Damien Chazelle is one of the most original and exciting filmmakers working today. Born in Rhode Island and a graduate of Harvard, Chazelle has earned widespread acclaim for his filmmaking prowess. While his filmography is relatively small, Chazelle has quickly made a name for himself, thanks to his incredible movies, amazing filmmaking techniques, and a multitude of awards.
Chazelle has been directly involved in movies for years, whether it be producing, writing, or directing. While he is obviously known for his directing, Chazelle’s screenplays demonstrate his ability to craft compelling stories and are well worth reading. But, like every filmmaker, not everything Chazelle has done has been a home run.
The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) – 15%
Perhaps the most bizarre and unexpected movie that Damien Chazelle has been involved in is The Last Exorcism Part II. Released in March 2013, this movie served as the direct sequel to The Last Exorcism, which grossed $67 million at the worldwide box office. It once again stars Ashley Bell as Nell Margaret Sweetzer, who is tormented by a demonic entity.
Chazelle co-wrote the movie, alongside director Ed Gass-Donnelly. While the movie was a box office success ($25 million on a $5 million budget), it received condemnation from most critics. It currently stands at just 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus stating, “The Last Exorcism Part II ditches the found footage format for relatively earnest but deadly tedious psychological terror that devolves into hokum anyways.”
Grand Piano (2013) – 79%
That same year saw the release of an English-language Spanish film called Grand Piano. Premiering at Fantastic Fest, Grand Piano stars Elijah Wood and John Cusack. Wood plays an up-and-coming pianist named Tom Selznick who is tormented by Cusack’s Clem. Clem is a professional sniper who takes aim at Tom during a concert performance and promises to kill him if he plays a single wrong note.
The movie was solely written by Chazelle – as should be obvious with its music-centric storyline, which remains one of Chazelle’s signature calling cards. Spanish filmmaker Eugenio Mira served as director and the movie sits at 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “Grand Piano is so tense in its best moments — and appealingly strange overall — that it remains rewarding in spite of its flaws.”
First Man (2018) – 87%
Chazelle’s first major directorial effort to not focus on music, First Man serves as a tragic and touching biopic of Neil Armstrong. The story primarily focuses on the years leading up to the famous Apollo 11 mission/moon landing and focuses more on character and drama than blockbuster space sequences.
However, that’s not to say they aren’t there. They are, and they’re extraordinary. Based on Armstrong’s biography First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, First Man received praise from critics. It sits at 87%, with the consensus reading, “First Man uses a personal focus to fuel a look back at a pivotal moment in human history – and takes audiences on a soaring dramatic journey along the way.”
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) – 90%
10 Cloverfield Lane serves as a direct sequel to the found-footage monster movie, Cloverfield, although it couldn’t be more different from its predecessor. While the first was a straightforward monster movie, this is an intimate character drama that takes place in an enclosed bunker and focuses primarily on issues of paranoia and mistrust.
Chazelle co-wrote the movie’s screenplay, alongside Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken. It sits at 90%, with the consensus reading, “Smart, solidly crafted, and palpably tense, 10 Cloverfield Lane makes the most of its confined setting and outstanding cast — and suggests a new frontier for franchise filmmaking.”
Guy And Madeline On A Park Bench (2009) – 91%
Serving as Damien Chazelle’s debut, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009 to wide acclaim. Serving as a black and white romantic musical, the movie contains many aspects and traits that would later embody Chazelle’s more popular works.
These include live jazz performances, choreographed dance sequences, a romantic storyline, the involvement of composer Justin Hurwitz, and a nostalgic throwback to classic Hollywood musicals of old. It’s pure Damien Chazelle, only with a limited budget. The movie enjoyed strong reviews, amassing a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and the consensus, “Bursting with scrappy energy and shot with preternatural skill, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench is an auspicious debut for director Damien Chazelle.”
La La Land (2016) – 91%
Perhaps Chazelle made First Man after La La Land because La La Land encompassed everything he set out to accomplish in terms of musical filmmaking. Serving as the natural culmination of years’ worth of musical filmmaking, La La Land was made for $30 million and starred enormous Hollywood stars, like Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
Like most of his previous work, La La Land was a love letter to old Hollywood, musicals, music, jazz, and the mere art of performance. It also received enormous praise, winning six Academy Awards and garnering a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus reads, “La La Land breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.”
Whiplash (2014) – 94%
The movie that made Damien Chazelle a star, Whiplash was released in the fall of 2014 to incredible acclaim. Following the tumultuous and violent relationship between an aspiring jazz drummer and his temperamental teacher, Whiplash took home three Academy Awards – including Best Supporting Actor for the incredible J.K. Simmons, who would later cameo in La La Land.
It grossed $50 million on a $3 million budget and wowed nearly every single critic who looked upon it. The movie sits at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it Chazelle’s highest-rated film, with the consensus reading, “Intense, inspiring, and well-acted, Whiplash is a brilliant sophomore effort from director Damien Chazelle and a riveting vehicle for stars J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller.”
