Sam Levinson

Last updated

Sam Levinson
Sam Levinson by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Levinson in 2018
Born
Samuel Levinson

(1985-01-08) January 8, 1985 (age 39)
United States
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actor
Years active1992–present
SpouseAshley Lent
Children1
Relatives Barry Levinson (father)

Samuel Levinson (born January 8, 1985) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is the son of Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson. In 2010, he received his first writing credit as a co-writer for the action comedy film Operation: Endgame . The following year, he made his directorial film debut with Another Happy Day (2011), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. He then received a writing credit on his father's HBO television film The Wizard of Lies (2017). He continued writing and directing for the feature films Assassination Nation (2018) and Malcolm & Marie (2021).

Contents

In 2019, Levinson created the HBO teen drama series Euphoria which was adapted from the Israeli series of the same name. The series is popular with audiences and received positive reviews from critics. In 2023, he created the HBO series The Idol , which was controversial and received negative reviews.

Early life

Levinson was born on January 8, 1985, and is the son of Diana Rhodes, a production designer for TV commercials, and filmmaker Barry Levinson. [1] [2] His father is from a Russian-Jewish family. [3] Levinson studied method acting for four years. [4] He has a brother, Jack Levinson, who is also an actor, [5] and two half-siblings, Michelle and Patrick, from his mother's first marriage.

Career

Levinson made his film debut as an actor in his father, director Barry Levinson's 1992 fantasy comedy Toys , alongside his brother Jack. He continued to appear in his father's films such as the comedy-drama film Bandits (2001) and the satirical comedy film What Just Happened (2008). In 2009, acted in the Uwe Boll film Stoic . In 2011, Levinson premiered his directorial film debut, Another Happy Day , which starred Ellen Barkin at the Sundance Film Festival. [1] [6] Despite the film's negative reviews, it received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. [7]

Levinson co-wrote the 2017 television film The Wizard of Lies , which was directed by his father Barry Levinson. The film focuses on Bernie Madoff, who is played by Robert De Niro. [8] Levinson wrote and directed the film Assassination Nation [9] which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews from critics, who praised its "frenetic and visually stylish" action but criticized the thinly-written characters. [10] [11] In June 2019, Levinson created the HBO television drama series Euphoria , based on the Israeli series of the same name (Hebrew: אופוריה‎). [12] [13] The series has received both praise and criticism for its direction, writing, and acting. It is infamous for its raw and graphic portrayal of teenagers wrestling with drug addiction and sexuality. [4]

In 2020, Levinson wrote and directed the film Malcolm & Marie , reuniting him with Euphoria star Zendaya, which was distributed by Netflix in February 2021. [14] The film was received poorly by critics. Aisha Harris of NPR wrote, "All that's left are two characters rendered awkwardly as vessels for a director's odd hang-ups about his own identity and craft". [15] Shirley Lee of The Atlantic described the film simply writing "Malcolm & Marie isn't Art. It's a meltdown" and that it "seems to use the titular couple as mouthpieces for a litany of his own gripes." [16] Levinson co-wrote the screenplay for the psychological erotic thriller Deep Water (2022), based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. [17] [18] The film debuted on Hulu where the adaptation was poorly received. The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw specifically panned the film's script, writing "Deep Water looks like a huge amount of material has been shaped in the edit but there are odd gaps and elisions". [19] Levinson has executive produced Pieces of a Woman (2020), Breaking (2022), X (2022), and Pearl (2022). [20]

On June 29, 2021, Levinson announced that he will be co-creating, writing and executive producing another HBO television drama series The Idol , alongside recording artist Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye and his producing partner Reza Fahim. [21] The series garnered controversy following an expose in Rolling Stone which featured allegations against Levinson and Tesfaye of creating a toxic work environment and crew members alleging the script involved explicit sexual content which amounted to "sexual torture porn". [22] [23] The first episode premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to negative reviews. Time Magazine critic Stephanie Zacharek wrote, "The Idol pretends to expose exploitation while reveling in it", [24] Variety critic Peter Debruge noted "The script seems calculated to fool audiences into thinking they're observing how Hollywood operates, when so much of it amounts to tawdry clichés" and that the series "plays like a sordid male fantasy". [25] The series premiered on Max on June 4, 2023. Noting that the season had been cut short by an episode without explanation, The Telegraph critic Ed Power expressed that the finale "had deepened the suspicion that, as far back as teen drama Euphoria, he was a voyeur without a soul". [26] HBO announced the show's cancellation after one season on August 28, 2023. [27]

