Throughout a cinematic career which has spanned across five decades, covering everything from historical epics to romantic comedies,Edward Zwickhas cemented himself as one of the most versatile and underrated filmmakers currently working in Hollywood. After making his directorial debut with the 1986 rom-comAbout Last Night…(which ranked 12th on IMDb’s list), Zwick’s following four movies included two war dramas, a feminist road-trip dramedy, and a sweeping Western epic, thus highlighting his flexibility as a filmmaker.
While Zwick has never been nominated for an Academy Award for his film direction,his 15 films thus far have earned a total of four Oscars from 18 nominations, while Zwick himself has won for his production efforts onShakespeare in Love. The evaluation of his pictures in the eyes of IMDb users provides an interesting analysis of his sprawling and impressive filmography.
10’Leaving Normal' (1992)
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Despite receiving mostly negative reviews from critics upon release,Leaving Normalhas come to be viewed as a bittersweet treat asa female-focused road trip dramedywith poignant punch and solid characters. It focuses on a waitress with a bleak past who decides to drive to Alaska to come to terms with her history and, on the way, befriends an impulsive young woman fleeing an abusive relationship.
Many critics who berated the film took aim at its wafting story which lacked urgency, but glossed over the exceptional character work that permeates throughout the movie with its two captivating core characters. With Zwick’s deft direction, the film has come to be better accepted in retrospect asa unique, feminine road film which juggles comedy and drama with great skill and delicate touch.
9’Courage Under Fire' (1996)
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
The total opposite toLeaving Normal, Zwick’s 1996 military dramaCourage Under Firewas one of the best reviewed movies of its summer but struggled to make an immediate impact with audiences. The film follows a U.S. Army Officer as he examines a female helicopter commander’s worthiness for the Medal of Honor, an investigation which sees him struggle with his own deadly past mistake which was covered up.
Meticulous in its structuring and progression,Zwick exhibits a care and precision for the story and the development of its characterswhich stood the film in good stead as it mixed warmth, intelligence, and an intriguing commentary on concepts of heroism.A powerhouse lead performance fromDenzel Washingtonand a typically breathtaking display from cinematographerRoger Deakins,Courage Under Firewas a resounding success in visual storytelling.
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8’Love & Other Drugs' (2010)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
An amalgamation of adult humor, romantic drama, and contemporary satire aimed at pharmaceutical companies,Love & Other Drugsjuggled plenty of ideas while operating as a relatively familiar rom-com. Set in the 1990s, it follows a womanizing medicine salesman who sparks a sexual relationship with a free-spirited woman, but her being a Parkinson’s patient forces him to make a decision between his work and making a serious commitment to someone.
Jake GyllenhaalandAnne Hathawayboth shine in their starring roles, and give the film a charm and charisma which allows its rom-com formula to function as a serviceable platform for its loftier ideas and ambitious sex appeal. While not a masterpiece by any standard,the end result was a fresh and ferocious picture which saw Zwick in fineform as director, co-writer, and co-producer.
Love & Other Drugs
Rent on Amazon Prime
7’Pawn Sacrifice' (2014)
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Edward Zwick has sometimes been prone to stylistic flourishes, butPawn Sacrificeproved to be a work of impressive restraint from the director. A biographical drama, it focuses on the 1972 World Chess Championship as AmericanBobby Fischer(Tobey Maguire) readies himself to play Soviet GrandmasterBoris Spassky(Liev Schreiber) in a captivating strategic contest sure to have political repercussions around a world in the thralls of the Cold War.
The film hinges on Maguire’s performance, one of surprising sensitivity, as he portrayeda paranoid and demanding celebrity figure who would later become known for his political troublesas well as his extreme views and erratic behavior. While some chess aficionados took issue with the film’s accuracy, the general public responded well to it as an engrossing thriller laced with plenty of historical and political intrigue.
Pawn Sacrifice
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6’Trial by Fire' (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
A 2018 release,Trial by Firestands as Zwick’s most recent film and as one of his most powerful. Based onDavid Grann’s article of the same name which ran inThe New Yorker, the biographical crime drama focuses onCameron Willingham(Jack O’Connell), an auto mechanic with a criminal record who is sentenced to death for the horrific murder of his three children, with playwrightElizabeth Gilbert(Laura Dern) his only ally as she looks into discrepancies in the case while Willingham sits on death row proclaiming his innocence.
