David O. Russell
Birthday: 20 August 1958, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name: David Owen Russell
Height: 180 cm
David Owen Russell is an American film writer, director, and producer, known for a cinema of intense, tragi-comedic characters whose love of life can surpass dark circumstances faced in very specific ...Show More
I personally have had two phases of my filmmaking career. I was here [at the Berlinale] with Three K Show more
I personally have had two phases of my filmmaking career. I was here [at the Berlinale] with Three Kings (1999) in 1999 and then I decided 'let's make a metaphysical film' [I Heart Huckabees (2004)]. Which did okay. It didn't succeed like I wanted it to. And then I met Darren Aronofsky after he made The Wrestler (2008). I said 'what happened, you're doing so good.' He said 'I got my head out of my ass.' And that can happen to anybody. Your head can go up your ass because you're afraid of failure or there's pressure the more movies you make. So I kind of lost my way as a storyteller. Hide
It's imperative for me to tell everybody that this is personal, it means a lot to me. You have to im Show more
It's imperative for me to tell everybody that this is personal, it means a lot to me. You have to impart how much it means to you in a personal way, which will bring everybody into it, and get you closer to working with that horse, whether that's a Steadicam operator or an actor. That's the thing I'm most proud of. You know, ironically given how you can get tagged, exaggerated from one or two past incidents, is that I'm most proud of being in sync and feeling like a family with the crew...and having everybody being willing to go through fire for this vision. That's a wonderful thing. It's a little sad when it ends. (...) That's why I start every day in the van. I have a van, like the van that they drove me to the set in, and I want the actors, I want the head of every department to come with me in the van at the very first moment I arrive there, and let's talk about what the day is, so that everybody has a very intimate feeling of what we're doing. Because the movie's not out there on the set with all those extras trying to look at the camera. You can get out there, and the energy's very dissipated, and it's very chaotic and the whole thing can be misdirected, the energy. And you want everyone to be feeling what you feel in your heart. Hide
I don't think you should ever 'send a message'... I'm more interested in the people.
I don't think you should ever 'send a message'... I'm more interested in the people.
[on the acting atmosphere on his sets] It's like doing drugs. [Christian Bale has] described it like Show more
[on the acting atmosphere on his sets] It's like doing drugs. [Christian Bale has] described it like a waking dream. That's why I don't like to call 'cut.' Because once we get going, it's like you're in a dream. Or Jennifer has described it as like being high. And I don't want to interrupt that. Something is happening where everybody is over in that other world. [2014] Hide
Strong women are, to me, the secret to great cinema.
Strong women are, to me, the secret to great cinema.
There's nothing better than an actor who is really, really hungry to show everything they've got.
There's nothing better than an actor who is really, really hungry to show everything they've got.
[on directing Amy Adams in American Hustle (2013)] I just really wanted to challenge her. I wanted h Show more
[on directing Amy Adams in American Hustle (2013)] I just really wanted to challenge her. I wanted her to do a role that was as strong as the guy parts, and more cunning in certain respects. Appetite has a lot to do with it. And she has an enormous appetite. It's almost athletic. She rises to the challenge...I have a musical idea that I would like to discuss with her. Hide
[on how he made Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence win Oscars] I would never say that I made these Show more
[on how he made Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence win Oscars] I would never say that I made these guys win anything. I would say that it was my privilege to aspire and to create a predicament that is twisted and human and allows them to have roles that will show as much behavior and emotion as possible. That's my goal. I want to deliver that to them. It's my job. To create a role that is vast and complicated and emotional... Hide
Anything you could ever want or be you already have and are.
Anything you could ever want or be you already have and are.
I watch films incessantly. I like watching films - they're like music to me. I love it. They make me Show more
I watch films incessantly. I like watching films - they're like music to me. I love it. They make me happy. They make me want to live. They make me want to get out of bed. It's like great music. [2015] Hide
People go to the movies because they want a full experience. If you're not gonna give it to them wit Show more
People go to the movies because they want a full experience. If you're not gonna give it to them with guns or bombs, you've gotta give it to them with human opera. Hide
I think any spiritual experience that's worthwhile is not about ego and it will humble you in some w Show more
I think any spiritual experience that's worthwhile is not about ego and it will humble you in some way. And also, a Zen monk once said to me, 'If you're not laughing, then you're not getting it.' Hide
[on David Lean's Hobson's Choice (1954)] It's a fantastic, perfect film. [2015]
[on David Lean's Hobson's Choice (1954)] It's a fantastic, perfect film. [2015]
I make every movie and scene as if it could be my last.
I make every movie and scene as if it could be my last.
I just love real characters; they're not pretentious, and every emotion is on the surface, they're r Show more
I just love real characters; they're not pretentious, and every emotion is on the surface, they're regular working people. Their likes, their dislikes, their loves, their hates, their passions; they're all right there on the surface. Hide
David O. Russell's FILMOGRAPHY
All
as Actor (12)
as Director (6)
as Creator (5)