Personal life

From 2008 to 2011, Levinson dated actress Ellen Barkin. [28] Levinson is married to Ashley Lent Levinson. The couple has a son. [4]

Levinson has discussed his struggles with drugs as a teenager and young adult. [29]

Filmography

Film

YearTitle
Director Writer Producer
2010 Operation: Endgame NoYesNo
2011 Another Happy Day YesYesNo
2018 Assassination Nation YesYesNo
2021 Malcolm & Marie YesYesYes
2022 Deep Water NoYesNo

Executive producer

Acting roles

YearTitleRole
1992 Toys War Room Player
2001 Bandits Billy Saunders
2008 What Just Happened Carl
2009 Stoic Peter Thompson

Television

YearTitle
DirectorWriterExecutive
Producer
CreatorNotes
2017 The Wizard of Lies NoYesNoNoTV movie
2019–present Euphoria YesYesYesYes18 episodes
2022 Irma Vep NoNoYesNoMiniseries
2023 The Idol YesYesYesYes5 episodes

Critical reception

YearTitle Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
Film
2010 Operation: Endgame 40%
2011 Another Happy Day 46%46%
2018 Assassination Nation 74%54%
2021 Malcolm & Marie 57%53%
2022 Deep Water 36%53%
Television
2019 Euphoria: Season 1 80%68%
2022 Euphoria: Season 2 80%74%
2023 The Idol 18%27%

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2011 Sundance Film Festival Waldo Salt Screenwriting AwardAnother Happy DayWon [30]
Grand Jury Prize: DramaticNominated
2018 Writers Guild of America Awards Television: Long Form – Adapted The Wizard of LiesNominated
Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness Assassination NationNominated
2020 British Academy Television Awards Best International Programme EuphoriaNominated
2022 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Nominated
2023 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Drama Series Won

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Keough</span> American actress (born 1989)

Danielle Riley Keough is an American actress. She made her feature film debut in a supporting part in the musical biopic The Runaways (2010), portraying Marie Currie. Keough subsequently starred in the independent thriller The Good Doctor (2011), before being cast in a minor role in Steven Soderbergh's comedy film Magic Mike (2012). She had her first big-budget release in the action feature Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walton Goggins</span> American actor (born 1971)

Walton Sanders Goggins Jr. is an American actor. He has starred in various television series, including The Shield (2002–2008), Justified (2010–2015), Vice Principals (2016–2017), The Righteous Gemstones (2019–present), Invincible (2021–present), and Fallout (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John David Washington</span> American actor and football player (born 1984)

John David Washington is an American actor and former professional football player. He is the son of actor Denzel Washington. He started his career in college football at Morehouse College and signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Professionally, Washington spent four years as a running back for the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colman Domingo</span> American actor (born 1969)

Colman Jason Domingo is an American actor. He is known for his roles on stage and screen, and has received various accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award and nominations for two Tony Awards, an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Another Happy Day</i> 2011 American black comedy-drama film

Another Happy Day is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Sam Levinson, in his feature directorial debut. The film stars an ensemble cast including Ellen Barkin, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church, Jeffrey DeMunn, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, George Kennedy, Ezra Miller, Demi Moore, Diana Scarwid and Daniel Yelsky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Seimetz</span> American actress, writer, director (active 2003-)

Amy Seimetz is an American actress and filmmaker. She has appeared in several productions, including AMC's The Killing, HBO's Family Tree, and films like Upstream Color, Alien: Covenant, Pet Sematary, and No Sudden Move.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Abbott</span> American actor (born 1986)

Christopher Jacob Abbott is an American actor known for his work in independent films. In 2011, Abbott made his feature film debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene and his Broadway debut in the revival of the play The House of Blue Leaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily-Rose Depp</span> French-American actress (born 1999)