Wielding prevalent injustice as a powerful emotional catalyst, the film hits hard to bea rousing and, at times, rage-inducing critique of the justice system. While some did hold its heavy-handed and somewhat manipulative approach against it, the film finds a heartfelt core in O’Connell and Dern’s powerhouse performances, which center around their characters' shared anxieties and heartache about parenthood.
trial by fire
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5’Defiance' (2008)
Focusing on an unbelievabletrue story of survival during World War II,Defiancemixed technically excellent film-making with its fascinating source material to be a gripping war drama. Set in 1941 as the Nazis murder European Jews en masse, the Bielski brothers manage to escape into the Naliboki forest where, while plotting revenge for their killed loved ones,they find other survivors and become leaders of a community as the legend of their resistance grows.
The movie treads a purposefully careful line on the heroism it bestows upon its lead characters, with Zus (Liev Schreiber) a volatile bull with a desire for Nazi blood while Tuvia (Daniel Craig) is as ruthless as he is calculating and desperate as the community’s leader. While it received mixed reviews upon release and struggled financially,Defiance’s respectable IMDb score is a testament to its historical intrigue and its immersive tone and presentation.
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4’Legends of the Fall' (1994)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
A sweeping dramatic epic which was pivotal in makingBrad Pitta Hollywood star,Legends of the Fallused its awe-inspiring setting and its weighted story to entertain audiences. Based onJim Harrison’s novella of the same name, the Western centers on two surviving brothers from the First World War who, upon returning home to their father in rural Montana, both fall in love with their dead brother’s fiancé, which stirs a rivalry which threatens to dismantle the family.
Perfectly cast and gorgeously shot,the film uses all of its resources to ensure the mounting, melodramatic intensity delivers devastating blowswhich rise and fall across the 134-minute runtime. While Pitt andAnthony Hopkinswere snubbed at the Oscars,Legends of the Fallreceived three nominations in total and won Best Cinematography.
Legends of the Fall
Legends of the Fall is a drama film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Aidan Quinn. Set in the early 20th century, the movie follows the lives of the Ludlow family, focusing on the complex relationships between three brothers and their father against the backdrop of dramatic historical events. The film explores themes of love, betrayal, and the impacts of war on family dynamics.
Watch on Netflix
3’The Last Samurai' (2003)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Despite his underrated standing in modern Hollywood, Edward Zwick’s enduring legacy may prove to be his mastery of thrilling and thought-provoking epics, with 2003’sThe Last Samuraia highlight of his career in this regard.Set in the 1870s, the historical epicfollows an American solider hired by the Japanese government to train the military in modern combat to eradicate the last of the Samurai, but the military advisor finds himself conflicted when he is taken prisoner by the samurai and starts to learn their values.
The intriguing culture clash of a modernized Japan and the ancient way of the samurai isbeautifully brought to the screen with incredible production design, stunning imagery, and a rousing epic story to boot. In addition to being just the second film Zwick directed, wrote, and produced,The Last Samuraialso went on to receive four Oscar nominations and was met with critical praise in Japan, even more so than in America.
The Last Samurai
An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.
Rent on Apple TV+
2’Glory' (1989)
Undoubtedly the film which established Edward Zwick as a bona fide Hollywood director,Glorywas just his second picture, which made the Civil War epic an even more impressive feat of filmmaking which, in the eyes of many, stands as Zwick’s best picture. Based on the exploits of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, it focuses onRobert Gould Shaw(Matthew Broderick) as he takes command of one of the Union Army’s first African-American regiments.
Its inspiring story has achieved an enduring brilliance withits powerful humanity, its spectacular cinematography, and itsstern dedication to historical accuracy. The end result is one ofthe greatest movies about the American Civil Warever made, withGlorygoing on to win three Oscars from five nominations, includingDenzel Washingtonreceiving his first ever Academy Award for his portrayal of Trip, a defiant ex-slave who becomes a leader within the regiment.
1’Blood Diamond' (2006)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
A profound achievement,Blood Diamondis the perfect example of Edward Zwick operating at his very best, with the film using a sturdy yet formulaic story structure as a launchpad toexplore a socially significant issue with technical perfection and commanding performances. Set in civil war-ravaged Sergio Leone in 1999, it follows a Zimbabwean mercenary and an enslaved Mende fisherman forced to harvest diamonds who work together, with help from an American journalist, to find a rare gem that could change their lives.
BothLeonardo DiCaprioandDjimon Hounsouwere astounding in their starring roles, withboth actors recognized at the Academy Awardsamong five nominations the film received. The violence on display throughout the movie is unforgettably striking as well, refusing to shirk away from the atrocities committed during the conflict in a manner which is both confronting and commendable. As such,Blood Diamondis a worthy selection as the greatest movie of Zwick’s career thus far.
