John Woo, born in China on September 22, 1946Guangdong ProvinceGuangzhou City, graduated from Matteo Ricci College, Hong Kong, China, male director, screenwriter, actor, producer and producer.[44]
Best Director Award of the 9th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Award of the 23rd Taiwan Golden Horse Film Awards The 24th Saturn Award for Best Director of American Film and Television The 13th China Film Huabiao Award for Outstanding Overseas Chinese Directors Outstanding Contribution Award of Chinese Film at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival[7]open
Key achievements
Best Director Award of the 9th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Award of the 23rd Taiwan Golden Horse Film Awards The 24th Saturn Award for Best Director of American Film and Television The 13th China Film Huabiao Award for Outstanding Overseas Chinese Directors Outstanding Contribution Award of Chinese Film at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival[7] Outstanding Achievement Award of the 53rd Asia Pacific Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award of the 67th Venice International Film Festival The 4th Asian Film Awards Nielsen Film Box Office Award Samurai Award of the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival
In 1951, John Woo moved to Hong Kong with his family from Guangzhou;As his father was suffering from tuberculosis and could not work, John Woo's family lived in the slums.In 1953, John Woo's home was burned down in the Shek Kip Mei fire. Thanks to the donation of a charity, he and his family were able to move to another house.After graduating from high school, John Woo went to Taiwan to study art and tried to make experimental films[13]。
In 1968, John Woo[14]As a feature film《Dead knot》This is also his first screenplay.In 1971, he signed a contract with Shao's Film Company and studied film making with director Zhang Che.In 1973, directed his first film《Passengers》, the film was banned due to excessive violence after shooting.
In 1975, John Woo revised The Passer by and renamed the film《Iron man tenderness》, his directorial debut was officially released;Directed action films in the same year《Women's Taekwondo Qun Ying Hui》。1976, acting as a drama《Imperial maiden flower》The film's annual box office in Hong Kong exceeded 3 million Hong Kong dollars;In the same year, he went to South Korea to shoot kungfu films《Shaolin Sect》；And filmed a documentary about 800 foot boxers' moves.
The comedy directed on July 29, 1977《Send money cold》Released in Hong Kong, China, the film won the second place in the annual box office of Hong Kong films with a box office score of 5 million Hong Kong dollars.In 1978, he wrote and directed his own romantic film "Hello, Return at Night";Comedy in the same year《Follow The Star 》's director.
In 1979, directed ancient costume martial arts films《Gallant》This is a film by John Woo to pay tribute to his mentor Cheung Che.In 1980, John Woo learned Chaplin's characterization and artistic style, and directed the first work after the founding of New Art City in the name of Wu Shangfei《Funny Times》The film made HK $5 million at the box office after its release in Hong Kong.
In 1982, John Woo continued to make comedy films because he was required by Jiahe Film Company to continue to direct comedy films, and other films should not be involved;In the same year, directed a comedy starring Xu Guanying《Modern Celestial Master》。In 1983, after finishing the cooperation with Jiahe Film Company, he joined the New Art City Film Company at the invitation of Tsui Hark.
In 1984, he encountered a creative bottleneck, so he moved to Taiwan to develop the film industry;And directed comedies in Taiwan《Two tigers》[15]；In the same year, in the gunfight film《The hero has no tears》Director and screenwriter in;This film reflects the film style of masculinity aesthetics and becomes John Woo's representative work in the transition from comedy era to action era[16]。
In 1986, he joined Tsui Hark's film studio;In the same year, he directed a gunfight film with the help of Tsui Hark《true colour of a hero》This film is not only the turning point of his career as a director, but also establishes his film style of violence aesthetics;After its release, the film broke the box office record of Hong Kong films with a box office of 34.65 million Hong Kong dollars[15]And won many awards including the best film of the 6th Hong Kong Film Awards[1]John Woo also won the Best Director Award of the 23rd Golden Horse Award for Taiwan Film[17]。
In 1987, directed action films《Heroic Essence 2》；The film consolidates John Woo's personal style;And ranked sixth in the annual box office list of Hong Kong films with a box office of HK $22.72 million[16]。In 1989, the director was in memory of his masterZhang CheFilm of the 40th Anniversary《Just Heroes 》[18]。Later directed action films《Bloodthirsty couple》；The film not only became one of John Woo's representative works of violence aesthetics, but also laid the foundation for his entry into Hollywood.After filming this film, John Woo left Tsui Hark's film studio due to disagreement with Tsui Hark.
