Tom DiCillo

Directing

Tom DiCillo

Born 1953-08-14 · Lejeune Base Camp, North Carolina, USA

Tom DiCillo is an American director, cinematographer, writer and actor born in Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina, and who studied film at New York University. During his early career he began working with director Jim Jarmusch as a cinematographer on films that include Permanent Vacation and Stranger Than Paradise. His experience as cinematographer proved invaluable and he was soon writing and directing his own films.

Acting credits

Stranger Than Paradise poster
7.2

New York layabout Willie forms an unexpected bond with his young Hungarian cousin Eva when she pays him a surprise visit. Later, Eva moves in with their aunt in Cleveland, and Willie takes his best friend Eddie to see her—a visit that culminates in a strange, eventful trip to Florida.

Stranger Than Paradise

1984

Uncle Howard poster
6.6

When Howard Brookner lost his life to AIDS in 1989, the 35-year-old director had completed two feature documentaries and was in post-production on his narrative debut, Bloodhounds of Broadway. Twenty-five years later, his nephew, Aaron, sets out on a quest to find the lost negative of Burroughs: The Movie, his uncle's critically-acclaimed portrait of legendary author William S. Burroughs. When Aaron uncovers Howard's extensive archive in Burroughs’ bunker, it not only revives the film for a new generation, but also opens a vibrant window on New York City’s creative culture from the 1970s and ‘80s, and inspires a wide-ranging exploration of his beloved uncle's legacy.

Uncle Howard

2017

Kingdom Come poster
6.2

The documentary, Kingdom Come follows a first-time director (Daniel Gillies) as he tries to raise a million dollars to finance his first film, Broken Kingdom. This emotionally-charged journey is interwoven with over 30 rare interviews from acclaimed indie darlings including Mark Ruffalo, Illeana Douglas, Don Cheadle, Kevin Smith, Edward Burns, Tim Roth, Morgan Spurlock, Selma Blair, Robert Townsend, Bill Pullman and many more.

Kingdom Come

2012

At Sundance poster
5.8

A group portrait of filmmakers attend the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Featuring Matthew Harrison, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Todd Haynes, Greg Araki, Abel Ferrara, Atom Egoyan, James Gray, Robert Redford, Haskell Wexler, among many others. Co-directed by Amy Hobby. [Filmed in Pixelvision and blown-up to evocatively grainy 16mm.]

At Sundance

1995

Independent's Day poster
6.0

Filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival discuss what it is like to be an independent filmmaker, and what Sundance has done for them.

Independent's Day

1998

Chain Letters poster
5.5

Nine Manhattanites receive a chain letter. Depending on their decision to either pass the letter on or to break the chain, the various characters can encounter romance, fulfillment -- and sudden death.

Chain Letters

1985

Some Days in January, 1984 poster
NR

A short behind-the-scenes documentary shot and edited on Super 8 by filmmaker Tom Jarmusch, director Jim Jarmusch’s brother, during the filming of STRANGER THAN PARADISE.

Some Days in January, 1984

2001

Kino '84: The Making of Jim Jarmusch poster
6.5

Documentary on American film director Jim Jarmusch made for German television. featuring interviews with cast and crew from 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦 and 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Kino '84: The Making of Jim Jarmusch

1984

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Give me a spell

1984

Behind the camera

Delirious poster
6.4

Les, a small-time celebrity photographer desperate to make it big, befriends Toby, a homeless young man with no direction except a vague desire to become an actor. When by chance, Toby becomes romantically involved with K'Harma Leeds, the hottest pop star of the moment, Les grows jealous and plots revenge.

Delirious

2007

Delirious poster
6.4

Les, a small-time celebrity photographer desperate to make it big, befriends Toby, a homeless young man with no direction except a vague desire to become an actor. When by chance, Toby becomes romantically involved with K'Harma Leeds, the hottest pop star of the moment, Les grows jealous and plots revenge.

Delirious

2007

When You're Strange poster
7.3

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

When You're Strange

2010

When You're Strange poster
7.3

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

When You're Strange

2010

When You're Strange poster
7.3

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

When You're Strange

2010

Double Whammy poster
5.5

Ray Pluto has many problems. He is satirized in the tabloids as the "loser cop." His partner is starting to seem suspiciously attracted to him. A pair of screenwriters across the hall keep bugging him for help. The superintendent of his building is stabbed by hoodlums hired by his own rebellious daughter. To top it off, a sexually aggressive chiropractor may just be Ray's undoing.

