We’ve selected 10 essential films by filmmaker Curtis Hanson for you to know. The options below bring some of the director’s beautiful filmography, with outstanding films mainly in the thriller genre.
10 – The Bedroom Window (1987)
Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia sees a girl being attacked from her lover Terry’s bedroom window. The assailant flees and his victim is saved. But that same night another girl is found murdered.
9 – Lucky You (2007)
A professional poker player whose astounding luck at the table fails to translate into his lonesome love life attempts to win the World Series of Poker while simultaneously earning the affections of a beautiful Las Vegas singer.
8 – Chasing Mavericks (2012)
Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks. A hidden gem in the 2000’s.
7 – Bad Influence (1990)
Wimpy young executive, Michael is about to get pulverised by a jealous boyfriend in a bar when a handsome, mysterious stranger steps in—and then disappears. Later that night, Michael runs into a stranger on a pier, who wheedles his way into Michael’s life and turns it upside down.
6 – In Her Shoes (2005)
Irresponsible party girl, Maggie is kicked out of her father’s and stepmother’s home—where she lives for free—and is taken in by her hard-working sister, Philadelphia lawyer, Rose. After Maggie’s disruptive ways ruin her sister’s love life, Rose turns her out as well. But when their grandmother, who they never knew existed, comes into their lives, the sisters face some complicated truths about themselves and their family.
5 – The River Wild (1994)
While on a family vacation, rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.
4 – 8 Mile (2002)
The setting is Detroit in 1995. The city is divided by 8 Mile, a road that splits the town in half along racial lines. A young white rapper, Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith Jr. summons strength within himself to cross over these arbitrary boundaries to fulfill his dream of success in hip hop. With his pal Future and the three one third in place, all he has to do is not choke.
3 – Wonder Boys (2000)
Grady is a 50-ish English professor who hasn’t had a thing published in years—not since he wrote his award winning ‘Great American Novel’ 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another in the company of a new wonder boy author.
2 – L.A. Confidential (1997)
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
1 – The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992)
A suburban family chooses seemingly sweet Peyton Flanders as their newborn’s nanny. Only much later does the infant’s mother, Claire Bartel, realize Peyton’s true intentions – to destroy Claire and replace her in the family. The nail-biting suspense builds quickly in this chilling psychological thriller about deception and bitter revenge.