Barry Sonnenfeld

American film director and cinematographerTemplate:SHORTDESC:American film director and cinematographer

**Barry Sonnenfeld** (born April 1, 1953) is an American filmmaker and television director. He originally worked as a cinematographer for the Coen brothers before directing films such as *The Addams Family* (1991) and its sequel *Addams Family Values* (1993), *Get Shorty* (1995), the *Men in Black* trilogy (1997–2012), and *Wild Wild West* (1999).

## Early life

Sonnenfeld was born and raised in New York City, the son of Irene "Kelly" (Kellerman), an art teacher, and Sonny Sonnenfeld, a lighting salesman, educator, and architectural lighting designer. He was raised in a Jewish family. After he received his bachelor's degree from Hampshire College, he graduated from New York University Film School in 1978.

## Career

He began working on pornographic films before starting work as director of photography on the Oscar-nominated *In Our Water* (1982). Then Joel Coen and Ethan Coen hired him for *Blood Simple* (1984). This film began his collaboration with the Coen brothers, who used him for their next two pictures, *Raising Arizona* (1987) and *Miller's Crossing* (1990). He also worked with Danny DeVito on *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987) and Rob Reiner on *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989) and *Misery* (1990).

Sonnenfeld gained his first work as a director from Paramount Pictures on *The Addams Family*, a box-office success released in November 1991. Its sequel, *Addams Family Values* (1993), was not as successful at the box office, but he received critical acclaim for his fourth directorial outing, *Get Shorty* (1995). Produced by Jersey Films and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the film won a Golden Globe for John Travolta (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical). The film was also entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival. Following Tim Burton and the Coen brothers, Sonnenfeld's films would tell stories about unusual and unorthodox people who are into the unexpected and the strange. His films would often use his trademark filmmaking techniques such as his unusual camera angles, offbeat dialogue and, in certain films, strange behavior and weird creatures.

In 1996, Steven Spielberg asked him to direct *Men in Black* (1997). Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the film was a critical and financial smash. In 1998, Jon Peters asked him to direct *Wild Wild West* (1999). Starring Smith and Kevin Kline, the film was a critical and financial flop. He also directed the comedy *Big Trouble* (2002), after which he made his most successful film sequel to that point, *Men in Black II* (2002). He is also a contributing editor for *Esquire*. He also co-produced (alongside his partner Barry Josephson) the 2007 film *Enchanted* for Walt Disney Pictures that starred Amy Adams. In 2008, Sonnenfeld earned an Emmy for directing *Pushing Daisies*. Sonnenfeld returned for *Men in Black 3*; released in 2012, the third installment received positive reviews and became the highest-grossing film in the series worldwide. In 2007, his Right Coast production company has been signed with Sony.

His memoir, *Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker*, was published by Hachette Books in 2020.

## Personal life

Sonnenfeld lives in Telluride, Colorado with his wife Susan and their daughter Chloe and have permanent resident status in Canada.

In 1999, he was unhurt in a plane crash at Van Nuys Airport, when his business jet veered off the runway upon landing, crashing into five parked planes.

## Filmography

### Film

* *The Crew* (2000)
* *The Ladykillers* (2004)
* *Enchanted* (2007)
* *Space Chimps* (2008)
* *Disenchanted* (2022)
* *Out of Sight* (1998)
* *Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events* (2004)
* *Men in Black: International* (2019)

### Television

**As executive producer**

 2000
 2016

**As producer**

* *Karen Sisco* (2004) (1 episode)

#### As cinematographer

 1984
 1985
 1986
 *Welcome Home, Bobby* | TV movie

## Future projects

He is working on new projects, among them include *Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30*: a single-camera comedy from executive producer/director Sonnenfeld, the Tannenbaum Company and Sony Pictures Television. The project mostly is based on the personal experiences of *Esquire* writer David Katz and *Esquire* editor at large A. J. Jacobs. The show is about a man working at a men's magazine who is reluctant to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion journalist. Al Higgins (*Malcolm in the Middle*) is set to serve as showrunner/head writer if the project is picked up.

He has become attached to a movie adaptation of *The Spellman Files* by Lisa Lutz, about a family of private investigators. Sonnenfeld will direct the movie adaptation of the fantasy novel *Gil's All Fright Diner* in partnership with DreamWorks Animation. He is also developing a sitcom for ABC, *Funny in Farsi*, based on the book of the same name.

In 2012, it was stated that he was appointed to direct *Lore*, an adaptation based on the comic by T.P. Louise and Ashley Wood of the same name. But, in 2013, Indie director Dave Green has signed on to replace Barry Sonnenfeld as director, Sonnenfeld will take part as executive producer on the project.

Barry is also in talks with Warner Bros. to make a live action film adaptation of the DC Comics characters, The Metal Men. Sonnenfeld also agreed to direct the *Beverly Hills Cop* pilot for CBS and serve as an executive producer as well. However, Paramount Pictures dropped the idea in favor of a fourth film directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

## References

1. ↑ Barry Sonnenfeld Biography (1953-). Filmreference.com.
2. ↑ Coakley, Jacob. In Memoriam: Sonny Sonnenfeld, 1919-2016 - PLSN.
3. ↑ Paid Notice: Deaths SONNENFELD, IRENE *KELLY.*. *The New York Times* (9 March 2000).
4. ↑ TCM Barry Sonnenfeld Biography. Tcm.com.
5. ↑ 'I guess I'm a whore, a masochist and a whore'. *The Guardian*. 12 August 1999.
6. ↑ Berlinale: 1996 Programme. *berlinale.de*.
7. ↑ 'Men in Black 3' Ready to Roll in 3-D With Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
8. ↑ Schneider, Michael (2007-06-14). Sony, Sonnenfeld pact for TV (en).
9. ↑ Kolberg, Brad (May 9, 2020). Call Your Mother: Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld Looks Back With Humor In New Memoir. *Wisconsin Public Radio*.
10. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fox, Sue (February 27, 1999). "Film Director Says Jet Crew Fled After Crash". *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
11. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Andreeva, Nellie (November 24, 2008). "It's a man's world at CBS". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008.
12. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Fleming, Michael (April 1, 2009). "Sonnenfeld takes 'Spellman Files'". *Variety*.
13. ↑ Barry Sonnenfeld to Direct Gil's All Fright Diner for DreamWorks.
14. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Sonnenfeld takes helm of "Farsi" comedy pilot". *Reuters*. November 30, 2009.
15. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin. Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct Supernatural 'Lore' With Dwayne Johnson | IndieWire (en).
16. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Barry Sonnenfeld in Talks to Direct 'Lore' for Warner Bros". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
17. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>"Director Dave Green Replaces Barry Sonnenfeld in Lore". 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
18. ↑ Exclusive: Barry Sonnenfeld's Secret Comic-Book Movie Is (June 2012).
19. ↑ DC Entertainment Chief Reveals What's Next for Superman, Wonder Woman and 5 Superheroes Who Deserve Movies (Q&A). *The Hollywood Reporter* (July 17, 2013).
20. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 8, 2013). Barry Sonnenfeld To Direct CBS' 'Beverly Hills Cop' Pilot.

## External links

* Barry Sonnenfeld at IMDb
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