Andrew Niccol

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BIRTHDAY

January 01, 1964

Paraparaumu, New Zealand

RECENT CREDITS

Lord of War (FILM) Sep. 16, 2005

The Terminal (FILM) Jun. 18, 2004

S1M0NE (FILM) Aug. 23, 2002

The Truman Show (FILM) Jun. 5, 1998

Gattaca (FILM) Oct. 24, 1997

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BIOGRAPHY

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New Zealand-born screenwriter-director Andrew Niccol began his career in London, successfully directing TV commercials before moving to Los Angeles in order to make films "longer than 60 seconds." He interested high-powered producer Scott Rudin in his "The Truman Show" (1998) script, but Rudin was not willing to gamble on a rookie director, particularly when Jim Carrey came aboard, swelling the budget to about $60 million. Peter Weir helmed instead, bringing a complementary vision which lightened the material somewhat, and the clever satire, which followed a cheerful insurance man (Carrey) as he slowly realizes that all the people in his life are just actors in a TV show, opened to critical raves. Since the deal for "Truman" came together slowly, Niccol actually made his screenwriting and directing debut with "Gattaca" (1997), a superb, well-acted sci-fi movie that raised issues of genetic engineering in a totalitarian environment, focusing on Vincent (Ethan Hawke), an genetically imperfect man who assumes the identity of a crippled superior (Jude Law) willing to sell his DNA. Niccol added a murder mystery and a romance (with Uma Thurman) to the mix and created a believable futuristic society that was undermined by a slightly muddled conclusion. On the heels of his success, he negotiated a two-year production deal with DreamWorks SKG to write, direct and produce projects under the banner of Niccol Productions.

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Headlines

Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon sharing a kiss while waiting for their car outside of Katsuya Restaurant. Brentwood, CA - 05-25-08

Gyllenhaal, Jones Crack 'Source Code'

Nov. 9, 2009

Philippe Rousselet's Vendome Pictures will team with Mark Gordon on the sci-fi thriller 'Source Code,' a star vehicle for Jake Gyllenhaal, the trades report.

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Box Office Analysis: Aug.25

Posted: Aug. 23, 2002

By the Numbers: Aug. 23

Posted: Aug. 22, 2002

ROLE CALL: Al Pacino to Emote (Some More)

Posted: May. 22, 2000

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