Neil N. LaBute (born March 19, 1963)
is an American playwright, film director, and screenwriter. He is best known for a play that he wrote and later adapted for film, ''
In the Company of Men'' (1997), which won awards from the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
, the
Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards, and later as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, are awards presented annually in Santa Monica, California, to independent filmmakers. Founded in ...
, and the
New York Film Critics Circle
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic
Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scho ...
. He wrote and directed the films ''
Your Friends & Neighbors'' (1998), ''
Possession'' (2002) (based on the
A. S. Byatt novel), ''
The Shape of Things'' (2003) (based on his play of the same name), ''
The Wicker Man
''The Wicker Man'' is a 1973 British folk horror film directed by Robin Hardy (film director), Robin Hardy and starring Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt and Christopher Lee. The screenplay is by Anthony Shaffer (writer ...
'' (2006), ''
Some Velvet Morning'' (2013), and ''
Dirty Weekend'' (2015). He directed the films ''
Nurse Betty'' (2000), ''
Lakeview Terrace'' (2008), and the American adaptation of ''
Death at a Funeral'' (2010). LaBute created the TV series ''Billy & Billie'', writing and directing all of the episodes. He is also the creator of the TV series ''
Van Helsing''. Recently, he executive produced, co-directed and co-wrote
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
's ''
The I-Land''. He also directed several episodes for shows such as ''
Hell on Wheels'' and ''
Billions''.
Early life
LaBute was born in
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...
, the son of Marian, a hospital receptionist, and Richard LaBute, a long-haul truck driver.
LaBute is of
French Canadian
French Canadians, referred to as Canadiens mainly before the nineteenth century, are an ethnic group descended from French people, French colonists first arriving in Canada (New France), France's colony of Canada in 1608. The vast majority of ...
, English, and Irish ancestry,
and was raised in
Spokane, Washington
Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...
. He studied theater at
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...
(BYU), where he joined
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
(LDS Church). At BYU, he also met actor
Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. However, he also was honored as one of the "most promising undergraduate playwrights" at the BYU theater department's annual awards. Labute did graduate work at the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...
,
["Neil LaBute Biography"]
''The New York Times'' (From All Movie Guide), accessed May 8, 2015 New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
,
[ and he participated in a writing workshop at London's Royal Court Theatre.][
]
Career
Early career and success
LaBute burst onto the theater scene in 1989 with his controversial debut ''Filthy Talk for Troubled Times''. His interest in the film industry came with a viewing of '' The Soft Skin'' (''La Peau Douce'' 1964), said the director to Robert K. Elder in a 2011 interview for '' The Film That Changed My Life''.
It exposed me, probably in the earliest way, to "Hey, I could do that." I've never been one to love the camera or even to be as drawn to it as I am to the human aspect of it, and I think it was a film that speaks in a very simple way of here's a way that you can tell a story on film in human terms. It was the kind of film that made me go, "I could do this; I want to tell stories that are like this and told in this way." And so it was altering for me in that way, in its simplicity or deceptive simplicity.
In 1993, he returned to BYU to premiere his play '' In the Company of Men'', for which he received an award from the Association for Mormon Letters
Association may refer to:
*Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal
*Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry
*Voluntary associatio ...
. He taught drama and film at IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in Allen County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 at the 2020 census ...
, in the early 1990s where he adapted and filmed the play, shot over two weeks and costing $25,000, beginning his career as a film director. The film won the Filmmakers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
, and major awards and nominations at the Deauville Film Festival
The Deauville American Film Festival () is a yearly film festival devoted to American cinema, which has taken place since 1975 in Deauville, France.
It was established by Lionel Chouchan, André Halimi, and then Mayor of Deauville Michel d ...
, the Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards, originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards, and later as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, are awards presented annually in Santa Monica, California, to independent filmmakers. Founded in ...
, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Society of Texas Film Critics Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic
Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scho ...
.
'' In the Company of Men'' portrays two businessmen (one played by Eckhart) cruelly plotting to romance and emotionally destroy a deaf woman. His next film '' Your Friends & Neighbors'' (1998), with an ensemble cast including Eckhart and Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit, Stiller rose to fame through comedies such as ''There's Something About Mary'' (1998), ' ...
, earned an R-rating for its portrayal of the sex lives of three yuppie couples in the big city.
His play '' Bash: Latter-Day Plays'' is a set of three short plays (''Iphigenia in Orem'', ''A Gaggle of Saints'', and ''Medea Redux'') depicting essentially good Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
doing disturbing and violent things.[ It ran Off-Broadway at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre in 1999. ''Medea Redux'' is a one-person performance by ]Calista Flockhart
Calista Kay Flockhart (born November 11, 1964) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying the title character on the Fox television series '' Ally McBeal'' (1997–2002), for which she received a Golden Globe Award in 1998 and w ...
.[Brantley, Ben]
"Theater Review. The Face of Evil, All Peaches and Cream"
''The New York Times'', June 25, 1999 This play resulted in his being disfellowshipped from the LDS Church (i.e., losing some privileges of church membership without being excommunicated). He has since formally left the LDS Church.
