Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin
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Name	Renny Harlin
Caption	Harlin at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival
Birth name	Lauri Mauritz Harjola
Birth date	15 March 1959
Birth place	Riihimäki, Finland
Occupation	Film director, film producer, screenwriter
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Geena Davis (m. 1993; div. 1998), Tracy Tweed (m. 2000; div. 2001)

Renny Harlin. Renny Harlin is a Finnish film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work in high-octane action and horror genres within Hollywood. He gained major recognition in the late 1980s and 1990s with commercially successful films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2, and Cliffhanger. His career, marked by both blockbuster hits and notable box-office failures, has spanned several decades and continents, establishing him as a prominent figure in international genre cinema.

Early life and education

Born Lauri Mauritz Harjola in Riihimäki, Finland, he developed an early interest in storytelling and film. He studied at the University of Helsinki and later attended the University of Art and Design Helsinki, where he began making short films. His early ambition led him to move to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s to pursue a career in the American film industry, initially finding work in various low-budget productions.

Career

Harlin's first major break came when he directed the horror sequel A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master for New Line Cinema, which was a significant commercial success. This led to his hiring for the Bruce Willis-starring sequel Die Hard 2, released by 20th Century Fox, which solidified his reputation as a director of large-scale action. He followed this with the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Cliffhanger and the Geena Davis action film The Long Kiss Goodnight, both for TriStar Pictures. His career faced a major setback with the expensive box-office failure of the pirate adventure Cutthroat Island, starring Davis and Matthew Modine. He later directed the science fiction thriller Deep Blue Sea for Warner Bros. and the action film Driven. In the 21st century, he has worked on international co-productions and genre films, including The Covenant, 5 Days of War, and the Chinese action film Skiptrace starring Jackie Chan.

Filmography

A selected filmography of Harlin's directorial work includes Born American (1986), Prison (1987), A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990), Die Hard 2 (1990), Cliffhanger (1993), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Driven (2001), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), The Covenant (2006), 12 Rounds (2009), 5 Days of War (2011), Devil's Pass (2013), The Legend of Hercules (2014), Skiptrace (2016), and The Misfits (2021).

Style and themes

Harlin's filmmaking is characterized by a slick, fast-paced visual style emphasizing practical stunts and elaborate set pieces. His work in the action film genre often features themes of survival against extreme odds, as seen in Cliffhanger and Deep Blue Sea. He frequently employs dynamic camera work and intense pacing, influenced by the spectacle-driven cinema of directors like James Cameron and John McTiernan. While sometimes criticized for prioritizing style over substance, his films are noted for their technical proficiency and energetic execution within the conventions of Hollywood genre filmmaking.

Personal life

Harlin was married to actress Geena Davis from 1993 to 1998; they collaborated on Cutthroat Island and The Long Kiss Goodnight. He was later briefly married to actress Tracy Tweed. He has two children. He maintains residences in both Los Angeles and Finland and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts in his home country, including supporting the Finnish film industry.

Awards and nominations

Harlin has received several accolades, particularly in Finland. He has won multiple Jussi Awards, Finland's national film prize, including Best Director for Born American. He received a nomination for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director for Cutthroat Island. In 2011, he was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland for his contributions to Finnish culture.

Category:Finnish film directors Category:Finnish film producers Category:1959 births Category:Living people