Lily-Rose Melody Depp is a French-American actress. Born to actors Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, she began her acting career in film with a minor role in Tusk (2014) and pursued a career as a fashion model. Since 2015, she has been a brand ambassador for the French fashion house Chanel. She starred in the period dramas The Dancer (2016), Planetarium (2016) and The King (2019), and the romantic comedy A Faithful Man (2018). In 2023, she starred in the HBO television drama series The Idol and participated in its soundtrack, including the worldwide-charting song "One of the Girls".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storm Reid</span> American actress (born 2003)

Storm Reid is an Emmy award-winning American actress. After playing a small roles in the television film A Cross to Bear (2012), and the drama film 12 Years a Slave (2013), she earned recognition for starring roles in the superhero film Sleight (2016) and the fantasy film A Wrinkle in Time (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelvin Harrison Jr.</span> American actor

Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an American actor. He is the recipient of such accolades as a Screen Actors Guild Award and nominations for a British Academy Film Award, Gotham Award, an Independent Spirit Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Sweeney</span> American actress (born 1997)

Sydney Bernice Sweeney is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–present) and the first season of the anthology series The White Lotus (2021), which earned her nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Elordi</span> Australian actor (born 1997)

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. After moving to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue an acting career, he gained prominence with his role as Noah Flynn, the bad boy love interest in the The Kissing Booth film trilogy (2018–2021) on Netflix. He also became known for his main role as the troubled high school football player Nate Jacobs on the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–present).

Euphoria is an American teen drama television series created and principally written by Sam Levinson for HBO and based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin. The series stars Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith and Sydney Sweeney in main roles. The series follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a troubled teenage drug addict who struggles to get sober, find her place in the world, and adjust to her relationships after rehab. Though Rue is the central focus of the show, the beginning of most episodes provides backstories for the rest of the main characters.

<i>The Survivor</i> (2021 film) 2021 Canada-US biographical drama film

The Survivor is a 2021 biographical drama film, directed by Barry Levinson, from a screenplay by Justine Juel Gillmer. Ben Foster stars as Harry Haft, a real-life survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he boxed fellow inmates to survive. Vicky Krieps, Billy Magnussen, Peter Sarsgaard, John Leguizamo, and Danny DeVito co-star. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2021, and was released on HBO on April 27, 2022. The film received positive reviews from critics, particularly for Foster's lead performance. The film was Emmy nominated for Outstanding Television Movie.

<i>Malcolm & Marie</i> 2021 film by Sam Levinson

Malcolm & Marie is a 2021 American black-and-white romantic drama film written, co-produced and directed by Sam Levinson. The film stars Zendaya and John David Washington and follows a writer-director and his girlfriend whose relationship is tested on the night of his latest film's premiere when revelations about themselves surface. The project was the first Hollywood feature to be entirely written, financed, and produced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with filming taking place in secret in June and July 2020.

<i>Invasion</i> (2021 TV series) American science fiction television series

Invasion is an American science fiction television series created by Simon Kinberg and David Weil. It premiered on Apple TV+ on October 22, 2021. The series has received a mixed critical response, praising the acting, music and pacing, but criticizing the underuse of the aliens. It is shown in English, Japanese, Pashto language. In December 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 23, 2023. In February 2024, it was renewed for a third season.

The Idol is an American drama television series created by Sam Levinson, Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim. The series focuses on female pop idol Jocelyn and her complex relationship with Tedros (Tesfaye), a sleazy nightclub owner, self-help guru, and cult leader. Appearing in supporting roles are Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Rachel Sennott, Hari Nef, Moses Sumney, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Ramsey, and Hank Azaria.

Suzanna Son is an American film actress, musician and model known for the role of Strawberry in Red Rocket. She has been nominated for a Gotham Award and an Independent Spirit Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus Cloud</span> American actor (1998–2023)

Conor Angus Cloud Hickey was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Fezco in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–2022). He also had small roles in the independent films North Hollywood (2021) and The Line (2023), and appeared in music videos by Noah Cyrus, Juice Wrld, Becky G, and Karol G.

