Michael Ballhaus

Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus has worked with some of the world's finest directors, including Ranier Werner Fassbinder, Mike Nichols, and Martin Scorsese. He broke into films after renowned director and family relation Max Ophuls allowed him to observe the filming of Lola Montes (1955). Ballhaus began working for German New Wave director Fassbinder in 1970, and with him, he produced 15 films including The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979). In 1982, he immigrated to the United States; his first American film was John Sayles' Baby It's You (1982). Since then, Ballhaus has lensed films in every conceivable genre, receiving Oscar nominations for his work on Broadcast News (1987) and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). In 1993, he earned additional raves for his part in giving Scorsese's adaptation of The Age of Innocence its lush, opulent glow. Subsequently photographing such films as Outbreak (1995), Sleepers (1996) and The Legend of Beggar Vance (2000), Ballhaus would once again find himself Oscar nominated for his work on Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide