Robert Richardson | |
|---|---|
 Richardson in 2019 | |
| Born | Robert Bridge Richardson (1955-08-27)August 27, 1955 (age 70) Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | AFI Conservatory |
| Alma mater | AFI and RISD |
| Years active | 1981–present |
Robert Bridge Richardson,ASC (born August 27, 1955) is an American cinematographer.[1]
Having collaborated with prestigious filmmakers likeOliver Stone,Martin Scorsese andQuentin Tarantino, he's known for his trademark aggressively bright highlight and for exploring a variety of visual styles, both with film and digital cameras.
He is one of three living people who has won theAcademy Award for Best Cinematography three times,[2] sharing the position withVittorio Storaro andEmmanuel Lubezki.
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Richardson was born inHyannis, Massachusetts. He graduated from theRhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Film/Animation/Video and received his MFA fromAFI Conservatory.
Richardson's work began as a camera operator and 2nd unit photographer on such features asAlex Cox'sRepo Man, Dorian Walker'sMaking the Grade andWes Craven'sA Nightmare on Elm Street (all in 1984). At the same time he also served ascinematographer on TV documentaries and docudramas such asAmerica, America forThe Disney Channel,God's Peace for theBBC andPBS'The Front Line: El Salvador. His television work and documentary-style filmmaking led to his meetingOliver Stone, who hired him to "shoot"Salvador (1986).
Oliver Stone's major motion picture debut was also Richardson's first film asdirector of photography.Salvador was also filmed in the same year as Stone'sPlatoon.Platoon would earn Richardson his first Oscar nomination forBest Cinematography. In 1987, Richardson reteamed with Stone onWall Street. In 1988, he filmedEight Men Out forJohn Sayles. In 1989, he earned his second Best Cinematography Oscar nomination for Stone'sBorn on the Fourth of July.
In 1991, Richardson won the first of his Best Cinematography Academy Awards for his work on Stone'sJFK; he also shot Stone'sThe Doors that same year. He worked with Sayles again in 1991 forCity of Hope. In 1992, he worked as director of photography onRob Reiner'sA Few Good Men. He served as a 2nd unit photographer forHaskell Wexler onTo the Moon, Alice, a "Showtime 30-Minute Movie" (for which he was also credited as a visual consultant). He began a long working relationship withMartin Scorsese in 1995, withCasino. Also in 1995, he was the cinematographer on Stone'sNixon. In 1997, Richardson photographedErrol Morris'sdocumentaryFast, Cheap and Out of Control as well as filming the majority of Stone'sU Turn[citation needed] and serving as director of photography forBarry Levinson'sWag the Dog.
Richardson worked on the 2013 zombie filmWorld War Z, but asked for his name to be taken off the final product. The credited cinematographer isBen Seresin.[3]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Front Line | Jeff B. Harmon Christopher Wenner | With Jacques Audrain |
| 1997 | Fast, Cheap & Out of Control | Errol Morris | |
| 1999 | Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. | ||
| 2008 | Shine a Light | Martin Scorsese | Concert film |
| Standard Operating Procedure | Errol Morris | WithRobert Chappell | |
| 2011 | George Harrison: Living in the Material World | Martin Scorsese | WithMartin Kenzie |
| 2017 | The Return | Erich Joiner | |
| 2021 | JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass | Oliver Stone | |
| TBA | In between Stars and Scars: Masters of Cinema | Yi Zhou | With Yi Zhou |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Desperate Dreams | Daniel J. Blackburn Maria Centrella | TV movie |
| 1985 | America Undercover | Himself Terry Dunn Meurer | Episode "Losin' It: Sex and the American Teenager" |
| 1987 | Unsolved Mysteries | John Cosgrove | SegmentMissing...Have You Seen This Person? |
| 2021 | JFK: Destiny Betrayed | Oliver Stone | Miniseries |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Best Cinematography | Platoon | Nominated | [6] |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | Nominated | [7] | |
| 1991 | JFK | Won | [8] | |
| 1999 | Snow Falling on Cedars | Nominated | [9] | |
| 2004 | The Aviator | Won | [10] | |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Nominated | [11] | |
| 2011 | Hugo | Won | [12] | |
| 2012 | Django Unchained | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2015 | The Hateful Eight | Nominated | [14] | |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Nominated | [15] |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Best Cinematography | Platoon | Nominated | [16] |
| 2004 | The Aviator | Nominated | [17] | |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Nominated | [18] | |
| 2011 | Hugo | Nominated | [19] |
American Society of Cinematographers
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | Born on the Fourth of July | Nominated |
| 1991 | JFK | Nominated | |
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Heaven & Earth | Nominated | |
| 1998 | The Horse Whisperer | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Snow Falling on Cedars | Nominated | |
| 2004 | The Aviator | Nominated | |
| 2006 | The Good Shepherd | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Hugo | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Nominated |
Miscellaneous awards
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |