Casey Chong presents thrilling directorial debuts of the 1990s…
Like every decade, the 1990s saw a numbers of filmmakers emerging with critically acclaimed directorial debuts, some of whom would go on to enjoy long and successful careers, while others would find themselves struggling to live up to their debut. Here, we zero in on first-time directors from Danny Boyle to Christopher Nolan and the Wachowskis, all of whom got their starts making great thrillers in the 1990s…
Danny Boyle – Shallow Grave (1994)
Danny Boyle deftly combined crime thriller and pitch-black humor in Shallow Grave, showcasing his assured direction as a first-time filmmaker back in 1994. The story centers on three flatmates played by Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor, who discover a dead roommate and a suitcase full of money. Their decision to keep the money ultimately put them to a litmus test of how far their friendship is gradually overwhelmed by the greed, betrayal and lack of trust.
All three actors display great performances, notably then-unknown McGregor in his breakout role as the brash Alex Law. Boyle’s cynical viewpoint on the familiar phrase that money is the root of all evil is darkly comic and even disturbing, particularly the flatmates’ heinous decision of dismembering the body, despite the scene itself is being primarily shown off-screen. The director would go on to hit a major breakthrough in his 1996 sophomore follow-up, Trainspotting, before subsequently helming Slumdog Millionaire a few years later to multiple Oscar glory.
Paul Thomas Anderson – Hard Eight (1996)
Before Paul Thomas Anderson established himself as one of the great filmmakers of his generation with notable career-defining movies like Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood, he already proved his directorial prowess in his 1996 debut, Hard Eight. Blending neo-noir elements with the crime-thriller tropes, Anderson’s direction favors a deliberate slow-burn narrative that is more character-driven and atmospheric.
The story focuses on a veteran gambler (Philip Baker Hall, in his perfectly stoic lead performance), who mentors an impoverished stranger (John C. Reilly) on how to hustle and make money at the casino. The methodical storytelling, along with solid acting from all around, including Samuel L. Jackson as the volatile Jimmy and Philip Seymour Hoffman in his small but memorable turn as the cocky craps player, demonstrates Anderson’s confidence in bringing everything together like the work of a seasoned pro.
David Koepp – The Trigger Effect (1996)
David Koepp is more prolific as a screenwriter responsible for some of the major Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible and Spider-Man, but he also ventured into directing features, beginning with his 1996 debut in The Trigger Effect. Koepp, who also wrote the screenplay, imagines what it’s like if a power outage can trigger a chain of events from a hassle to a deadly consequence. This leads to the story of how a young married couple, Annie (Elisabeth Shue) and Matthew (Kyle MacLachlan), along with their friend, Joe (Dermot Mulroney), deal with conflicts and violence.
Tension is heavily grounded in everyday situations, notably how desperation and misunderstanding amidst the pressure-cooker scenario can affect a person. Koepp brings out the best in his actors and even gets a significant boost from Michael Rooker, who steals the show in the second half of the movie as a stranger looking for a ride.
Nicholas Kazan – Dream Lover (1993)
The familiar “too good to be true” phrase hits hard in Nicholas Kazan’s (son of the legendary Elia Kazan) debut, underlining a cautionary tale about a recently divorced architect (James Spader, in his typical yuppie role), who falls in love at first sight with the seemingly perfect woman (a stunning Madchen Amick), only to find himself deceived by her throughout their time together.
Kazan blends erotic romance with noirish elements of deception, gaslighting and the dark side of love to mostly absorbing results. Amick’s femme fatale turn as the manipulative Lena steals most of the show here in Dream Lover, where she successfully embodies her character’s seductive charm and sneaky demeanor. The movie was released in two versions, including the theatrical cut and the unrated cut, with the latter containing extra footage of explicit sex and an elaborate ending. Nicholas Kazan’s only other work as a director was helming an episode of 1989’s The Edge anthology series. He is more active in writing screenplays such as At Close Range, Reversal of Fortune and Fallen.
SEE ALSO: 10 Great Forgotten 90s Thrillers You Need To See
Gregory Hoblit – Primal Fear (1996)
Primal Fear is notable for being the acting debut of Edward Norton, whose role as the altar boy accused of brutally murdering an archbishop landed him an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. It was a memorable performance that showcases his subtle acting prowess, particularly the way he manipulates his two-face act as Aaron Stampler and Roy stemming from his dissociative identity disorder. Directed by Gregory Hoblit, also marking in his first feature, he demonstrates assurance and restraint in blending a tense courtroom thriller with psychological undertones.
The movie also features Richard Gere, perfectly cast as an arrogant defense attorney who believes that Aaron is innocent. Part of what makes Primal Fear an intriguing experience isn’t just the nuanced acting and the taut pacing, but also how the act of guilt and deception is used to exploit the legal system from the inside out, particularly the engrossing third-act twist. Primal Fear was a big hit at the box office, grossing over $100 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, establishing Hoblit’s career, who would go on to direct movies like Fallen and Frequency.
Christopher Nolan – Following (1998)
With a budget of just $6,000, then-newcomer Christopher Nolan already laid a groundwork of utilizing labyrinthine storytelling and non-linear structure in his promising 1998 debut, Following. The movie, which was shot in black and white, follows an obsessed young man’s (Jeremy Theobald) peculiar routine of following selective strangers for his writing purposes. His action is eventually caught in the act by a burglar, who calls himself Cobb (Alex Haw). The latter soon lures him into the world of burglary, and how the young man’s friendship with Cobb leads to a web of deception.
The movie may have been clocked in at a shorter-than-usual 70 minutes, a far cry from the epic runtime typically associated with Nolan’s later works, but he manages to keep things interesting throughout the movie. The intricate plot is still rough around the edges, but it’s hard to deny the early directorial brilliance from Christopher Nolan in mixing neo-noir crime thriller elements with themes of identity, perception, time and memory, which will become his recurring subjects in his future movies.
The Wachowskis – Bound (1996)
The Wachowskis got their early start writing a screenplay for Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas-starred Assassins, before they made their directing debuts in Bound. The story is notable for subverting its expectations on the character archetypes commonly seen in the neo-noir genre in favor of a queer couple, played by Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. They play Corky and Violet, who orchestrate a plan to steal the mob money.
The Wachowskis incorporate elements of trust, betrayal and power dynamics with a dash of erotic elements within their stylish direction. The movie’s feminist-heavy approach gives the otherwise familiar neo-noir tropes a distinctly fresh update, establishing the directing duo’s skills in combining different genres and visual compositions. Bound garnered attention from film festivals, with several accolades under its belt, while The Wachowskis would later establish themselves with The Matrix trilogy.
SEE ALSO: Guilty Pleasure 90s Thrillers So Bad They’re Actually Good
How many of these directorial debuts have you seen? Let us know your thoughts on the films, and any other recommendations for this list, over on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Casey Chong
