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Steven Zaillian is a Director, Scriptwriter, Producer, Editor and Thanks American born on 30 january 1953 at Fresno (USA)

Steven Zaillian

Steven Zaillian
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Birth name Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian
Nationality USA
Birth 30 january 1953 (71 years) at Fresno (USA)
Awards Writers Guild of America Award

Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian (born January 30, 1953) is an American screenwriter, director, editor, producer, and founder of Film Rites, a film production company. He won an Academy Award for his screenplay for Schindler's List and he has been nominated for Awakenings, Gangs of New York and Moneyball. The Times called him "the most artful and subtle screenwriter Hollywood has had since Robert Towne." He was also presented with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2009 Austin Film Festival.

Zaillian was born in Fresno, California, the son of Jim Zaillian, a radio news reporter. He attended Sonoma State University, graduated from San Francisco State University and lives in Los Angeles. He is of Armenian descent.

Best films

Mission: Impossible (1996)
(Story)
Hannibal (2001)
(Scriptwriter)
Schindler's List (1993)
(Scriptwriter)
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
(Scriptwriter)
American Gangster (2007)
(Scriptwriter)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
(Writer)

Usually with

Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
(4 films)
Scott Rudin
Scott Rudin
(4 films)
James Horner
James Horner
(5 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Steven Zaillian (33 films)

Display filmography as list

Director

All the King's Men, 2h8
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Origin German
Genres Drama, Thriller
Themes Political films
Actors Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson
Rating60% 3.048253.048253.048253.048253.04825
Louisiana newspaper reporter Jack Burden takes a personal interest in Willie Stark, an idealistic small-town lawyer. Circumstances develop that result in Stark's being urged to run for governor by a local political leader, Tiny Duffy. Jack has been raised around politics. He is the former lover of Anne Stanton, whose father was once governor. Jack was raised by his godfather Judge Irwin, an honorable man.
A Civil Action, 1h55
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Themes Environmental films
Actors John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub, William H. Macy, Željko Ivanek, Bruce Norris
Rating65% 3.2985753.2985753.2985753.2985753.298575
Environmental toxins in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts contaminate the area's water supply, and become linked to a number of deaths of neighboring children. Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta), a cocky and successful Boston attorney who zips around town in his Porsche, and his small firm of personal injury lawyers are asked by Woburn resident Anne Anderson (Kathleen Quinlan) to take legal action against those responsible.
Searching for Bobby Fischer, 1h50
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography
Themes Jeu, Sports films, Films about chess
Actors Max Pomeranc, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne, Robert Stephens
Rating73% 3.697893.697893.697893.697893.69789
Josh Waitzkin's family discovers that he possesses a gift for chess and they seek to nurture it. They hire a strict instructor, Bruce Pandolfini (played by Ben Kingsley) who aims to teach the boy to be as aggressive as chess legend Bobby Fischer. The title of the film is a metaphor about the character's quest to adopt the ideal of Fischer and his determination to win at any price. Josh is also heavily influenced by Vinnie, a speed chess hustler (Laurence Fishburne) whom he met in Washington Square Park. The two coaches differ greatly in their approaches to chess, and Pandolfini is upset that Josh continues to adopt the methods of Vinnie. The main conflict in the film arises when Josh refuses to accept Fischer's misanthropic frame of reference. Josh then goes on to win on his own terms.

