The Oscar-winning LA Confidential director Curtis Hanson passed away at the age of 71.
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Paramedics found Hanson at his Hollywood Hills home at about 5 p.m. local time.
Hanson retired in recent years and was reported to be suffering from Alzheimer’s. A high school dropout, he was made editor of Cinema magazine by his uncle, who “revived” the magazine, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film starring Rebecca De Mornay as a revenge-seeking nanny became a major hit.
A onetime film journalist, Hanson began his Hollywood career as a screenwriter on a 1970 low-budget horror movie and made his debut as a director on “Sweet Kill”, a 1972 thriller that he wrote.
He continued his success by making movies like The River Wild, Wonder Boys, and finally, 8 Mile, which was quite a shift of scenery for Curtis Hanson.
HollywoodLifers, what’s your favorite Curtis Hanson film?
Hanson is best known for his screen adaptation of LA Confidential, based on James Ellroy’s novel with the same name.
With Kim Bassinger essaying the role of a femme fatale, along with Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito, LA Confidential was nominated for nine Oscars and won two; Best Supporting Actress for Kim Bassinger and Best Writing Adapted Screenplay for Hanson and Brian Helgeland.
Hanson also directed the cult favorite “Wonder Boys” (2000), with Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire, which was a bust in its theatrical release.
In a statement provided to Billboard, Eminem, who starred in 8 Mile, the film based on his life, said, “Curtis Hanson believed in me and our insane idea to make a rap battle movie set in Detroit”. “As a kid I read as much as I saw movies; you know, I love the great novelists and I love the great moviemakers”.
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FILE – In this May 1, 2007 file photo, director Curtis Hanson arrives for the world premiere of “Lucky You” at Manhattan Community College’s Tribeca Performing Arts Center during the Tribeca Film Festival in NY. The movie gained a lot of attention in the hip-hop community all over the world, solidifying Eminem as one of the best, if not the best rapper alive.