In 1990, directed films on Vietnam《Bloodthirsty street》；The film made HK $8.55 million at the box office 17 days after its release in Hong Kong;In addition, he also directed shooting films《Across the world》, he changed in the film《true colour of a hero》Since the tragedy keynote, but uses the comedy way to narrate;After its release, the film ranked No. 4 in the annual box office list of Hong Kong with a score of 33.39 million Hong Kong dollars, and was nominated for the Best Picture Award at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards;In April, with action movies《Bloodthirsty couple》Won the 9thHong Kong Film AwardsBest Director Award[2]；In the same year, he participated in action movies《Brave in the world》And was nominated as a supporting actor at the 27th Taiwan Golden Horse Film Awards[19]。1992, shooting action films《Hard nosed detective》；This film is John Woo's last work before he went to the United States for development, and has maintained his consistent style of gunfight[20]。
In 1993, he officially went to Hollywood to develop;In April, with action movies《Hard nosed detective》Won the Best Cutting Award of the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards[20]；In the same year, directed the first film in Hollywood《Ultimate target》；The film's annual box office in the United States exceeded 30 million dollars, which not only enabled John Woo to successfully enter the mainstream commercial film market in Hollywood, but also won him the shooting contract for the next film[3][21]。
1996, acted as a gunfight action film《Broken arrow》Director;In addition to designing action scenes for films, John Woo also filmed for the first time according to the routine of Hollywood films;The film's annual box office in the global market exceeded 70 million dollars, and won the Best Action Scene Award of the 5th MTV Film Awards.
In 1997, John Woo started shooting Hollywood action films《Face changing》, while maintaining his personal style in the film, he also integrates mainstream Hollywood film elements[22]；After its release in the United States, the film won the U.S. box office championship in July, and was selected as one of the "Top Ten Best Films of the Year" by Time magazine. John Woo personally won the Golden Ring Award of the National Chinese American Art Foundation for his film[3]。
In 1998, with the help of action films《Face changing》Won the best director award of the 24th Saturn Award for American Film and Television.In May 2000, directed an action adventure film《Mission Impossible 2》Released in the United States, the film continued its violent aesthetic film style and won the Best Action Scene Award of the 10th MTV Film Awards;After its release, the film won the world's annual box office champion with a box office score of $545 million[4][23]。
In May 2002Grauman's Chinese Theatre Leave a handprint and become the first Chinese director to win this honor;In the same year, shooting action war movies《Whisperer》This is also his first war themed film, which broke through 33 million dollars at the box office three weeks after its release in the United States[24]。
In 2004, it was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong government.In 2005, directed children's films《Sangsang and the kitten》。In 2006, he ended his career in Hollywood and returned to the Chinese film world as an action film《Tiantangkou》Supervised by[25]。In 2007, he participated in the production of science fiction cartoons《Apple Nuclear Warfare 2》, and acted as the producer of the film.
On July 10, 2008, directed the war film《On Red Cliff》It was released in mainland China, and the final box office of the film after release was 312 million yuan[26]。On January 7, 2009, directed the war film《Lower Red Cliff》Release;The film's annual box office in mainland China was 251 million yuan, and won the highest box office Asian Film Award at the 4th Asian Film Awards;In April, he acted as an animator on the theme of the Three Kingdoms in Japan《Beyond the Heavens》Dubbing;In June, obtainedShanghai International Film FestivalGolden Jue Award for Outstanding Contribution of Chinese Film[7]；In August, with the help of movies《Red Cliff》GetChina Movie Awards Outstanding Overseas Chinese Director Award[27]。
In October 2009, he acted as a martial arts film in ancient costume《Sword Rain》Supervised by[28]。In September 2010, the 67thVenice Film FestivalLifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first Chinese director to win the award;In November, it was awarded theSilver Bauhinia Star；In the same year, as a youth fashion film《Surf youth》Supervised by[29]。
In 2012, served as a war film《Sydek Bale》The producer of.