Scriptwriter

The Irishman, 3h30
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Mob film, Historical, Crime
Themes Mafia films, Gangster films
Actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale
Rating77% 3.898533.898533.898533.898533.89853
Depuis sa maison de retraite, Frank Sheeran se remémore sa vie. Vétéran de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, « The Irishman » officie à Philadelphie comme chauffeur de camion dans les années 1950. Accusé de vol, il est défendu par l'avocat Bill Bufalino. Ce dernier lui présente son cousin, Russell Bufalino. Frank se lie rapidement avec Russell et se rapproche peu à peu de la mafia italienne locale. Il devient un homme à tout faire et un tueur à gages efficace. Russell lui présente alors l'un des hommes les plus puissants des États-Unis, Jimmy Hoffa, président du puissant syndicat International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, 1h45
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Spy
Themes Spy films, Films about terrorism, Gangster films
Actors Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, David Paymer, Nonso Anozie
Roles Writer
Rating61% 3.099023.099023.099023.099023.09902
After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Jack Ryan (Pine), studying at the London School of Economics, becomes a U.S. Marine second lieutenant fighting in Afghanistan, where his spine is critically injured when his helicopter is shot down. During a lengthy recovery, he attracts the attention of Cathy Muller (Knightley), the medical student helping him learn to walk again, and Thomas Harper (Costner), an official with the CIA who recruits him.
Exodus: Gods and Kings, 2h30
Directed by Ridley Scott
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Historical, Peplum
Themes Films set in Africa, Films about slavery, Films about religion, Films based on the Bible, Films about Jews and Judaism
Actors Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, John Turturro, Indira Varma
Rating59% 2.998812.998812.998812.998812.99881
In 1300 BC, Moses, a general and member of the royal family, prepares to attack the Hittite army with Prince Ramesses. A High Priestess of Sekhmet (the war goddess) divines a prophecy from animal intestines, which she relates to Ramesses' father, Seti I. He tells the two men of the prophecy, in which one (of Moses and Ramesses) will save the other and become a leader. During the attack on the Hittites, Moses saves Ramesses' life, leaving both men troubled. Later, Moses is sent to the city of Pithom to meet with the Viceroy Hegep, who oversees the Hebrew slaves. Upon his arrival, he encounters the slave Joshua, who is the descendant of Joseph, and Moses is appalled by the horrific conditions of the slaves. Shortly afterwards, Moses meets Nun, who informs him of his true lineage; he is the child of Hebrew parents who was sent by his sister Miriam to be raised by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses is stunned at the revelation and leaves angrily. However, two Hebrews also overhear Nun's story and report their discovery to Hegep.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 2h38
Directed by David Fincher
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Themes Films about families, Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Serial killer films, Rape and revenge films
Actors Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Yorick van Wageningen, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff
Roles Writer
Rating77% 3.8972853.8972853.8972853.8972853.897285
In Stockholm, Sweden, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, co-owner of Millennium magazine, has lost a libel case brought against him by businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström. Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but troubled investigator and hacker, compiles an extensive background check on Blomkvist for business magnate Henrik Vanger, who has a special task for him. In exchange for the promise of damning information about Wennerström, Blomkvist agrees to investigate the disappearance and assumed murder of Henrik's grandniece, Harriet, 40 years ago. After moving to the Vanger family's compound, Blomkvist uncovers a notebook containing a list of names and numbers that no one has been able to decipher.
Moneyball
Moneyball (2011)
, 2h13
Directed by Bennett Miller
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Comedy-drama
Themes Sports films, Baseball films
Actors Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Casey Bond, Chris Pratt
Rating75% 3.7982453.7982453.7982453.7982453.798245
Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is upset by his team's loss to the New York Yankees in the 2001 postseason, after the Yankees overcome a 2-0 series lead. With the impending departure of star players Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and Jason Isringhausen to free agency, Beane needs to assemble a competitive team for 2002, but must overcome Oakland's limited payroll. During a visit to the Cleveland Indians, Beane meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young Yale economics graduate with radical ideas about how to assess players' value. Beane tests Brand's theory by asking whether he would have drafted him (out of high school), Beane having been a Major League player before becoming general manager. Though scouts considered Beane a phenomenal prospect, his career in the Major Leagues was disappointing. After some prodding, Brand admits that he would not have drafted him until the ninth round and that Beane would probably have accepted a scholarship to Stanford instead. Beane hires the inexperienced Brand to be the Athletics assistant general manager.
American Gangster, 2h37
Directed by Ridley Scott
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Biography, Mob film, Crime
Themes Mafia films, Medical-themed films, Films about music and musicians, Films about drugs, Films about racism, Hip hop films, Political films, Gangster films
