With style to burn, this young writer-director made his feature debut in the flashy if ultimately empty gang drama, "The Young Americans" (1993). Featuring a strong cast that included Harvey Kietel and Viggo Mortensen, the film boasted a strong visual sensibility that got bogged down by a weak script. American producers were so impressed with the young director that they offered him the chance to make the $70 million actioner "Judge Dredd" (1995). This was a true labor of love for the young filmmaker. A fan of the English comic book since its 1977 inception, Cannon was moved to send a mock up of a film poster for "Dredd" to the comic's publisher in 1987 with his proposed dream cast and crew. He realized his dream--in modified form--with Sylvester Stallone as his hero. Cannon remained loyal to his source material, even framing shots so that they resembled the style of a comic. He also retained the original's high quotient of violence and dark humor.
Significant Others
-
Companion: Diane Lane. met during filming of Judge Dredd (1995); formerly married to actor Christopher Lambert; together from c. 1994 to c. 1996
Education
-
National Film and Television School, London, England
Milestones
-
1984 Began making films at age 16 (date approximate)
-
1986 Directed over one dozen shorts and videos by the age of 18 (date approximate)
-
1987 Awarded the BBC Young Filmmaker of the Year award for the 40 minute short Sometimes
-
1988 Enrolled in the National Film and Television school at the suggestion of English director Alan Parker
-
1993 Feature film debut, as director and screenwriter, The Young Americans
-
1995 First Hollywood film, Judge Dredd
-
1998 Directed the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
-
2000 Directed and produced for the various CSI television series
-
2006 Directed the British soccer film, Goal! The Dream Begins
-
Directed the film Play Dead while at film school; picked up by the BBC for broadcast (date approximate)