Luc Besson is a French film director, producer, and screenwriter who was born in Paris on March 18, 1959.Besson had intended on having a career as a marine biologist but he was unable to dive following a diving accident when he was 17. Instead, he took odd jobs in the film industry so he could decide if a career in film was for him. He then worked as an assistant director in France before moving to the United States to further his career. He has a distinctive directing style that is associated with a movement referred to as the Cinema du look. In addition to his directing work, he also has his own production company which he founded in 1980. It was originally called Les Films du Loup but was later called Les Films du Dauphin. During his career, he has created more than 50 films and here is five of his best.
1. Léon: The Professional
Besson won César Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for this 1994 thriller film. The film is about a professional hitman who takes on a young girl as his protégée and she learns the hitman trade. Besson both wrote and directed this movie which stars Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, and Danny Aiello.
2. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
This French epic historical drama was written and directed by Luc Besson and produced by Patrice Ledoux. It tells the story of Joan of Arc; a French religious martyr, and war heroine. The movie starred Milla Jovovich, Faye Dunaway, John Malkovich, and Dustin Hoffman. It was a critical and financial success and Besson won César Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
3. Lucy
‘Lucy’ is a 2014 thriller that was written and directed by Luc Besson. It starred Scarlett Johansson, Choi Min-Silk, Morgan Freeman, and Amr Waked. This film was shot in many locations, including New York City, Paris, and Taipei. Critical reviews of the movie praised the themes of the movie, its visuals and the performance of Johansson. ‘Lucy’ grossed $463 million at the box office.
4. The Fifth Element
This 1997 science-fiction action movie starred Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman. This futuristic film is set in the 23rd century and is about the survival of planet Earth. In addition to directing the movie, Luc Besson also co-wrote this movie.He actually started writing the story for this movie when he was just 16 years of age. ‘The Fifth Element’ was nominated for 24 awards, of which it won six. The movie was premiered at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.
5. The Big Blue
The Big Blue is a 1988 movie based on the true story of two champion divers. However, the story is heavily fictionalized and dramatized. It covers their childhoods in 1960s Greece through to their deaths in a Sicilian diving competition during the 1980s. Bessen not only directed this movie but also co-wrote the movie. It starred Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, and Paul Shenar.
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