Tom DiCillo

Directing

Tom DiCillo

Born

1953-08-14 (73)

Place of birth

Lejeune Base Camp, North Carolina, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

28 titles

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.

Known for

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

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

Delirious poster
6.3

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

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

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

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

Film credits

2010s · 2 titles

1980s · 4 titles

Behind the camera

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

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

Delirious poster
6.3

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
6.3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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