Jan De Bont: Biography

Dutch cameraman Jan de Bont built his career out of crafting the look of stylish action pieces and slick adventures; in the process, he became associated with some of the most profitable movies in Hollywood. He went to film school in Amsterdam during the '60s, making several shorts and documentaries. He shot Wat Zien Ik? in 1971 for director Paul Verhoeven (also from The Netherlands) and the two continued working together over the next two decades until Basic Instinct in 1992. In the early '80s, de Bont built his extensive cinematography resumé with horror movies (Cujo), dramas (I'm Dancing As Fast As I Can), and teen movies (All the Right Moves). He eventually developed a quick style that incorporated handheld cameras and constant movement. Perhaps the most prolific period of his career was in the mid-'80s, when he directed the photography for such large-scale adventures as Jewel of the Nile and The Clan of the Cave Bear. He then shot the flashy comedy Ruthless People before he made himself known for his work with the 1988 action classic Die Hard. It appeared as if de Bont's style was setting the standards for the look of action sagas, and he stayed with the genre with The Hunt for Red October and Lethal Weapon 3; but he also managed thrillers such as Flatliners and Shining Through. Making his directorial debut in 1994 with Speed, he maintained his flashy visual style but proved he could handle characters, as well. After directing the action-packed, but less-successful, Twister and Speed 2: Cruise Control, he moved on to producing with SLC Punk and The Haunting (which he also directed). The filmmaker continued producing with the sci-fi action flicks Minority Report and Equilibrium before returning to the director's chair for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life in 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide