| Accused \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| Episode: "Danny's Story"

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year(s)

! Title

! Director

! Executive
Producer

! Notes

1998

| From the Earth to the Moon

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Episode "Le Voyage Dans La Lune"

2014–2015

| The Last Ship

| {{yes}}

| Episode "Phase Six"

2023-2024

| Accused

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Episode: "Danny's Story"

TV movies

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year(s) ! Title ! Director ! Executive Producer ! Writer
1991 \| Flight of Black Angel \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{Partial\|Story}}
2021 \| Them \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year(s)

! Title

! Director

! Executive
Producer

! Writer

1991

| Flight of Black Angel

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{Partial|Story}}

2021