Sam Mendes is an English director known for films like American Beauty, Skyfall, and Oliver!. His directing style varies depending on the medium, taking a darker approach in theater but focusing on character traits in film through subtle breaking of the fourth wall. American Beauty won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director for Mendes, focusing on a man's midlife crisis and its effects. Skyfall was praised for Mendes' "dazzling and audacious" portrayal of the 23rd James Bond film, with a more accomplished script than previous Bond films. Mendes also directed Jarhead, a war film based on a Marine's writings that explores themes of loyalty and morality through beautiful cinematography.

1. Sam Mendes
By
Spencer Johnston

2. Sam Mendes
• Sam Mendes is an English stage and film
director most famous for the movies American
Beauty, Skyfall and Oliver!
• He was born in 1965 and has been involved in
cinema since 1999.

3. Directing Style
• His style as a director is often described as being
very varied. When working in theatre he would
he was famous for his dark reinventions of often
light-hearted plays.
• In cinema he likes to focus on emphasizing the
personal traits of his characters and is known for
often subtly breaking down the fourth wall within
his movies and stage productions.
• His genre of movies usually revolve around
action, however he has made a number of
dramas.

4. American Beauty
• American Beauty focuses around a character called Lester Burnham,
whom has a mid-life crisis when he falls in love with his daughters best
friend.
• This acts as a catalyst for Lester to make many changes in his life and how
the changes affect those around him
• Many different themes are explored within the movie including romantic
and paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, self-liberation, and
redemption.
• American Beauty won 5 Oscars at the 72nd academy awards including Best
picture and Best Director for Sam Mendes.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJh5wdvdfVE

5. Skyfall
• Skyfall was the 23rd bond movie and the third in
which Daniel Craig starred as James Bond.
• It received generally very positives reviews from
critics and received two Oscars at the 85th
academy awards.
• Sam Mendes was praised for his ‘dazzling and
audacious’ portrayal of the movie.
• This movie is beautifully shot and has very
interesting dialogue. The script within this movie
was a lot more accomplished than any Bond
movie I had ever previously seen.

6. Jarhead
• Jarhead is a biographical war film based on the
writings of Marine Anthony Swofford.
• The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx.
• The movie explores key war themes such as
loyalty, stewardship as well as what is right and
what is wrong.
• I particularly liked this movie as it is beautiful
shot and it was extremely emotional and thought
provoking.

7. Why I chose Sam Mendes?