The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
11-18-10, 10:28 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Silver grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, the son of a writer and a public relations executive. He attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, where he is credited with inventing the sport of Ultimate Frisbee (now known as just "Ultimate"). In 1970, he entered Lafayette College, where he formed the first collegiate Ultimate team. He finished his undergraduate studies at the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Silver began his career at Lawrence Gordon Productions, where he ultimately ascended to president of motion pictures for the company. He earned his first screen credit as the associate producer on The Warriors and, with Gordon, produced 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire and Brewster's Millions. In 1985, he formed Silver Pictures and produced hit action films such as Commando (1985), the Lethal Weapon franchise, the first two films of the Die Hard and The Matrix franchise of action films.
He appears on-screen at the beginning of Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Raoul J. Raoul, the director of the animated short Something's Cookin.
Silver directed "Split Personality", (1992), an episode of the HBO horror anthology, Tales from the Crypt.
He currently runs two production companies, Silver Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment co-owned by Robert Zemeckis.
Silver began his career at Lawrence Gordon Productions, where he ultimately ascended to president of motion pictures for the company. He earned his first screen credit as the associate producer on The Warriors and, with Gordon, produced 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire and Brewster's Millions. In 1985, he formed Silver Pictures and produced hit action films such as Commando (1985), the Lethal Weapon franchise, the first two films of the Die Hard and The Matrix franchise of action films.
He appears on-screen at the beginning of Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Raoul J. Raoul, the director of the animated short Something's Cookin.
Silver directed "Split Personality", (1992), an episode of the HBO horror anthology, Tales from the Crypt.
He currently runs two production companies, Silver Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment co-owned by Robert Zemeckis.
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'70s
Max (1976) (producer)
The Warriors (1979) (associate producer)
'80s
Xanadu (1980) (co-producer)
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again (1982) (executive producer)
48 Hrs. (1982) (producer)
Streets of Fire (1984) (producer)
Brewster's Millions (1985) (producer)
Weird Science (1985) (producer)
Commando (1985) (producer)
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) (producer)
Lethal Weapon (1987) (producer)
Predator (1987) (producer)
Action Jackson (1988) (producer)
Die Hard (1988) (producer)
Road House (1989) (producer)
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) (producer)
'90s
Die Hard 2 (1990) (producer)
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) (producer)
Predator 2 (1990) (producer)
Hudson Hawk (1991) (producer)
Ricochet (1991) (producer)
The Last Boy Scout (1991) (producer)
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) (producer)
Demolition Man (1993) (producer)
Richie Rich (1994) (producer)
Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) (executive producer)
Assassins (1995) (producer)
Fair Game (1995) (producer)
Executive Decision (1996) (producer)
Bordello of Blood (1996) (producer)
Fathers' Day (1997) (producer)
Conspiracy Theory (1997) (producer)
Double Tap (1997) (producer)
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) (producer)
The Matrix (1999) (producer)
Made Men (1999) (producer)
House on Haunted Hill (1999) (producer)
2000s
Romeo Must Die (2000) (producer)
Dungeons & Dragons (2000) (producer)
Ritual (2001) (producer)
Exit Wounds (2001) (producer)
Proximity (2001) (producer)
Swordfish (2001) (producer)
Thirteen Ghosts (2001) (producer)
Ghost Ship (2002) (producer)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) (producer)
The Animatrix (2003) (producer)
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) (producer)
The Matrix Revolutions (2003) (producer)
Gothika (2003) (producer)
House of Wax (2005) (producer)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) (producer)
V for Vendetta (2005) (producer)
The Reaping (2007) (producer)
The Invasion (2007) (producer)
The Brave One (2007) (producer)
Fred Claus (2007) (producer)
Speed Racer (2008) (producer)
RocknRolla (2008) (producer)
The Hills Run Red (2009) (producer)
Orphan (2009) (producer)
Whiteout (2009) (producer)
Ninja Assassin (2009) (producer)
Sherlock Holmes (2009) (producer)
2010s
The Book of Eli (2010) (producer)
The Losers (2010) (producer)
The Factory (2011) (producer)
Unknown White Male (2011) (producer)
The Apparition (2011) (producer)
Sherlock Holmes 2 (2011) (producer)
In addition to the above films, Silver also served as an executive producer on a number of television shows, such as Action!, Veronica Mars, and Tales from the Crypt.