Double Whammy

2001

Double Whammy poster
5.5

Ray Pluto has many problems. He is satirized in the tabloids as the "loser cop." His partner is starting to seem suspiciously attracted to him. A pair of screenwriters across the hall keep bugging him for help. The superintendent of his building is stabbed by hoodlums hired by his own rebellious daughter. To top it off, a sexually aggressive chiropractor may just be Ray's undoing.

Double Whammy

2001

Living in Oblivion poster
7.2

Low-budget independent filmmaker Nick Reve tries to keep everything together as his production is plagued with an insecure actress, a megalomaniac star, a pretentious beret-wearing director of photography, and lousy catering.

Living in Oblivion

1995

Living in Oblivion poster
7.2

Low-budget independent filmmaker Nick Reve tries to keep everything together as his production is plagued with an insecure actress, a megalomaniac star, a pretentious beret-wearing director of photography, and lousy catering.

Living in Oblivion

1995

The Real Blonde poster
5.3

An aspiring actor and his girlfriend handle life's frustrations, while his friend seeks fulfillment with a blonde.

The Real Blonde

1998

The Real Blonde poster
5.3

An aspiring actor and his girlfriend handle life's frustrations, while his friend seeks fulfillment with a blonde.

The Real Blonde

1998

Johnny Suede poster
5.2

Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt) longs to be a teen-age idol like Ricky Nelson. He has a pair of black suede shoes, an impressive pompadour, a guitar, and some pals who will play backup for him. Yet he doesn't have much talent or drive.

Johnny Suede

1991

Johnny Suede poster
5.2

Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt) longs to be a teen-age idol like Ricky Nelson. He has a pair of black suede shoes, an impressive pompadour, a guitar, and some pals who will play backup for him. Yet he doesn't have much talent or drive.

Johnny Suede

1991

Box of Moonlight poster
6.8

Al Fountain, a middle-aged electrical engineer, is on the verge of a mid-life crisis, when he decides to take his time coming home from a business trip, rents a car, and heads out looking for a lake he remembers from his childhood. But his wandering takes him into the life of Kid, a free-spirited young man who helps Al escape from the routine of everyday life and find freedom to enjoy himself.

Box of Moonlight

1996

Box of Moonlight poster
6.8

Al Fountain, a middle-aged electrical engineer, is on the verge of a mid-life crisis, when he decides to take his time coming home from a business trip, rents a car, and heads out looking for a lake he remembers from his childhood. But his wandering takes him into the life of Kid, a free-spirited young man who helps Al escape from the routine of everyday life and find freedom to enjoy himself.

Box of Moonlight

1996

Down in Shadowland poster
7.8

A seven year project involving filming on NYC subway. Camera observes people and events unaware they are being filmed. Emotional, intimate and deeply human. All done by director Tom DiCillo. He shot, edited and mixed the film by himself with the aim of making a film without any financial or marketing restrictions.

Down in Shadowland

2014

Down in Shadowland poster
7.8

A seven year project involving filming on NYC subway. Camera observes people and events unaware they are being filmed. Emotional, intimate and deeply human. All done by director Tom DiCillo. He shot, edited and mixed the film by himself with the aim of making a film without any financial or marketing restrictions.

Down in Shadowland

2014

God Save the King poster
NR

Two punk musicians are interviewed by a rock journalist in this early student film by Tom DiCillo. Shot on 16mm as his first sync-sound project at NYU, the film draws on the emerging punk scene of the late 1970s, including material filmed at CBGB. The work was later re-edited and preserved as a print used to support DiCillo’s early career development.

God Save the King

1977

God Save the King poster
NR

Two punk musicians are interviewed by a rock journalist in this early student film by Tom DiCillo. Shot on 16mm as his first sync-sound project at NYU, the film draws on the emerging punk scene of the late 1970s, including material filmed at CBGB. The work was later re-edited and preserved as a print used to support DiCillo’s early career development.

God Save the King

1977