Early 21st century
In 2001, LaBute wrote and directed the play '' The Shape of Things'', which premièred in London, featuring film actors Paul Rudd and Rachel Weisz
Rachel Hannah Weisz (; born 7 March 1970) is an English actress. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Weisz, several awards, including an Academy Award, ...
. It was turned into a film in 2003 with the same cast and director. Set in a small university town in the American Midwest, it focuses on four young students who become emotionally and romantically involved with each other, questioning the nature of art and the lengths to which people will go for love. Weisz's character manipulates Rudd's character into changing everything about himself and discarding his friends in order to become more attractive to her. She even pretends to fall in love with him, prompting an offer of marriage, whereupon she cruelly exposes and humiliates him before an audience, announcing that he has simply been an "art project" for her MFA thesis
A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...
.
In 2001, LaBute and producer Gail Mutrux founded the Pretty Pictures firm, with a first-look deal at USA Films.
LaBute's 2002 play '' The Mercy Seat'' was a theatrical response to the September 11, 2001, attacks
The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Hijackers in the September 11 attacks#Hijackers, Nineteen terrorists hijacked four com ...
. Set on September 12, it concerns a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was away from the office during the infamous 2001 terrorist attack – with his mistress. Expecting that his family believes that he was killed in the towers' collapse, he contemplates using the tragedy to run away and start a new life with his lover. Starring Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver
Susan Alexandra ( ; born October 8, 1949), better known by her stage name Sigourney Weaver, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the late 1970s, she is known for her pioneering portrayals of action heroines in Blockbuster (entertainme ...
, the play was a commercial and critical success. While hesitant to term ''The Mercy Seat'' " political theater", Labute said, "I refer to this play in the printed introduction as a kind of emotional terrorism that we wage on those we profess to love." He dedicated this edition to David Hare, in response to Hare's "straightforward, thoughtful, probing work".
His next play, '' Reasons to Be Pretty'', played Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
from May 14 to July 5, 2008, in a production by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. It went on Broadway in 2009, with previews at the Lyceum Theatre beginning March 13, and its opening on April 2. The play was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...
, including Best Play, Best Leading Actor in a Play ( Thomas Sadoski), and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Marin Ireland
Marin Ireland (born August 30, 1979) is an American actress. Known for her work in theatre and independent films, ''The New York Times'' deemed Ireland "one of the great drama queens of the New York stage". She has received nominations for two I ...
), but did not win in any category. The production's final performance was on June 14. In March 2013, the play was mounted at the San Francisco Playhouse.
2010–present
In 2010, LaBute directed '' Death at a Funeral'', a remake of a 2007 British film of the same name. It was written by Dean Craig (who also wrote the original screenplay) and starred Chris Rock. Throughout the decade, various productions of his existing works were mounted as he continued to produce new material. He wrote new scenes and an introduction for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a non-profit, professional theater company located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Its more than six hundred annual performances performed 48 weeks of the year include its critically acclaimed Shakespeare ...
production of ''The Taming of the Shrew
''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunke ...
'' by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
which ran from April 7 to June 6, 2010. LaBute framed the classic play in overtly metatheatrical terms, adding a lesbian romance subplot. His short play, ''The Unimaginable'', premiered as part of the Terror 2010 season at the Southwark Playhouse in London, October 12–31, 2010.
LaBute's first produced play, ''Filthy Talk for Troubled Times'' (1989), which was a series of biting exchanges between two "everyman" characters in a bar, was staged from June 3–5, 2010, by MCC Theater as a benefit for MCC's Playwrights' Coalition and their commitment to developing new work. LaBute also directed the reading. Originally when it premiered in New York City at the Westside Dance Project, " egendhas it ... that one unimpressed member of the audience shouted: "Kill the playwright!""
''The Break of Noon'' premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in an MCC Theater production on October 28, 2010 (previews), running to December 22, 2010. The play then opened in 2011 in Los Angeles at the Geffen Theater, again directed by Jo Bonney, with January 25 preview and opening on February 2. It ran through March 6. It featured Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny
David William Duchovny ( ; born ) is an American actor, writer, and musician. He received his breakthrough with the role of Fox Mulder in The X-Files franchise, earning Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards a ...
, John Earl Jelks, and Amanda Peet.
LaBute took part in the Bush Theatre's 2011 project '' Sixty Six Books'', for which he wrote a piece based upon a book of the King James Bible
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by ...
. In 2012, he joined the Chicago-based storefront theatre company, ''Profiles Theatre'' as a Resident Artist. ''The Way We Get By'' opened Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage Theater is a non-profit theater company that presents work by living American writers both on and off Broadway. It is based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and is affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres.
Founded in 1979 ...
on May 19, 2015, starring Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski, with direction by Leigh Silverman.
