George Nolfi

Last updated
George Nolfi
Born (1968-06-10) June 10, 1968 (age 55)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPrinceton University
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • Director
  • Producer
Years active2003–present

George Nolfi (born June 10, 1968) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut in 2011 with sci-fi action, romance thriller, The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. [1]

Contents

Nolfi's work has been known to blend genres and employ tones ranging from serious to comedic. His stories often have protagonists who are exceptional at what they do; touch on central themes of philosophy, the human condition or world politics; and convey some form of social commentary.

Early life

Nolfi was born in Boston. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, earning a bachelor's degree in public policy and was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to Oxford University where he studied philosophy. He then entered the PhD program in political science at UCLA with an eye toward a career in government and academia.[ citation needed ]

Career

While working on his PhD dissertation at UCLA in 1997, Nolfi sold his first spec script, Pathfinder, in a three-studio bidding war. It would ultimately convince him to change his career path.

In 2003, Nolfi received his first screenwriting credit for the sci-fi film, Timeline , a Michael Crichton bestselling book adaptation starring Paul Walker. His spec screenplay, Honor Among Thieves, was adapted into Ocean’s Twelve (2004) with its all-star ensemble cast led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt. [2] In 2006, Nolfi wrote and co-produced The Sentinel which is a political action thriller starring Michael Douglas.

Nolfi is uncredited with rewriting the ending for Bourne Supremacy (2004) two weeks before its release. He returned to the Matt Damon spy thriller franchise in 2007 to co-write, BourneUltimatum [3] with Tony Gilroy, and Scott Z. Burns.

His continued working relationship with Damon lead to Nolfi's feature directorial debut of The Adjustment Bureau (2011). [4] [5] The film was adapted from the 1954 Philip K. Dick short story classic called “The Adjustment Team,” had been nominated for several awards. The story raises the questions of fate, existentialism - do we control our own destiny? [6] Among some sci-fi cinephiles, The Adjustment Bureau is considered one of the most underrated sci-fi films. [7]

Nolfi created, executive produced, and served as the principal director for the 2015 espionage television series, Allegiance, which ran for one season on NBC. Allegiance was based on the Israeli television show, The Gordin Cell which was produced in 2011.

Nolfi directed and co-wrote The Banker (2020), [8] starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson. [9] The passion project is based on a true story, brought public awareness to two African American businessmen, heroes of their time and their endeavors to overcome racism and redlining, an issue still prevalent in the U.S. [10] The film has been widely praised, particularly, among the Black community. [11] It continues to be used as an educational tool and to delve into deeper conversations on redlining, business, real estate and generational wealth. In March 2021, The Banker won Outstanding Independent Motion Picture at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.

To date Nolfi's filmography has collectively grossed over $1 billion at the box office worldwide.  

Filmography

YearTitle Director Writer Producer Notes
2003 Timeline NoYesNo
2004 Ocean's Twelve NoYesNo
2006 The Sentinel NoYesYes
2007 The Bourne Ultimatum NoYesNo
2011 The Adjustment Bureau YesYesYes Directorial debut
2015 Allegiance YesYesYesTelevision Series
2016 Birth of the Dragon YesNoNo
Spectral NoYesNo
2020 The Banker YesYesYes
TBA Elevation YesNoYes

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References

  1. ↑ Barnes, Brooks (2011-02-25). "Boy Meets Girl. And Angels Conspire". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  2. ↑ "THE BANKER: A Conversation with Director George Nolfi | LA Screenwriter" . Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  3. ↑ "Matt Damon Interview - THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM". Collider. 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  4. ↑ Hornaday, Ann (2011-03-03). "Ann Hornaday reviews 'The Adjustment Bureau,' an ambitious, impressive thriller". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  5. ↑ Leah, Rozen (2011-03-03). "Review: Matt Damon's 'Adjustment' -- It's 'The Matrix' With Heart". TheWrap. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  6. ↑ "Interview: Adjustment Bureau George Nolfi Talks Architecture And God". CINEMABLEND. 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  7. ↑ "The 15 Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movies of the Last Decade". Collider. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  8. ↑ Mendelson, Scott. "'The Banker' Review: AppleTV's First Movie Is An Excellent Investment". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  9. ↑ Broadnax, Jamie (2020-04-03). "Mackie and Jackson are Superheroes in 'The Banker'". Black Girl Nerds. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  10. ↑ Andre, Wheeler (2020-04-01). "Self-Made and The Banker showcase the power of black-owned businesses". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  11. ↑ Writer, John N. Mitchell Tribune Staff. "Mitchell: See 'The Banker' — if they'll let you". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
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