When Birdman got nominated for 9 Oscars in 2015, winning 3 for Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, it seemed like the Mexican director had come out of nowhere. He quickly followed this up a couple of years later with a win for The Revenant, yeah that film that finally gave Leo an Oscar! But long-time fans would know that this guy definitely did not come out of nowhere, as he’d been grafting for many years, building up to these amazingly crafted films. It’s pretty insane that he’s got 4 Oscars from a filmography with only 15 directing credits, with many of them being shorts. There’s no doubt that he knows how to tell a great story, has an amazing visual sense, and that he knows how to direct very raw, emotional human moments.
It’s safe to say that his ongoing collaboration with friend and colleague, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki has aided in his wins to date as the two make a mean combination. Without further ado, it’s time to appreciate this epic director with some cool facts about his life, followed by some of the most beautiful shots from his films. Enjoy!
- Iñárritu a DJ at the Mexican radio station WFM and later became the director.
- He is the first Mexican citizen to receive an Academy Award nomination as ‘Best Director’.
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu is the first Mexican director to win the ‘Best Director’ award (Prix de la mise en scene) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006
- All of his full-length feature films have received at least one Oscar nomination
- Iñárritu became the first person to win the DGA Award for Feature Film two years in a row, first for Birdman (2014) and then for The Revenant (2015)
- He is one of nine directors to have won the Golden Globe, Director’s Guild, BAFTA, and Oscar for the same film, achieving this feat for The Revenant (2015).
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu was thirty-seven years old when he directed his first feature film.
From Babel (2006)
Fun Fact: Brad Pitt gave up one of the starring roles in The Departed (2006) (a film he co-produced) in order to participate in this film, as he’s a longtime fan of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s films.
From The Revenant (2015)
Fun Fact: Leonardo DiCaprio was originally approached to star in Steve Jobs (2015) but dropped out to do this film instead.
From Birdman (2014)
Fun Fact: Birdman is the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture to have been shot entirely digitally. Prior to its win every past winner had been shot entirely or partially on film.
From 21 Grams (2003)
Fun Fact: At Sean Penn’s urging, Naomi Watts hit him for real during an emotionally charged scene between them.
From Biutiful (2010)
Fun Fact: Javier Bardem’s part in this film is the first time that a performance entirely in the Spanish Language has been nominated for an Academy Award Best Actor Oscar.
What’s your favourite Iñárritu film? Let me know! Also, if you have some cool facts about the fame director and his work, feel free to share these with me.
Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu celebrates his birthday today.
~Birdman~The Revenant~Babel~Biutiful pic.twitter.com/mUobk2xam2— Movies Maketh Man (@moviesmakethman) August 15, 2018
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