Actors Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ted Levine, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, RZA
Rating77% 3.8987653.8987653.8987653.8987653.898765
In 1968, Frank Lucas, the limo driver-turned-right-hand man of Harlem gangster Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, inherits Johnson's gang when Johnson dies of a heart attack. Disliking the new, flashy gangsters of the neighborhood, Lucas decides to take control of Harlem's crime scene.
All the King's Men, 2h8
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Origin German
Genres Drama, Thriller
Themes Political films
Actors Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson
Roles Writer
Rating60% 3.048253.048253.048253.048253.04825
Louisiana newspaper reporter Jack Burden takes a personal interest in Willie Stark, an idealistic small-town lawyer. Circumstances develop that result in Stark's being urged to run for governor by a local political leader, Tiny Duffy. Jack has been raised around politics. He is the former lover of Anne Stanton, whose father was once governor. Jack was raised by his godfather Judge Irwin, an honorable man.
The Interpreter, 2h
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Films set in Africa, Monde imaginaire, Politique, Political films, Films about language and translation
Actors Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Jesper Christensen, Yvan Attal, Earl Cameron
Roles Auteur
Rating63% 3.19943.19943.19943.19943.1994
Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is an interpreter working at the United Nations in New York City. She was raised in the Republic of Matobo, a fictional African country, but has dual citizenship. The U.N. is considering indicting Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), Matobo's president, to stand trial in the International Criminal Court. Initially a liberator, over the past 20 years he has become as corrupt and tyrannical as the government he overthrew, and is now responsible for ethnic cleansing and other atrocities within Matobo. Zuwanie is soon to visit the U.N. and put forward his own case to the General Assembly, in an attempt to avoid the indictment.
Gangs of New York, 2h47
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Historical, Crime
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about immigration, Mafia films, Films about racism, Films about sexuality, La précarité, Erotic films, Films about prostitution, Political films, Erotic thriller films, Gangster films
Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Henry Thomas, Jim Broadbent
Rating74% 3.748773.748773.748773.748773.74877
On February 6, 1846, at Paradise Square in Lower Manhattan's Five Points, a territorial battle of hand-to-hand combat between Bill "the Butcher" Cutting's U.S.-born nativist gang, the Natives, and "Priest" Vallon's Irish Catholic immigrant gang, the Dead Rabbits, concludes when Cutting kills Vallon, witnessed by Vallon's young son, Amsterdam. Cutting declares the Dead Rabbits outlawed but orders that Vallon's body be buried with honor. Amsterdam seizes the knife used to kill his father, races off, and buries it along with a medal his father gave him. He is later raised at Hellgate orphanage.
Hannibal
Hannibal (2001)
, 2h5
Directed by Ridley Scott
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Horror, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Psychologie, Serial killer films, Films about psychiatry, Tiré d'une œuvre de Thomas Harris
Actors Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie Faison, Giancarlo Giannini
Rating67% 3.3997653.3997653.3997653.3997653.399765
Ten years after tracking down serial killer Jame Gumb, FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling (Moore) is unjustly blamed for a bungled drug raid. Starling and her connection to Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) come to the attention of Lecter's only surviving victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), a wealthy child molester whom Lecter left paralyzed and horribly disfigured during a therapy session.
A Civil Action, 1h55
Directed by Steven Zaillian
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Themes Environmental films
Actors John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub, William H. Macy, Željko Ivanek, Bruce Norris
Rating65% 3.2985753.2985753.2985753.2985753.298575
Environmental toxins in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts contaminate the area's water supply, and become linked to a number of deaths of neighboring children. Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta), a cocky and successful Boston attorney who zips around town in his Porsche, and his small firm of personal injury lawyers are asked by Woburn resident Anne Anderson (Kathleen Quinlan) to take legal action against those responsible.
Mission: Impossible, 1h50
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Action, Adventure, Spy
Themes Spy films, Transport films, Rail transport films, Road movies, Heist films, Chase films, Gangster films, Escroquerie
Actors Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames
Roles Story
Rating71% 3.597983.597983.597983.597983.59798
Several years after the events of the series, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his team, the Impossible Mission Force, are assigned to retrieve the IMF non-official cover list from the American embassy in Prague. Their mission fails: Phelps is shot point blank, his wife Claire (Emmanuelle Beart) dies in a car bombing, and the rest of the team except agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) are eliminated by an unknown assassin. Meeting later with IMF director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny), Hunt learns the job was a setup designed to lure out a mole within IMF, whom IMF believes to be in contact with an arms dealer known as "Max" as part of "Job 314." As Hunt is the only member left, Kittridge suspects him of being the mole, and Hunt flees.