Director Curtis Hanson (1945)

Chasing Mavericks (2012), a biographical drama, follows the journey of young Santa Cruz native Jay Moriarity. As an 8-year-old, Jay was rescued from the ocean by his neighbor and experienced surfer Frosty Hesson. This near-death experience sparked his love for surfing. Years later, at the age of 15, Jay stumbles upon Frosty preparing to surf the massive waves at Mavericks with his friends. With El Niño approaching and Mavericks reaching its peak in three months, Frosty reluctantly agrees to teach Jay how to tackle this legendary swell. However, he emphasizes the importance of mastering the fundamentals of surfing first. To achieve this, Jay must complete a grueling ...

Too Big to Fail (2011) is an American biographical drama that aired on HBO. Directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Peter Gould, the film was based on Andrew Ross Sorkin’s non-fiction book of the same name. It received multiple nominations at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. The plot revolves around the 2008 mortgage industry crisis and the sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase with Federal guarantees. As news of this spreads, short sellers shift their focus to another investment bank, Lehman Brothers. Despite trying ...

Lucky You (2007), an American drama film directed by Curtis Hanson, stars Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall. The story follows Huck Cheever, a young and skilled poker player in Las Vegas who is plagued by his strained relationship with his father, L.C. Cheever, a previous World Series of Poker Champion. Despite being a regular in the Vegas poker scene, Huck needs $10,000 to enter the World Series of Poker Main Event. After a successful night at the Bellagio ...

Curtis Hanson directed the American romantic comedy-drama film, In Her Shoes (2005), written by Susannah Grant and based on Jennifer Weiner’s novel of the same name. Raised by their father Michael and stepmother Sydelle after their mother Caroline’s tragic death in a car accident, sisters Maggie and Rose Feller are quite dissimilar. Despite her flaws, Rose is fiercely protective of Maggie, while Maggie, a free spirit with dyslexia, struggles to hold down a job and turns to alcohol and men for support. When ...

8 Mile (2002) is an American drama film written by Scott Silver and directed by Curtis Hanson. Featuring Eminem in his film debut, it contains elements from the rapper’s own life story. The plot centers around Detroit artist Jimmy Smith Jr., also known as B-Rabbit. In 1995, Jimmy is a budding musician who goes by the name B-Rabbit. He comes from a low-income family living in a trailer park just outside of Detroit. To support his mother Stephanie, younger sister Lily, and Stephanie’s abusive boyfriend Greg, Jimmy ...

In the film Wonder Boys (2000), director Curtis Hanson and writer Steve Kloves showcase the life of Grady Tripp, a creative writing professor at an unnamed Pennsylvania university. Grady is in a relationship with Sara Gaskell, the university chancellor. However, her husband Walter is also involved in their professional lives as chairman of the English department where Grady teaches. Recently, Grady’s third wife Emily has left him and he struggles to replicate the success of his first novel. Currently, he is diligently working on his second novel but cannot seem to ...

Set in 1953 Los Angeles, L.A. Confidential (1997) is a classic neo-noir crime film directed, produced, and co-written by Curtis Hanson. The story follows the LAPD as they work to repair their public image after years of corruption. Sergeant Edmund Exley, known for his ambition and drive, is constantly compared to his late father who was also a well-respected detective. It is believed that his father’s killer goes by the name ‘Rollo Tomasi’, a symbol of all elusive criminals. Meanwhile, narcotics sergeant Jack Vincennes is more interested in chasing fame and collaborating with tabloid journalist Sid ...

The River Wild (1994), an American thriller directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Denis O’Neill, tells the story of a Boston couple, Gail and Tom Hartman. Due to Tom’s demanding job as an architect, their marriage is strained. To escape the tension, Gail takes their son Roarke on a rafting trip down Idaho’s Salmon River. Accompanied by their dog Maggie, they leave behind their daughter Willa with Gail’s parents in Idaho. Unexpectedly, Tom joins them at the last minute after staying in Boston. During their journey, they encounter three friendly ...

The American psychological thriller film, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), directed by Curtis Hanson, follows housewife Claire Bartel in Seattle. She is happily married and pregnant with her second child when she experiences a traumatic event at her routine check-up with new obstetrician Dr. Victor Mott. Claire confides in her husband Michael and they decide to report Dr. Mott to the state medical board. As a result, four other women come forward with similar accusations against Dr. Mott and charges are brought against him. Fearing arrest, Dr. Mott takes his own life, leaving behind a pregnant widow who learns ...

Bad Influence (1990) is an American psychological thriller film directed by Curtis Hanson. A man leaves a naked woman sleeping as he disappears into the city, tossing away items to cover his tracks. Michael Boll, a shy, socially awkward doormat, discovers that important work data has gone missing. He suspects Patterson, his deceitful coworker, but lacks evidence and the courage to confront him. Frustrated, he retreats to his office where he is interrupted by his fiancée Ruth, whose incessant wedding planning adds to Michael’s stress. Seeking solace at a beach bar, Michael buys a drink for a wallet-less woman and ...

The American neo-noir psychological thriller film, The Bedroom Window (1987), was directed by Curtis Hanson. After an office party, Terry invites his boss’s wife Sylvia to his apartment and they end up in bed together. When Sylvia sees a man attacking a young woman outside the window, she calls out and the assailant flees. The next day, when it is reported that the young woman was murdered near Terry’s apartment that night, he decides to inform the police about what Sylvia witnessed but claims that he saw it instead in order to protect her. However, during a police lineup neither Terry nor the victim Denise ...

Losin’ It (1983), a comedy film by Curtis Hanson, follows four teenagers from early 1960s Los Angeles as they journey to Tijuana, Mexico. The group consists of Dave, Woody, Spider, and Dave’s brother Wendell. While Dave, Spider, and Woody are determined to lose their virginity, Wendell is simply there to purchase fireworks. Along the way, they encounter Kathy, a woman seeking a speedy divorce from her husband. Together, they get caught up in a wild array of antics and mishaps south of the border.