Alexandre Desplat Alexandre Desplat

Born: 23 August 1961, Paris, France.

Biography:
Hugely talented French composer in the classical mould, who is considered to one of the leading musical lights of that country's film industry, and a natural successor to the likes of Georges Delerue and Maurice Jarre. Desplat played piano, trumpet and flute as a child, before studying music composition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSM) in Paris. Further study, including orchestration with Jack Hayes in Los Angeles, led to him working in France as an arranger for pop artists such as Carlinhos Brown and Ray Lema, before he scored his first films in the early 1990s. Desplat worked on a number of critically acclaimed French films over the next few years, including efforts for notable directors such as Jacques Audiard, Peter Webber, Florent-Emilio Siri, Patrice Leconte, Marion Vernoux, Philippe Harel, Philippe De Broca, François Girod and Robert Guediguian, and received César awards in 1997 and 2002 for his scores for the films “Un Héros Très Discret” and “Sur Mes Lèvres”. Desplat had enjoyed a small amount of international exposure in 2000 following his work on the chess-themed drama “The Luzhin Defence”, but really broke onto the world in 2003 following the release of “Girl With a Pearl Earring”, about the Dutch painter Jan Vermeer, which saw the Frenchman receive his first Golden Globe nomination. Since then, Desplat has become one of the most sought-after composers working in Hollywood, with critical and commercial successes such as “Birth”, “Hostage”, “The Upside of Anger”, “Casanova”, “Syriana” and “Firewall” to his name. He received a second Golden Globe nomination for “Syriana” and a third César for “The Beat That My Heart Skipped” in 2005, a Golden Globe for “The Painted Veil”, and Oscar nominations for “The Queen” in 2006 and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” in 2008. In addition to his work as a film composer, Desplat has written songs for artists such as Catherine Ringer, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Akhenaton, Miosotis and Valérie Lemercier, produced albums for Karl Zero ("Songs for Cabriolets") and Eric Morena ("Ô Mon Bateau", "Je Suis le Torero de l'Amour") and composed music for the theatre for André Engel (Comédie Française) and Philippe Genty. Desplat’s daughter, Antonia, often sings and provides vocal performances for his scores.

Reviews:
Afterwards, Birth, Chéri, Coco Avant Chanel, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Firewall, The Ghost Writer, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Golden Compass, Hostage, Julie & Julia, Largo Winch, L’Ennemi Intime, Lust, Caution, The Luzhin Defence, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, New Moon, The Painted Veil and The Queen

Filmography:
The Ghost Writer (2010), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (2010), The Tree of Life (2010), L’Armee du Crime (2009), Chéri (2009), Coco Avant Chanel (2009), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Julie & Julia (2009), New Moon (2009), Un Prophète (2009), Afterwards (2008), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), L’Emmerdeur (2008), Largo Winch (2008), The Golden Compass (2007), L’Ennemi Intime (2007), Lust Caution (2007), Michou d’Auber (2007), Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (2007), Firewall (2006), Lies and Alibis (2006), The Painted Veil (2006), Quand J'étais Chanteur (2006), The Queen (2006), The Valet (2006), Syriana (2005), Casanova (2005), Une Aventure (2005), Hostage (2005), The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005), The Upside of Anger (2005), Tu Vas Rire, Mais Je Te Quitte (2005), L’Enquête Corse (2004), Birth (2004), Le Pays Des Enfants Perdus (2004), Inquiétudes (2003), Les Beaux Jours (2003), Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Stormy Weather (2003), Tristan (2003), Les Corps Impatients (2003), Virus au Paradis (2003), Le Pacte du Silence (2003), Les Baisers des Autres (2003), Rire et Châtiment (2003), Paroles d'Étoiles (2002), Tous Les Chagrins Se Ressemblent (2002), 11'09''01 - September 11 (2002), Une Autre Femme (2002), Nid de Guêpes (2002), Madame Sans-Gêne (2002), Campagnes (2001), Reines d'un Jour (2001), Sur Mes Lèvres (2001), Mauvais Genres (2001), Les Portes de la Gloire (2001), Home Sweet Home (2001), Barnie et Ses Petites Contrariétés (2001), The Luzhin Defence (2000), Amazone (2000), Vive Nous! (2000), Les Ritaliens (2000), Petits Nuages d'Été (1999), Rien à Faire (1999), Monsieur Naphtali (1999), Juliette (1999), A Monkey's Tale (1999), C'est Pas Ma Faute! (1999), Retour à Fonteyne (1999), Toni (1999), N'oublie Pas Que Tu M'aimes (1999), Une Minute de Silence (1998), Restons Groupés (1998), The Revengers' Comedies (1998), Une Chance Sur Deux (1998), La Femme du Cosmonaute (1998), Atilano Presidente (1998), Sous Les Pieds Des Femmes (1997), Un Petit Grain de Folie (1997), La Voisine (1997), Love etc. (1996), Passage à l'Acte (1996), Le Cri de la Soie (1996), Lucky Punch (1996), L’Enfer Vert (1996), Un Héros Très Discret (1996), D'Amour et d'Eau Salée (1996), Tout Ce Qui Brille (1996), Le Plus Bel Âge... (1995), Les Milles (1995), Innocent Lies (1995), Marie-Louise ou la Permission (1995), Le Fils de Paul (1995), Bons Baisers de Suzanne (1995), Quand Je Serai Grand Mon Père Il Sera Policier (1995), Regarde les Hommes Tomber (1994), The Hour of the Pig (1993), Le Tronc (1993), Départ en Vacances (1993), Jour de Fauche (1993), Le Paradis Absolument (1993), J'aime Pas Qu'on M'aime (1993), Papa Veut Pas Que Je t'Épouse (1992), Sexes Faibles! (1992), Family Express (1992), Au Nom Du Père Et Du Fils (1992), Lapse of Memory (1992), Rossignol De Mes Amours (1991), Simon Courage (1991), V.O. (1987), Ki Lo Sa? (1985).

Highest Grossing Films as at end of 2008 (adjusted for inflation):
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($129.6m), The Golden Compass ($73.4m), The Queen ($61.7m), Syriana ($56.9m), Firewall ($53.5m), Hostage ($38.6m), Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium ($33.3m), The Upside of Anger ($20.8m), Girl With a Pearl Earring ($13.9m), Casanova ($12.6m)

Awards:
2009 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – Fantastic Mr. Fox
2008 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2006 Academy Awards - Nominee, Best Original Score – The Queen
2006 Golden Globes - Winner, Best Original Score – The Painted Veil
2008 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2005 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score - Syriana
2003 Golden Globes - Nominee, Best Original Score – Girl with a Pearl Earring
2008 BAFTA Awards - Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2006 BAFTA Awards - Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The Queen
2003 BAFTA Awards - Nominee, Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Girl with a Pearl Earring

Links:
Official Site

Afterwards Amazone L’Armee du Crime The Beat My Heart Skipped Birth Casanova C’est Pas Ma Faute! Chéri Coco Avant Chanel The Curious Case of Benjamin Button L’Enquête Corse L’Ennemi Intime Fantastic Mr. Fox La Femme du Cosmonaute Firewall The Ghost Writer Girl with a Pearl Earring The Golden Compass Hostage Innocent Lies Inquiétitudes Julie & Julia Largo Winch Lust Caution The Luzhin Defence Marie-Louise Ou La Permission A Monkey’s Tail Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium New Moon Nid de Guêpes The Painted Veil Les Portes de la Gloire Quand J'étais Chanteur The Queen Regarde les Hommes Tomber La Rire et Châtiment Syriana Toni Un Prophète Une Chance Sur Deux The Upside of Anger


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