Martin Brest is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He has worked on films such as Smell of a Woman, Meet Joe Black, Catch Before Midnight, Beverly Hills Cop, and Nice to Leave. For his work, Martin has been nominated for prestigious film awards more than once.
Biography
Martin Brest was born on August 8, 1951 in New York. He was educated at Stuyvesant High School. Brest graduated from high school in 1969. After that, Martin studied at the School of the Arts, New York University. In 1977, Brest received a Master's degree in Fine Arts.
Career
Martin's career as a screenwriter and director began in 1972. He directed the short film Sandwiches for Gauguin. Brest invited Danny DeVito, William Duff-Griffin and Ri Perlman to play the main roles. He also starred in his first film. The picture tells how an unlucky photographer, dreaming of fame, came up with the idea of blowing up the Statue of Liberty and capturing the moment of its fall on camera. The main character wanted to declare himself in this way. The operator of the film was Jacques Atkin, and Martin did the editing himself.
Along with Dave Wilson, Don Roy King and Beth McCarthy-Miller, Martin has directed the popular American television show Saturday Night Live, which has been running since 1975. This show stars Don Pardo, Lenny Pickett, Darrell Hammond, Kenan Thompson, Seth Myers, Fred Armisen, G. I. Smith, Bobby Moynahan, Tim Meadows and Kevin Nealon, as well as many other stars of American film and television.
Creation
In 1977 Martin directed the comedy Hot Tomorrows. For the leading roles, he invited such actors as Ken Lerner, Ray Sharkey, Herve Vileshes, Victor Argo, George Memmoli and Donne Daniels. Brest's next work is the crime drama To Leave Nicely, starring George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg, Charles Hallahan and Pamela Payton-Wright. Edward Cannon helped Martin write the script. The film tells about the life of 3 retirees in New York.
After 5 years, he directed the crime comedy Beverly Hills Cop. The film stars Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronnie Cox and Stephen Birkoff. The script for the film was written by Daniel Petrie Jr., Danilo Bach. This action movie has received several nominations, such as the British Academy Award for Best Soundtrack, Oscar for Best Screenplay and Golden Globe for Best Comedy.
In 1988, Martin became the director of the crime adventure thriller Catch Before Midnight, written by George Gallo. This action movie stars Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Japhet Cotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina and Joe Pantollano. The film tells the story of a former police officer engaged in a private investigation, namely, the capture of fugitive criminals. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Actor.
The next 2 works of Brest were especially successful. In 1992, Martin directed the drama Scent of a Woman opposite Alem Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn and Gabrielle Anwar. The script was written by Bo Goldman, Ruggiero Makkari, Dino Risi. The film is about a blind retired intelligence colonel. The film was nominated for the British Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Smell of a Woman won an Oscar for Best Actor, Golden Globe for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Screenplay.
In 1998, Burst directed the melodrama Meet Joe Black. This fantasy features Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani and Jake Weber. The picture tells how death itself interferes in the life of an influential newspaper magnate in a human form. The film was nominated for Saturn Awards for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Music.