On December 2, 2014, directed the war film《Taiping Wheel: Floating in troubled times》Released in mainland China, the film achieved 195 million yuan at the box office in 17 days[30]。
On October 26, 2015, won the Samurai Award at the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival[11]。
In 2022, the action film Silent Night directed by John Woo and starring Joel Kinnaman announced that it had been officially launched in Mexico City on March 7.[39]
In August 2022, Universal Pictures recently announced that John Woo would personally remake the Hollywood version of "Double Blood".[41]
In March 2023, the remake of the US version of "Two Men Who Die for Blood" directed and produced by John Woo ushered in: Tally Emanuel joined, and she will co star with Omar Xi.[42]
Personal life
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In 1974, John Woo andNiu ChunlongMeet and fall in love.On March 5, 1976, John Woo married Niu Chunlong in Los Angeles.In 1977, John Woo's eldest daughter, Wu Shangfang, was born.In 1980, John Woo's second daughterWu Feixiabirth.In 1982, John Woo's youngest son, Wu Yifang, was born[31]。On October 22, 2020, John Woo's unmarried eldest daughter, Wu Shangfang (test tube pregnancy), gave birth to a mixed race girl by caesarean section[32]。
New Era International Film Festival · Golden Flower Award - 100 filmmakers with outstanding contributions[37]
Award
2022-7
Lifetime Achievement Award of the 26th Canadian Fantasy International Film Festival[40]
Award
Character evaluation
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John Woo is an outstanding representative of the Chinese film industry. He not only has a high reputation in the industry, but also has made positive contributions to the exchange of Chinese and Western films.Whether in Asia or Hollywood, John Woo has brought revolutionary ideas to the performance and editing of action movies.As the first Chinese American action film director to successfully enter the mainstream market of Hollywood, he not only promoted the position of Hong Kong films in the international film world to a certain extent, but also made Hollywood realize the creative strength of Chinese filmmakers（People's Network、Venice Film FestivalOrganizing Committee《Information Times》、China News NetworkComprehensive evaluation）[5][13]。
John Woo is a writer and director with a distinctive personality and world outlook.In the masterpieces of gangster movies and war movies directed by him, his violence aesthetics is full of original poetic and romantic feelings.His works not only have dramatic tension, but also have the illusion of surrealism.In his films, the main purpose of the violence scene is no longer simply to state the plot, but to constantly change the original plot style in the process of the statement, and deliberately weaken the reality of the violence plot.He added a series of rhetorical elements to the narrative text when he expressed the violent scene: changing the narrative time of the image through the upgraded picture.He transformed a film narrative form with the purpose of killing into a stage film space with the purpose of action performance, which fundamentally changed the way violence exists in action films(David PowellMarco Muller 、《Art Review》Comprehensive evaluation)[16][33]。
John Woo has explored and expanded the artistic language of film and created the language of Woo's film.He is good at expressing his feelings by borrowing things and embodying feelings in things.Under the cloak of violence, he paid more attention to describing the friendship between people and the positive relationship between people and the times, and presented the violence and kindness of human nature, the personal fate of the characters and the times on the screen.Although his movies are full of violence, John Woo's action heroes always bleed and cry.No matter how dangerous the situation is or how cruel the scenes are, his films will not lose humanity's love and compassion.In his works, he also accepted the aesthetic style of western films while focusing on family affection and righteousness.Therefore, his works are not only dazzling, but also the essence of various films such as westerns, black films and romantic melodramas(People's Daily Online, Art Review《Information Times》ComprehensiveComment)[33-34]。