In my opinion, Silver is one of the most consistent producers of the past few decades. While there is little argument that Lethal Weapon, Die Hard and The Matrix can be considered classics, many of his other films from the late 80s and 90s are some of the best popcorn action flicks of that era. He has worked with some of the biggest names in action; Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Willis, Gibson, Russell, Seagal, Li. The man's films had a tremendous impact of me growing up, and I still enjoy many of them just as much as I did when I first saw them on cable or in the theatre.
How does everybody else feel about Joel Silver?
11-18-10, 10:47 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
/\ I agree, although their a few solid ones in there, and he was trying different things (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Speed Racer). For the most part, though, it looks as if much of his output for the past few years has been Dark Castle stuff.
11-18-10, 10:52 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Silver did produce some classic stuff but he's certainly produced more than his fair share of crap. He's also one of the biggest assholes in the movie business.
sad. RIP you beautiful producing bastard....oh wait.
11-19-10, 01:03 PM
#8
Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Originally Posted by JumpCutz
he's certainly produced more than his fair share of crap.
I'd say the majority of the films he produced.
He is though one of the big players in hollywood.
11-19-10, 02:09 PM
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Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Originally Posted by Lemmy
I see about a dozen films I like.
11-19-10, 02:15 PM
#10
Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Originally Posted by Lemmy
He has a huge body of known/recognizable work, but very little there that I actually enjoyed. I see about a dozen films I like (or liked), but few of them...very few...aren't "dated beyond watchability".
That's the problem with having a career based (almost entirely) on "popcorn flicks".
"Pocpcorn flicks" pretty much equals "bad or stupid movies that are entirely forgettable other than the $8 admission price". That's not to say there aren't some greats in his list, but they're few and far between.
That's the problem with having a career based (almost entirely) on "popcorn flicks".
"Pocpcorn flicks" pretty much equals "bad or stupid movies that are entirely forgettable other than the $8 admission price". That's not to say there aren't some greats in his list, but they're few and far between.
11-19-10, 02:35 PM
#11
Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Wasn't Saul Rubinek's character in TRUE ROMANCE based on Silver?
What I like about Silver is this: for a few years there, he was the only one crafting action movies for the urban minority youth audience. With films like ROMEO MUST DIE, EXIT WOUNDS and CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE, he was working out a formula for a mid-range genre that would play well to that audience and pull them into theaters. And that audience seemed relatively satisfied with the movies. As someone who grew up going to theaters with such an audience, I felt a certain obligation to support these movies, even when they were not very good (ROMEO). But I did enjoy EXIT WOUNDS and CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE on their own terms. I just wish he'd produced more movies along these lines.
What I like about Silver is this: for a few years there, he was the only one crafting action movies for the urban minority youth audience. With films like ROMEO MUST DIE, EXIT WOUNDS and CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE, he was working out a formula for a mid-range genre that would play well to that audience and pull them into theaters. And that audience seemed relatively satisfied with the movies. As someone who grew up going to theaters with such an audience, I felt a certain obligation to support these movies, even when they were not very good (ROMEO). But I did enjoy EXIT WOUNDS and CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE on their own terms. I just wish he'd produced more movies along these lines.
11-19-10, 10:38 PM
#12
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Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Originally Posted by JumpCutz
He's also one of the biggest assholes in the movie business.
11-20-10, 11:05 AM
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Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
Originally Posted by Mabuse
Do you realize what a stunning achievment that is? Name another producer who has produced 12 films you like. Sure the guy has duds on his resume, but there's so much prime stuff and enduring franchises.
11-20-10, 11:29 AM
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Re: The Official Joel Silver Appreciation Thread
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