Biography
A native of England and Canada, Spottiswoode began his career as an editor. He came to America in the early '70's, where he worked with director Sam Peckinpah on "Straw Dogs," "The Getaway" starring Steven McQueen and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid". His other editing credits include "The Gambler" and "Hard Times".
Making the transition from the editing room to behind the camera, Spottiswoode wrote the 1982 film, "48 Hrs" starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy and made his directorial debut with "Terror Train," starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Since then he has directed films such as "The Best of Times," "Shoot to Kill," "Turner and Hooch," and "Air America." "The 6th Day" and the James Bond thriller, "Tomorrow Never Dies" "Ripley Under Ground," "The Children of Huang Shi."
His main focus continues to be on more political films, both theatrical and made for TV, which have collected numerous nominations and awards, including, "Under Fire," "And The Band Played On", "Hiroshima," "Noriega: God's Favorite" "Spinning Boris," "Shake Hands with the Devil." He is currently making a documentary on Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Justice centered on Rwanda, 9/11 and the Israel-Palestine conflict
Full Credits:
2008
THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI
Chinese/Australian/German co-production
Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell and Chow Yun Fat.
The true story of a young British journalist, George Hogg, who with the assistance of a courageous Australian nurse, saves a group of orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937.
Screenplay: Jane Hawksley and James MacManus.
"An inspiring tale of a man answering a call to greatness even if he doesn't fully understand why it's fallen to him. It's a welcome message in these dispiriting times."
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
2007
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL
Halifax Films/Barna Alpa Prods
Starring: Roy Dupuis, Owen Sejake and James Gallanders.
A film adaptation of the Romeo Dallaire award-winning autobiography Shake Hands with the Devil. The story centres on the personal journey of Dallaire through the 1994 Rwandan genocide and his request for more aid as it went ignored by the United Nations.
Barna-Alper Productions.
Screenplay: Michael Donovan.
Winner of the Jury Award at the Beverly Hills Film Festival 2008.
Winner of the Best Canadian Film and Audience Award at the Sudbury Cinefest 2007.
Nominated for Genie Best Achievement in Direction at Genie Awards 2008.
"Beautifully filmed, brutally frank, and forceful in its political message - in support of active peacekeeping - this is a powerful film that's not to be missed."
2005
RIPLEY UNDER GROUND
Infinity Media
Starring Barry Pepper, Jacinda Barrett and Willem Dafoe.
Based on the novel Ripley Under Ground by Patricia Highsmith: The story of a man who covers up the death of his friend and attempts to keep his name alive in order to exploit his legacy and reap millions.
Cinerenta.
Screenplay: W. Blake Herron and Donald E. Westlake.
2003
SPINNING BORIS
Showtime
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Anthony LaPaglia and Liev Schreiber.
Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.
Licht/Mueller Film Corporation.
Screenplay: Yuri Zeltser and Grace Cary Bickley.
Winner of Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Hamptons International Film Festival 2003.
Nominated for the WGA Award (TV) Long Form - Original at Writers Guild of America, USA 2005.
2003
ICE BOUND
Starring Susan Sarandon, Aidan Devine and Cynthia Mace. Based on the book Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole by Dr. Jerri Nielsen and Maryanne Vollers. The true story doctor, Jerri Nielsen, who successfully treated herself for breast cancer while marooned at a South Pole research station.
Jaffe/Braunstein Films and Miramax Television.
Teleplay: Peter Pruce and Maria Nation.
2002
THE MATTHEW SHEPARD STORY
CBS Starring Stockard Channing, Shane Meier, and Wendy Crewson.
Based on the true story of openly gay college student Matthew Shepard, killed in an act of senseless violence and cruelty, that attracted national attention.
Comic Entertainment.
Teleplay: John Wierick and Jacob Krueger.
Winner of Emmy Award 2002 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.
Winner of the Paul Selvin Honorary Award, Writers Guild of America, USA 2003.
Nominated for Outstanding Television Movie at GLAAD Media Award 2003.
2000
THE 6TH DAY
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Rapaport and Tony Goldwyn.
The story centres on a man who meets a clone of himself and falls into a grand conspiracy of clones taking over the world.
Phoenix Pictures.
Screenplay: Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley.
Nominated for Saturn Awards for Best Science Fiction Film and Best Special Effects at Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA 2001.
2000
NORIEGA: GOD'S FAVOURITE
Showtime
Starring Bob Hoskins, Jeffrey DeMunn and Rosa Blasi.
The story of Panamanian general Manuel Antonio 'Tony' Noriega, from utter poverty to a soldier and CIA informant.
Industry Entertainment and Regency Enterprises.
Teleplay: Lawrence Wright.
Nominated for ALMA Award 2001 for Outstanding Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series.
1997
TOMORROW NEVER DIES
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce and Michelle Yeoh.
James Bond heads to stop a media mogul's plan to induce war between China and the UK in order to obtain exclusive global media coverage.
Eon Productions and MGM.
Screenplay: Bruce Feirstein.
Nominated for Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film and winner for Best Actor at Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA 1998.
"Spottiswoode creates a fast and thrilling addition to the franchise."
- Andrew Collins, Empire.
"Brisker, darker and snappier than GoldenEye...Spottiswoode has pulled out all the stops."
- Total Film
1997
MURDER LIVE!
Starring Marg Helgenberger, David Morse and Christine Estabrook.
A man takes a woman hostage on live television, threatening to execute her after she accepts the blame for his daughter's suicide.
NBC Studios and Von Zerneck Sertner Films.
