Demme, Jonathan

Demme, Jonathan

(Robert Jonathan Demme) (dĕm`ē), 1944–2017, American filmmaker, b. Baldwin, N.Y. Demme, known for eclectic subjects and social satire, made feature films, documentaries, and concert films. After working as a publicist, he began directing in the 1970s. Among his early films were Handle with Care (1977), Melvin and Howard (1980), Swing Shift (1984), Something Wild (1986), a road trip film that emphasizes his wide-ranging interest in music, and Married to the Mob (1988). The Silence of the Lambs (1991), a breakout hit that won five Academy Awards including best picture and best director, is a lurid thriller featuring a brilliant but cannibalistic psychiatrist. Philadelphia (1993) was one of the first films to address the AIDS epidemic, and Beloved (1988), adapted from Toni MorrisonMorrison, Toni,
1931–, American writer, b. Lorain, Ohio, as Chloe Ardelia (later Anthony) Wofford; grad. Howard Univ. (B.A., 1953), Cornell (M.F.A., 1955). Her fiction is noted for its poetic language, lush detail, emotional intensity, and sensitive observation of American
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's novel, deals with the long-term effects of slavery. The Truth about Charlie (2002) is a thriller based on the 1963 film Charade, and his Manchurian Candidate (2004) is also a remake. Rachel Getting Married (2008) deals with family entanglements during a weekend wedding. Demme made documentaries about Jimmy Carter and the singer Neil Young, among others; Stop Making Sense (1984) is a Talking Heads concert film.