Barry Sonnenfeld

Barry Sonnenfeld (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He originally worked as a cinematographer for the Coen brothers before directing films such as The Addams Family (1991) and its sequel Addams Family Values (1993) alongside the Men in Black trilogy (1997–2012), Wild Wild West (1999) and Get Shorty (1995). Sonnenfeld has collaborated with actor and singer Will Smith four times.

Barry Sonnenfeld
Sonnenfeld in October 2012.
Born (1953-04-01) April 1, 1953
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationFilm director, producer and cinematographer
Years active1978—present
Spouse(s)
Susan L. Ringo
(
m. 1989)
ChildrenChloe Sonnenfeld (b. 1993)

Early life

Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City, the son of Irene "Kelly" (Kellerman), an art teacher, and Sonny Sonnenfeld, a lighting salesman, educator, and architectural lighting designer.[1][2][3] He was raised in a Jewish family.[4] After he received his bachelor's degree from Hampshire College, he graduated from New York University Film School in 1978.

Career

He began working on pornographic films[5] before starting work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated In Our Water (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for Blood Simple (1984). This film began his collaboration with the Coen brothers, who used him for their next two pictures, Raising Arizona (1987) and Miller's Crossing (1990). He also worked with Danny DeVito on Throw Momma from the Train (1987) and Rob Reiner on When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and Misery (1990).

Sonnenfeld gained his first work as a director from Paramount Pictures on The Addams Family, a box-office success released in November 1991. Its sequel, Addams Family Values (1993), was not as successful at the box office, but he received critical acclaim for his fourth directorial outing, Get Shorty (1995). Produced by Jersey Films and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the film won a Golden Globe for John Travolta (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical). The film was also entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.[6] Following Tim Burton and the Coen brothers, Sonnenfeld's films would tell stories about unusual and unorthodox people who are into the unexpected and the strange. His films would often use his trademark filmmaking techniques such as his unusual camera angles, offbeat dialogue and, in certain films, strange behavior and weird creatures.

In 1996, Steven Spielberg asked him to direct Men in Black (1997). Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the film was a critical and financial smash. In 1998, Jon Peters asked him to direct Wild Wild West (1999). Starring Smith and Kevin Kline, the film was a critical and financial flop. He also directed the comedy Big Trouble (2002), after which he made his most successful film sequel to that point, Men in Black II (2002). He is also a contributing editor for Esquire. He also co-produced (alongside his partner Barry Josephson) the 2007 film Enchanted for Walt Disney Pictures that starred Amy Adams. In 2008, Sonnenfeld earned an Emmy for directing Pushing Daisies. Sonnenfeld returned for Men in Black 3;[7] released in 2012, the third installment received positive reviews and became the highest-grossing film in the series worldwide.

Personal life

Sonnenfeld lives in Telluride, Colorado with his wife Susan and their daughter Chloe and have permanent resident status in Canada.

In 1999, he was unhurt in a plane crash at Van Nuys Airport, when his business jet veered off the runway upon landing, crashing into five parked planes.[8]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Director Producer Notes
1991 The Addams Family Yes No
1993 Addams Family Values Yes No
For Love or Money Yes No
1995 Get Shorty Yes executive
1997 Men in Black Yes No Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Director
1999 Wild Wild West Yes Yes Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
2002 Big Trouble Yes Yes
Men in Black II Yes No
2006 RV Yes No
2012 Men in Black 3 Yes No
2016 Nine Lives Yes No

As producer
Year Film Director Notes
1998 Out of Sight Steven Soderbergh Executive producer
2000 The Crew Michael Dinner
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Brad Silberling Executive producer
The Ladykillers Coen brothers
2007 Enchanted Kevin Lima
2008 Space Chimps Kirk DeMicco
2019 Men in Black: International F. Gary Gray Executive producer

As cinematographer
Year Title Director Notes
1982 In Our Water Meg Switzgable Documentary;
With Robert Chappell
1984 Blood Simple Joel Coen
1985 Compromising Positions Frank Perry
1987 Raising Arizona Joel Coen
Three O'Clock High Phil Joanou
Throw Momma from the Train Danny DeVito
1988 Big Penny Marshall
1989 When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner
1990 Miller's Crossing Joel Coen
Misery Rob Reiner

As actor
Year Title Role
1991 The Addams Family Passenger on Gomez's train (uncredited)
1993 Addams Family Values Mr. Glicker
1997 Men in Black Alien on Monitor
2002 Men in Black II Neuralyzed Father
2006 RV Irv
2012 Men in Black 3 Husband Watching Launch
2016 Nine Lives Additional cat voices

