John Woo
John Woo Yu-sen (Chinese: 吳宇森; born 1 May 1946) is a Hong Kong filmmaker, known as a highly influential figure in the action film genre. The recipient of various accolades, including a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing, as well as a Golden Horse Award, an Asia Pacific Screen Award and a Saturn Award, he is regarded as a pioneer of heroic bloodshed films and the gun fu genre in Hong Kong action cinema. He is known for his highly chaotic "bullet ballet" action
Defining films
In their own words
I was extremely impressed by the way he handled the battles. I learnt a lot from those films. I would say that it had a profound influence on me to create a battle scene that had more humanity, not just bloodshed.
I like those American Western movies, and I also watched some French new wave movies. My favorite director is Jean-Pierre Melville. He makes films like Le Samouraï, Bob le Flambeur. So I learned a lot from him. And also I love Japanese movies, Akira Kurosawa movies. So that's why I created this style, like in The Killer, Hard Boiled.
I love Sergio Leone and Jean-Pierre Melville's style, the characterization, the way they built up the tension, the quiet moments that turn into a storm. That's what I learned from them.
My favorite director is Jean-Pierre Melville. He makes films like Le Samouraï, Bob le Flambeur. So I learned a lot from him. And also I love Japanese movies, Akira Kurosawa movies. So that's why I created this style, like in The Killer, Hard Boiled.
Critical context
While several filmmakers have become synonymous with specific genres, few have carved out as inimitable and identifiable a niche within that genre as John Woo and the action film. Yet this association, as prominent and distinguished as it is, discounts the other films Woo helmed throughout his decades-long, ongoing career. Moreover, Woo has himself resisted this narrow view of his cinematic field, stating he does not “feel comfortable” when people label him “an action director.” Still, he adds,…
Films by decade
