A legacy of intense works
To look at the filmography of Jonathan Demme is to see a man who refused to be pinned down by genre or expectations. With a career that spanned more than 40 years, Demme made a name for himself with “The Silence of the Lambs” — one of only three films to ever win the top five Oscar categories (best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay) — but he created a legacy through films shot through with a pathos and passion for humanity. Here are nine such works from Demme’s illustrious career:
“Caged Heat” (1974) Demme’s directorial debut came in the form of 1974’s exploitation film “Caged Heat” for low-budget legend Roger Corman. The film is worth perusal if only for Demme’s semi-satirical take on the genre and to marvel at how quickly the director’s career would advance in years to come.
“Melvin and Howard” (1980) Based on a true story about a Utah service station owner who becomes a beneficiary in Howard Hughes’ will after a random act of kindness, the film, says The Times Senior Calendar Editor Rich Nordwind, “plays to some of Demme’s strengths as a director — he loved actors and they loved him and he got great performances, he loved great scripts and dialogue.”
“Stop Making Sense” (1984) Still seen as the one of the best concert documentaries of all time, Demme’s look at Talking Heads, specifically lead singer David Byrne, resulted in a film that blended both the music and the mind.
“Swimming to Cambodia” (1987) Demme’s filmed version of Spalding Gray’s eponymous monologue, based on his time in Southeast Asia while filming 1984’s “The Killing Fields,” is striking, if only for Demme’s awareness that with a strong central performance, a director’s main job is only to capture it to the fullest extent.
“Married to the Mob” (1988) Before “The Sopranos” was “Goodfellas” and before “Goodfellas” was “Married to the Mob.” Demme’s rollicking comedy is grounded in ferocious performances from Michelle Pfeiffer, Dean Stockton, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Modine and an electric Mercedes Ruehl.
“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) The horror film that won best picture is Demme’s calling card, but its success stems not only from its depiction of Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), the most iconic villain of all time, but in its steely yet vulnerable female lead, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), the epitome of all Demme’s female characters: Unflinching yet malleable, uncompromising yet reasonable, and more than anything driven by a deep sense of compassion.
“Philadelphia” (1993) The tale of a man who sues for wrongful dismissal after suspecting he was fired because of his HIV diagnosis, “Philadelphia” — starring Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, who won his first Oscar for the role — shined a high-profile spotlight on the HIV crisis that the country was only newly coming to terms with.
“Rachel Getting Married” (2008) Somewhere between the remake of “Get Smart” and “Bride Wars,” Anne Hathaway starred as an addict and all-around screw-up in “Rachel Getting Married,” for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. The film is a small but sterling piece of Demme’s filmography.
“Ricki and the Flash” (2015) Demme’s final non-documentary feature re-paired him with “Manchurian Candidate” star Meryl Streep. The tale of a washed-up rock star attempting to make amends with her family is a perfect bookend for Demme’s career: a story about strong women, the strain of family and the joy of music.