Television
Year Title Director Producer Notes
1998 Maximum Bob Yes executive Directed "Pilot"
2001–2002 The Tick Yes executive Directed "Pilot"
2004 Karen Sisco No Yes 1 episode
2008 Hackett Yes No TV film
Notes from the Underbelly Yes executive Directed 6 episodes
Play or Be Played Yes executive TV film
Suburban Shootout Yes No
2009 Pushing Daisies Yes executive Directed 2 episodes;
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
The Bridget Show Yes No TV film
2010 Funny in Farsi Yes No Unaired TV pilot
2013 Beverly Hills Cop Yes No Unaired TV pilot
2014 Dead Boss Yes No TV film
2017–2019 A Series of Unfortunate Events Yes executive Directed 10 episodes;
Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program

As executive producer
Year Title Notes
1999 Fantasy Island 13 episodes
Partners TV film
2000 Secret Agent Man 12 episodes
2016 Independent Lens TV series documentary;
Film An Honest Liar
2017 The Tick 12 episodes

As cinematographer
Year Title Notes
1983 How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days TV film
1984 ABC Afterschool Specials 1 episode
1985 Doubletake TV miniseries;
2 episodes
1986 Classified Love TV film
Welcome Home, Bobby TV film

As actor
Year Title Role Notes
2001 The Tick Guy in Couch, Cab Driver (uncredited) Episode: "Pilot"
2017 A Series of Unfortunate Events Mr. Tammerlane (voice)
Isaac "Ike" Anwhistle		 2 episodes
Episode: "The Carnivorous Carnival" Pt. 1

Future projects

He is working on new projects, among them include Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30: a single-camera comedy from executive producer/director Sonnenfeld, the Tannenbaum Company and Sony Pictures Television. The project mostly is based on the personal experiences of Esquire writer David Katz and Esquire editor at large A. J. Jacobs. The show is about a man working at a men's magazine who is reluctant to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion journalist. Al Higgins (Malcolm in the Middle) is set to serve as showrunner/head writer if the project is picked up.[9]

He has become attached to a movie adaptation of The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, about a family of private investigators.[10] Sonnenfeld will direct the movie adaptation of the fantasy novel Gil's All Fright Diner in partnership with DreamWorks Animation.[11] He is also developing a sitcom for ABC, Funny in Farsi, based on the book of the same name.[12]

In 2012, it was stated that he was appointed to direct Lore, an adaptation based on the comic by T.P. Louise and Ashley Wood of the same name.[13][14] But, in 2013, Indie director Dave Green has signed on to replace Barry Sonnenfeld as director, Sonnenfeld will take part as executive producer on the project.[15]

Barry is also in talks with Warner Bros. to make a live action film adaptation of the DC Comics characters, The Metal Men.[16][17] Sonnenfeld also agreed to direct the Beverly Hills Cop pilot for CBS and serve as an executive producer as well.[18] However, Paramount Pictures dropped the idea in favor of a fourth film directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

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References
  1. "Barry Sonnenfeld Biography (1953-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  2. Coakley, Jacob. "In Memoriam: Sonny Sonnenfeld, 1919-2016 - PLSN".
  3. "Paid Notice: Deaths SONNENFELD, IRENE KELLY.". The New York Times. 9 March 2000.
  4. "TCM Barry Sonnenfeld Biography". Tcm.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  5. 'I guess I'm a whore, a masochist and a whore'. The Guardian. 12 August 1999.
  6. "Berlinale: 1996 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  7. "'Men in Black 3' Ready to Roll in 3-D With Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones".
  8. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-27-me-12275-story.html
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (November 24, 2008). "It's a man's world at CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008.
  10. Fleming, Michael (April 1, 2009). "Sonnenfeld takes 'Spellman Files'". Variety.
  11. "Barry Sonnenfeld to Direct Gil's All Fright Diner for DreamWorks".
  12. "Sonnenfeld takes helm of "Farsi" comedy pilot". Reuters. November 30, 2009.
  13. Jagernauth, Kevin. "Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct Supernatural 'Lore' With Dwayne Johnson | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  14. "Barry Sonnenfeld in Talks to Direct 'Lore' for Warner Bros". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  15. "Director Dave Green Replaces Barry Sonnenfeld in Lore". 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  16. "Exclusive: Barry Sonnenfeld's Secret Comic-Book Movie Is". Vulture. June 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  17. "DC Entertainment Chief Reveals What's Next for Superman, Wonder Woman and 5 Superheroes Who Deserve Movies (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  18. Andreeva, Nellie (February 8, 2013). "Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct CBS' 'Beverly Hills Cop' Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 31, 2019.


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