Sam Mendes is a British screenwriter, producer, and film, television, and stage director. One of his recent successes is the Academy Award-winning feature film, 1917 (2019). He's also known for the last two James Bond films, Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), as well as the 2000 Oscar-winning Best Picture, American Beauty.
He's also directed some quality films that haven't been as successful at the box office, but his unique style almost always results in an enjoyable viewing experience for audiences, as well as a complex and layered presentation of character-centric stories.
Spectre (6.8)
Spectre is the last James Bond film to have been released, in 2015. Fans will have to wait six years since this last film for the next installment, No Time To Die, which has been further delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Spectre, Bond receives an ominous message from M left for him after her death, warning him about a mysterious organization called Spectre. The film opens with Bond carrying out an unauthorized mission to stop a terrorist bombing at the Day of the Dead carnival in Mexico City.
Away We Go (7.0)
Sam Mendes is the director of this star-studded comedy. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph play a couple who are expecting their first child together. In order to find the perfect home for their new family, they travel around, meeting new people, and accepting advice from relatives and friends.
Other cast members include Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeff Daniels. Though a little slow-moving at first, the story reaches a very satisfying climax that will leave a lingering impact on viewers.
Jarhead (7.0)
Jarhead is the first of three films in a series, though the subsequent films - in which Sam Mendes is not involved - were not as successful. Here, Mendes teams up with cinematographer Roger Deakins, with whom he collaborates in 1917.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a U.S. sniper named Anthony Swofford. He narrates his experiences with his friend Alan Troy during the harsh times of "Operation Desert Storm" in Kuwait and Iraq.
Things We Lost In The Fire (7.2)
Mendes is one of the producers behind Things We Lost In The Fire, a 2007 drama starring Halle Berry, Benicio del Toro, and David Duchovny. This emotional film picks up when a widow invites a friend of her deceased husband to live with her and her children.
The arrangement proves to have mutual benefits - he helps the family members through their grief, while they help him with his addiction. This film dives right into the depths of grief and delivers a mature and emotional message.
Revolutionary Road (7.3)
Revolutionary Road saw the long-awaited onscreen reunion of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Mendes directed the film while he was married to Winslet. Interestingly, the film is about a married couple, Frank and April, whose life seems idyllic, at first.
The pair live in suburban Connecticut with their two children. Early in their relationship, April had dreams of becoming an actress, which Frank supported. But over time, their marriage crumbles. Thematically, the film is very similar to American Beauty.
The Kite Runner (7.6)
The Kite Runner is a 2007 film based on the eponymous novel by Afghan-American author, Khaled Hosseini. The story tells of Amir's travels from California back to his home country of Afghanistan, where he must rescue the son of his childhood friend.
Sam Mendes is an executive producer on the film. Though not as well known as some of his other work, the film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Music (Original Score) category.
Road To Perdition (7.7)
Mendes is the director of Road To Perdition, another star-studded film whose cast includes Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Tyler Hoechlin, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Stanley Tucci. Newman was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.
The story is about a professional assassin who is put in a difficult situation when his son witnesses a murder committed by his boss. Now, he is torn between remaining loyal to his boss and protecting his son.
Skyfall (7.7)
Skyfall broke records upon its premiere. Widely considered to be one of the best - if not the best - James Bond films in the franchise, the film banked over a billion dollars at the box office.
The story deals with Bond's character and past, as well as his relationship with M (Judi Dench). After a former M16 agent steals top secret information from the institute, Bond must face his past, while rescuing M from his enemy's planned vendetta.
American Beauty (8.3)
A controversial film, American Beauty is a suburban drama - literally. Set in the suburbs of America, Lester seems to be leading the perfect life, but he's starting to get bored and depressed.
This leads him to pursue a wildly inappropriate relationship with his daughter's friend, Angela. The movie is satirical and humorous while landing a very palpable emotional punch. For this reason, it won Best Picture at the Oscars, as well as Best Cinematography and several other awards, including Best Director for Mendes.
1917 (8.3)
Finally, with a rating of 8.3 out of 10, is Sam Mendes's epic World War I film, 1917. Two British soldiers - Schofield (George Mackay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) - must embark on a mission to save 1,600 men from walking into an ambush. One of these men is Blake's brother (Richard Madden).
To warn the troops, Blake and Schofield must cross enemy territory before dawn the next day. The real intrigue of the film comes from how intimately it allows viewers to get to know the characters while telling the audience so little about their backgrounds. What makes the movie even more memorable is the stunning cinematography and the illusion of being shot in a single continuous take.