John Hillcoat

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John Hillcoat
John Hillcoat.jpg
Hillcoat at the 2009 Venice Film Festival
Born (1961-08-14) 14 August 1961 (age 63)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s) Film director, screenwriter, music video director

John Hillcoat (born 14 August 1961) is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and music video director.

Contents

His early work includes the 1988 prison film Ghosts... of the Civil Dead , as well as music videos for bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His breakthrough film, the 2005 outback Western The Proposition , was written by Nick Cave and received widespread critical acclaim. Hillcoat went on to direct The Road (2009), an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's 2006 novel of the same name, and Lawless (2012), a Prohibition-era crime drama. His films often explore themes of survival, violence, and morality, showcasing a raw, atmospheric aesthetic.

Early life

Hillcoat was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 14 August 1961, and grew up in North America and Europe. [1] He attended Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and was enrolled in its Special Art Program. As a child, his paintings were featured in the Art Gallery of Hamilton. He was active with the McMaster University Film Board, most notably producing an animated short titled The Finger.

Back in Australia by the late 1970s, aged 18, Hillcoat studied film at the Swinburne University of Technology, in Melbourne. He became immersed in the city's post-punk scene, through which he met his now wife, the photographer Polly Borland, and began a lifelong creative collaboration with Nick Cave, editing the music video for his band The Birthday Party's single "Nick the Stripper" (1981). Hillcoat also got a job filming concerts at the famed Melbourne post-punk venue the Crystal Ballroom. [2]

Career

Hillcoat has often worked with Nick Cave, the band Depeche Mode, and actor Guy Pearce. The Road , his adaptation of the novel by Cormac McCarthy, premiered at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival, and was released in the U.S. in November 2009. His 2012 film, Lawless , competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. [3] [4] Hillcoat's film, Triple 9 was released in 2016. [5] In 2017, he directed "Crocodile", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror . [6] In 2024, It was announced that Hillcoat would be directing a film adaptation of another McCarthy novel, Blood Meridian .

Filmography

Film

Feature Film

YearTitleNotes
1988 Ghosts... of the Civil Dead
1996 To Have & to Hold
2005 The Proposition
2009 The Road
2012 Lawless
2016 Triple 9 Also producer

Short film

YearTitleNotes
2010 Red Dead Redemption: The Man from Blackwater Short machinima film to promote the video game Red Dead Redemption
2018Corazón

Documentary film

YearTitleNotes
2001Digital Hardcore Videos
2021Bob Dylan: Odds and EndsCo-directed with Jennifer Lebeau

Television

YearTitleNotes
2011 Black Mirror Episode "Crocodile"
2022 George & Tammy Miniseries
2023Special Ops: Lioness4 episodes

Music video

YearArtistTitle
1989 Elvis Costello "Veronica"
1991 Crowded House "Chocolate Cake"
1993 Herbert Grönemeyer "Chaos"
"Land unter"
1994 Frente! "Bizarre Love Triangle"
Siouxsie and the Banshees "O Baby"
"Stargazer"
1996 Manic Street Preachers "Australia"
1997 Bush "Personal Holloway"
Mansun "She Makes My Nose Bleed"
1998 Placebo "You Don't Care About Us"
Therapy? "Church of Noise"
Neil Finn "Sinner"
Therapy? "Lonely, Cryin', Only"
1999 Suede "Can't Get Enough"
James "Just Like Fred Astaire"
HIM "Join Me in Death"
2000 Chicane "No Ordinary Morning"
Einstürzende Neubauten "Sabrina"
2001 HIM "In Joy and Sorrow"
Depeche Mode "I Feel Loved"
"Freelove"
2002"Goodnight Lovers"
Gemma Hayes "Hanging Around"
Manic Street Preachers "There by the Grace of God"
2003 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds "Babe, I'm on Fire"
AFI "Silver and Cold"
Muse "Time Is Running Out"
2007 Maroon 5 "Makes Me Wonder"
Grinderman "No Pussy Blues"
2010"Heathen Child"
Unkle "The Answer"
2012 How to Destroy Angels "Ice Age"
2013 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds "Jubilee Street"
Bob Dylan "Visions of Johanna"
2014 Johnny Cash "She Used to Love Me a Lot"
2016 Massive Attack "The Spoils"
2021 Run the Jewels "Never Look Back"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
1989 Australian Film Institute Best Original Screenplay Ghosts... of the Civil Dead Nominated
1992 ARIA Music Awards ARIA Award for Best Video "Chocolate Cake" by Crowded HouseWon [7]
1996 "Sit on My Hands" by Frente! (with Polly Borland)Nominated [7]
1996Verona Love Screens Film FestivalBest Film To Have & to Hold Nominated
2005Australian Film InstituteBest Director The Proposition Nominated
Film Critics Circle of Australia Best DirectorNominated
Inside Film Awards Best Feature FilmWon
Best DirectorNominated
2009 Venice Film Festival Golden Lion The Road Nominated
2012 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'or Lawless Nominated
2013 ARIA Music AwardsARIA Award for Best Video"Jubilee Street" by Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNominated [7]

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References

  1. John Hillcoat, National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. Bonner, Michael (7 September 2012). "John Hillcoat interview", Uncut. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. "2012 Official Selection". Cannes. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  4. "Cannes Film Festival 2012 line-up announced". timeout. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  5. Fleming, Mike Jr. (5 February 2014). "Open Road Acquires Domestic On 'Triple Nine;' Michael B. Jordan, Aaron Paul, Gal Gadot, Michael Pena Join Killer Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  6. Haring, Bruce (25 August 2017). "'Black Mirror': Season 4 Cast & Episode Info, Teaser Trailer Released By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.