Kevin Turen was an American film and television producer. His film credits included the X film series (2022–present), Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021), The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), Pieces of a Woman (2020), and Arbitrage (2012). His television work included Euphoria and The Idol, on which he served as an executive producer.

References

  1. 1 2 Sragow, Michael (January 31, 2011). "Like father, like son: Sam Levinson wins at Sundance". The Baltimore Sun .
  2. Levinson, Barry (1990). Avalon ; Tin Men ; Diner: Three Screenplays. Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN   978-0-87113-435-6.
  3. "Barry Levinson: Baltimore, My Baltimore". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Sandberg, Bryn Elise (June 16, 2019). "'Euphoria' Creator on Boundary-Pushing HBO Drama: "We Didn't Want to Pull Any Punches"". The Hollywood Reporter .
  5. "Jack Levinson". IMDb. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. Holden, Stephen (November 17, 2011). "Sam Levinson's 'Another Happy Day' - Review". The New York Times .
  7. "Meet the 2011 Sundance Filmmakers: "Another Happy Day" Director Sam Levinson". IndieWire . January 14, 2011.
  8. Fienberg, Daniel (May 9, 2017). "'The Wizard of Lies': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  9. Crump, Andy (September 22, 2018). "How 'Assassination Nation' Exploits Privacy Fears". The Hollywood Reporter .
  10. Giles, Jeff (September 20, 2018). "The House with a Clock in Its Walls Ticks Along Tolerably". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  11. Felperin, Leslie (February 9, 2018). "Sundance 2018; 'Assassination Nation': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  12. Roxborough, Scott (March 13, 2018). "HBO Puts in Pilot Order for 'Euphoria,' Based on Israeli Format". The Hollywood Reporter .
  13. Goodman, Tim (June 5, 2019). "'Euphoria': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  14. Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 13, 2020). "Netflix Closes $30 Million Deal For 'Malcolm & Marie' Off Promo; Sam Levinson Lockdown-Shot Drama Stars Zendaya & John David Washington: Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  15. "'Malcolm & Marie' Is Lost, Just Like Its Central Coupl". NPR . Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  16. "Malcolm & Marie Isn't Art. It's a Meltdown". The Atlantic. February 5, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  17. Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 1, 2019). "New Regency Bringing Adrian Lyne Back To Directing With 'Deep Water;' Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas In Talks For Patricia Highsmith Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood . Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 23, 2020). "'Black Widow' Jumps To Summer 2021 Spurring Marvel Pics Release Date Shift; 'West Side Story' Delayed A Year; 'Soul' Stays Theatrical". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  19. Bradshaw, Peter (March 14, 2022). "Deep Water review – erotic thriller loves Ben Affleck's slack-jawed look". The Guardian. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  20. Galuppo, Mia (October 22, 2019). "Shia LaBeouf to Star in Drama 'Pieces of a Woman' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  21. White, Peter (June 29, 2021). "The Weeknd To Star In & Write Pop Singer Cult Drama Series 'The Idol' With Sam Levinson In The Works At HBO". Deadline. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  22. "How HBO's The Idol Became One of TV's Most Controversial Shows—Before It Even Aired". Time Magazine. March 2, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  23. "'The Idol' Is More Toxic and Way Worse Than You've Heard". Rolling Stone . May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  24. "Entertainment - Television - The Idol Pretends to Expose Exploitation While Reveling in It". Time . May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  25. "The Weeknd and Sam Levinson's 'The Idol,' Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Plays Like a Sordid Male Fantasy: TV Review". Variety . May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  26. Power, Ed (July 4, 2023). "The Idol finale, review: farewell to the worst TV show of the year". The Telegraph. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  27. Campione, Katie (August 28, 2023). "'The Idol' Canceled At HBO After One Season". Deadline. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  28. Dyball, Rennie (June 2, 2011). "Ellen Barkin Is Dating Sam Levinson". People .
  29. Chuba, Kirsten (June 5, 2019). "'Euphoria' Creator on Authentic Trans Portrayals, Mining "Deeply Personal" History to Tackle Teen Drug Abuse". The Hollywood Reporter .
  30. "Sam Levinson – Awards – IMDb". IMDb . Retrieved June 15, 2020.