‘Das Boot’ and ‘Air Force One’ Director Wolfgang Petersen Dead at 81 – Opinion

It is 1981, and I can still remember it. Das BootThis was an enormous deal for Wolfgang Petersen (German-born, raised) to direct the film. It is about U-boat crew members from Germany who have to face the realities of fighting in what they perceive as unjust war. Petersen talked to Charlie Rose in 1998 about his ability to take control of the seminal film as a foreign director.

Das BootPetersen’s first film, it was a success in both box office and critical circles. Petersen won six Oscar nominations for the film, which led to more high-profile and bigger-budget work in directing. 1997’s Air Force One was Petersen’s biggest critical and commercial success. Harrison Ford plays the President of America, who combines both dignity and diplomacy with fast thinking and badass self defense skills in an attempt to stop a plot to hijack the Presidential aircraft and hold him captive.

As we are living in the Age of Brandon, it is hard to imagine a president like that. Petersen’s portrayal of the imaginary President Marshall gave rise to high hopes, and that depiction of goodness versus evil and freedom versus tyranny continues to inspire audiences today.

Following a number of other hits, (The Perfect Storm TroyThere are many misses and a few successes.Outbreak, PoseidonWolfgang Petersen succumbed to pancreatic carcinoma in December 2007. He was 81.

Starting at Variety:

Wolfgang Petersen, who rode his acclaimed German-language film “Das Boot” into a career directing Hollywood blockbusters such as “In the Line of Fire,” “Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm” and “Troy,” has died. He was 81.

His production company confirmed the news.

The underlying theme of Petersen’s movies was men who must combat existential threats–a terrorist (Air Force)One) A virus (Outbreak),A psychopath (In The Line of The FireThe elements are (The Perfect StormAs they fight to protect the world and their beliefs, while still maintaining their integrity and humanity. While Petersen’s big budget films supply lots of knock-down, drag-out moments, and incredible effects and CGI, it’s the human connection to the characters that keep the audience present and engaged, and leave a deep impression on the viewer.

Petersen was conceived on In the middle of war-torn Germany. He grew up in post-World War II America, where American cinema was preeminent.

Petersen was born in Emden, Germany. He attended the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg from 1953-60. In the 1960s he directed plays at Hamburg’s Ernst Deutsch Theater. After studying theater in Berlin and Hamburg, he attended Berlin’s Film and Television Academy (1966-70).

He started his career in Germany making TV movies. In 1965, he was awarded his first TV movie credit. From 1971 to 1978, he continued making TV movies. While working on the popular German TV series “Tatort” (Crime Scene), he first met and worked with actor Jurgen Prochnow — who would appear in several of his films, including as the U-boat captain in “Das Boot.”

Petersen’s first feature film was the 1974 psychological thriller “One or the Other of Us,” starring Prochnow. Next was 1977’s black-and-white film “Die Konsequenz,” an adaptation of Alexander Ziegler’s autobiographical novel about homosexual love. The film was considered so radical at the time that when it first aired on German television, the Bavarian network refused to broadcast it.

Petersen was still directing small TV programs until he died. Das Boot His success brought him to the top of American directors. He was the director of The Fantasy Adventure in 1984. Neverending StoryHe directed the 1985 space psychological thriller Space Psychological Terrorist, which received a positive response from critics and audiences. Enemy Mine With Dennis Quaid, Jr. and Louis Gossett, Jr.

Clint Eastwood’s 1993 starrer. The Line of Fire would put Petersen back on the map and back into the annals of success. Consider the cerebral side of Enemy MinePetersen took the challenge of survival to one man and made it his mission to protect his country and his family. The work received a warm reception from critics as well as audiences. It was critical and commercial success.

But it is 1997’s Air Force One and 2000’s The Perfect Storm, which cemented Petersen’s legacy among the great directors of our time.

Petersen’s last two films: 2004’s Troy, an adaptation of Homer’s Iliad, and 2006’s PoseidonA remake of The Poseidon AdventureThey were bold, but they weren’t well-received by audiences or critics. Poseidon would be Petersen’s last feature film.

Petersen was survived by his second wife Maria-Antoinette Borgel as well as writer-director Daniel Petersen. He is also a son of his first marriage.

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