Teleplay: Chris Bertolet.
1997
PRINCE STREET
Starring Gina Clayton, Dana Eskelson, and Mariska Hargitay.
The show centres on the NYPD Intelligence Division whose officers live double lives comprising of their secret headquarters at Prince Street, undercover in the criminal underworld, and as themselves in their home life.
National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
Writers: Michael Harbert and Robert Nathan.
1995
HIROSHIMA
Showtime
Starring Kenneth Welsh, Timothy West and Wesley Addy.
Based on the story of the grisly events that led to the first-ever attack with a nuclear weapon.
Pioneer Entertainment and Alpha Media.
Teleplay: Toshirô Ishido.
Winner of Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series at the Gemini Awards 1998.
Winner of the Humanitas Prize 1996 for PBS/Cable Category.
Winner of Best TV Movie or Dramatic Mini-Series at the Gemini Awards 1998. Nominated for Outstanding Miniseries at the Emmy Awards 1996.
1994
MESMER
Starring Alan Rickman.
The story of the eighteenth century Viennese physician, Franz Anton Mesmer, who used unorthodox healing practices based on his theory of 'animal magnetism.'
Accent Entertainment Corporation.
Screenplay: Dennis Potter.
Winner of Best Actor at Montréal World Film Festival 1994.
1993
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
Starring Matthew Modine, Alan Alda and Ian McKellen.
Based on the book And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic (1980-1985) about the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.
HBO
Teleplay: Arnold Schulman.
Winner of the Special Grand Prize of the Jury at Montréal World Film Festival 1993.
Winner of Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special at the Emmy Awards 1994.
Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials Directors Guild of America, USA 1994.
Winner of Outstanding Made for Television Movie at the Emmy Awards 1994.
Winner of Humanitas Prize 1994 for Prize PBS/Cable Category.
1990
AIR AMERICA
Starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr.
Based on the novel Air America by Christopher Robbins. The story is based around a young pilot who finds himself recruited into a covert and corrupt CIA airlift organization operating in Vietnam War Era Laos.
Carolco Pictures and IndieProd Company Productions
Screenplay: John Eskow and Richard Rush.
1989
TURNER AND HOOCH
Starring Tom Hanks.
The story of a detective who reluctantly adopts the dog of a dead man to help him find the murderer.
Touchstone Pictures and Silver Screen Partners IV.
Screenplay: Dennis Shryack, Michael Blodgett, Daniel Petrie Jr., Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.
Winner of ASCAP Film and Television Music Award 1990 for Top Box Office Films.
1989
THIRD DEGREE BURN
Starring Treat Williams and Virginia Madsen.
The story of a private investigator that begins an affair with the woman he's investigating and subsequently becomes the prime suspect for her husband's murder.
HBO
Screenplay: Duncan Gibbins and Yale Udoff.
1989
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE ALIVE
Television Documentary.
Starring Paul Linke.
In a gripping one-man show. Paul Linke recounts, in no small detail the highs and lows of his marriage.
HBO FILMS
1988
SHOOT TO KILL
Starring Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger and Kirstie Alley.
The story centres on an FBI agent on the trail of an extortionist through the forests of Northern America, and soon finds he's out of his depth.
Century Park Pictures.
Screenplay: Harv Zimmel, Michael Burton and Daniel Petrie Jr.
1987
THE LAST INNOCENT MAN
Starring Ed Harris and David Suchet.
Based on the novel The Last Innocent Man by Phillip M. Margolin. The story of a criminal defence attorney who is seduced by a beautiful woman and reluctantly takes on the defence of her estranged husband.
HBO
Teleplay: Dan Bronson.
1986
THE BEST OF TIMES
Starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell.
The story centres on a loser who is determined to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game.
Kings Road Entertainment and Cinema Group Ventures.
Screenplay: Ron Shelton.
1983
UNDER FIRE
Starring Nick Nolte, Ed Harris and Gene Hackman.
The story centres on three journalists in a romantic triangle of political intrigue during the last days of the corrupt Somozoa regime in Nicaragua before it falls to a popular revolution in 1979.
Lion Gates Films.
Screenplay: Clayton Frohman and Ron Shelton.
Nominated for Best Music, Original Score at the Academy Awards, USA, 1984.
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award for Best Editing, 1985.
Nominated for Golden Globe USA for Best Original Score - Motion Picture and Best
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, 1984.
"An exceptional political thriller."
- Tom Hutchinson, Radio Times
1982
THE RENEGADES
Starring Patrick Swayze.
A drama centring on undercover investigators who are recruited from the streets to prevent arms smugglers from getting their weapons to street gangs.
Lawrence Gordon Productions and Paramount Television.
Teleplay: Steven E. de Souza and Rick Husky.
1981
THE PURSUIT OF D.B. COOPER
Starring Robert Duvall and Treat Williams.
Based on the novel Free Fall by J.D. Read; a story of speculation on the fate of the famous hijacker, who parachuted with his ransom and disappeared in the mountains.
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.
Screenplay: Jeffrey Alan Fiskin.
Winner of Special Jury Prize at Cognac Festival du Film Policier, 1982.
1980
TERROR TRAIN
Starring Ben Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis.
A masked killer targets six college kids responsible for a prank gone wrong years earlier and whom are currently throwing a large New Year's Eve costume party aboard a moving train.
Astral Bellevue Pathé and Sandy Howard Productions.
Screenplay: T.Y. Drake.
Nominated for the Saturn Awards for Best Actress and Best International Film at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA, 1981.
View all Film and TV clients