The LaBute New Theater Festival is a festival of world premiere one-act plays that is produced by William Roth and St. Louis Actors' Studio each summer at their Gaslight Theater and each winter at 59E59 street theaters in New York. In 2013, ''Some Girl(s)'' was directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer, with the screenplay adapted by Labute's from his 2005 play. In an interview with Screen Comment's Sam Weisberg, he said: "I have had a lot of people direct my material for the theater, but I haven't had anyone do my work on film. I was excited by what would be brought to it. It was great to have someone else in there that you could trust visually and intellectually and emotionally to make something that was respectful of the material but also creative."
In August 2016, the Utah Shakespeare Festival
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a theatrical festival that performs works by Shakespeare as its cornerstone. The Festival is held during the summer and fall on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah
Cedar City is the ...
produced a preview of LaBute's play ''How to Fight Loneliness'' in Cedar City, Utah, and announced its intention to stage the play during its 2017 summer season. In February 2018, MCC Theater terminated its relationship with him ending his place as their playwright-in-residence and their plans to produce his next play ''Reasons to Be Pretty Happy'' in the summer. Blake West, MCC Theater's executive director, said, “We’re committed to creating and maintaining a respectful and professional work environment for everyone we work with.” In September 2018, it was announced that Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
had given order for the production of the science fiction
Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
miniseries '' The I-Land''. LaBute is credited as the showrunner and executive producer of the miniseries. The miniseries premiered on September 12, 2019.
Critical response
Critics have responded to his plays as having a misanthropic tone. Rob Weinert-Kendt in ''The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...
'' referred to LaBute as "American theater's reigning misanthrope". ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' said that critics labeled him a misanthrope on the release of his film '' Your Friends & Neighbors'' because of the film's strong misanthropic plot and characters. Britain's ''Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States
* Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
'' newspaper in May 2008 dubbed him "America's misanthrope par excellence". Citing the misanthropic tone of the plot in the films ''In the Company of Men'', ''Your Friends & Neighbors'' and ''The Shape of Things'', film critic Daniel Kimmel identified a pattern running through LaBute's work of being that the unlikeable, main antagonists of those three films end up getting away with their lying, scheming and mis-deeds, coming out on top of all the other characters as the real winners of those stories by quoting: "Neil LaBute is a misanthrope who assumes that only callous and evil people, who use and abuse others, can survive in this world." Critics labeled him a misogynist after the release of ''In the Company of Men''.
Personal life
Neil was married to Lisa Gore LaBute, with whom he has two adult children. In 2016, LaBute married actress Gia Crovatin.
Honors
In 2013, LaBute was named one of the winners of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, Music of the United States, music, and Visual art of the United States, art. Its fixed number ...
' Arts and Letters Awards in Literature.
LaBute became a Fellow of the International Association of Theatre Leaders (IATL) in 2023.
Style
LaBute's style is very language-oriented. His work is terse, rhythmic, and highly colloquial. His style bears similarity to one of his favorite playwrights, David Mamet
David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, author, and filmmaker.
He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony Award, Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and ''Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first ...
. LaBute even shares some similar themes with Mamet including gender relations, political correctness, and masculinity.
Filmography
Films
Short films
Television
Plays
* ''Filthy Talk For Troubled Times'' (1989)
* '' In the Company of Men'' (1992)
* '' Bash: Latter-Day Plays'' (1999)
* '' The Shape of Things'' (2001)
* ''The Distance From Here'' (2003)
* '' The Mercy Seat'' (2003)
* ''Autobahn
The (; German , ) is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official term is (abbreviated ''BAB''), which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track'.
Much of t ...
'' (2003)
* '' Fat Pig'' (2004)
* '' This Is How It Goes'' (2005)
* '' Some Girl(s)'' (2005)
* '' Wrecks'' (2005)
* '' In a Dark Dark House'' (2007)
* '' Reasons to Be Pretty'' (2008)
* ''Helter Skelter/Land of the Dead'' (2008)
* ''The Break of Noon'' (2009)
* ''The New Testament'' (2009)
* ''Some White Chick'' (2009)
* ''The Furies'' (2009)
* ''Strange Fruit'' (2011)
* '' In a Forest, Dark and Deep'' (2011)
* ''Lovely Head & Other Plays'' (2013)
* ''Reasons to Be Happy'' (2013)
* ''Old Boyfriend'' (2014)
* ''Money Shot'' (2014)
* ''Exhibit 'A': Short Plays and Monologues'' (2015)
* ''The Way We Get By'' (2015)
* ''All The Ways To Say I Love You'' (2016)
* ''How to Fight Loneliness'' (2017)
* ''True Love Will Find You in the End'' (2020)
* ''The Answer to Everything'' (2021)
* ''St. Louis'' (TBA)
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Labute, Neil
1963 births
Living people
20th-century American dramatists and playwrights
American people of English descent
American people of French-Canadian descent
American people of Irish descent
American male screenwriters
Brigham Young University alumni
Former Latter Day Saints
Independent Spirit Award winners
Writers from Detroit
Writers from Spokane, Washington
Writers from Utah
Film directors from Michigan
American male dramatists and playwrights
Screenwriters from Utah
20th-century American male writers