Matthew Modine
Photo Credit- Mike Ruiz, exclusively for the Mountains Magazine
“Matthew Modine is one of the best, most adaptable film actors of his generation.” – Vincent Canby, The New York Times
Matthew Modine’s iconic portrayals in films such as Alan Parker’s BIRDY, Louden Swain in VISION QUEST, Stanley Kubrick’s FULL METAL JACKET, and Dr. Martin “Papa” Brenner in the global phenomenon STRANGER THINGS have cemented Matthew’s legacy in the entertainment industry.
Recent star turns include Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER, RETRIBUTION, HARD MILES, FOSTER BOY, MISS VIRGINIA, WRONG TURN, and OPERATION: VARSITY BLUES – THE COLLEGE ADMISSION SCANDAL.
Modine has worked with many of the industry's most respected directors, including, Oliver Stone, Sir Alan Parker, Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Alan J. Pakula, John Schlesinger, Tony Richardson, Robert Falls, Sir Peter Hall, Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee, Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, and Christopher Nolan.
Director Robert Altman propelled Modine into international stardom with his film adaptation of David Rabe's play STREAMERS. He and his fellow cast-mates won an unprecedented Best Actor Award from the Venice International Film Festival (La Biennale di Venezia) for the tragic story of young American soldiers about to be sent to Vietnam.
From his many signature roles, Modine might best be known for his role as Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET. The film received critical acclaim and is widely considered one of the best war films ever made. The Chicago Reader labeled it "the most tightly crafted Kubrick film since DR. STRANGELOVE." Variety referred to the film as an "intense, schematic, superbly made" drama, while Vincent Canby of the New York Times called it "harrowing" and "beautiful.”
He played the dangerous, young criminal Treat in Alan Pakula's film adaptation of the hugely successful Lyle Kessler play ORPHANS. Matthew played the goofy, earnest F.B.I. agent Mike Downey in Jonathan Demme's screwball comedy MARRIED TO THE MOB opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. In 1990 he led the cast of the World War II drama, MEMPHIS BELLE. Modine received Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his performances in HBO’s AND THE BAND PLAYED ON and WHAT THE DEAF MAN HEARD. Matthew also received the Screen Actors Guild Best Ensemble Performance award for his work in STRANGER THINGS and a Best Ensemble Golden Globe for Robert Altman’s SHORT CUTS. SHORT CUTS also received a Best Ensemble Award at the Venice International Film Festival (La Biennale di Venezia).
On stage, Modine appeared in Arthur Miller's FINISHING THE PICTURE at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, Arthur Miller's RESURRECTION BLUES at London's Old Vic, and in 2010, he starred in the 50th Anniversary Broadway rival of THE MIRACLE WORKER at Circle in the Square Theatre. In 2022-23, Matthew portrayed Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End.
Modine has directed several distinguished short films: WHEN I WAS A BOY (1993), SMOKING (1994), ECCE PIRATE (1997), I THING I THOUHGT (2008), TO KILL AN AMERICAN (2008), JESUS WAS A COMMIE (2011), and I AM WHAT YOU IMAGINE (2023), now playing in film festivals all over the world.
Cinco Dedos Peliculas (CDP) is an acclaimed film and new media production company co-founded by Modine with former Apple marketing executive Adam Rackoff. The duo have executive produced several award-winning films, environmental documentaries, and animated features, most recently AGAINST THE CURRENT (2021) about one woman’s world-record swim around Easter Island, ACCIDENTAL TRUTH: UFO REVELATIONS (2023) about the UAP phenomenon, and Signe Baumane’s new animated feature MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE (2023). Their latest documentary film, DOWNWIND (2023), chronicles the fallout from decades of nuclear bomb testing on American soil. DOWNWIND is narrated by Martin Sheen and features Michael Douglas, Lewis Black, and John Wayne’s son, Patrick. Upcoming projects include the documentary THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME: THE MAKING OF CUTTHROAT ISLAND (2023), the new experimental short film I AM WHAT YOU IMAGINE, and the PFAS documentary SLUDGE, about farmers who lost everything due to “forever chemicals."
For nearly 15 years, CDP has been developing award-winning narrative films, documentaries, animation projects, mobile apps, and environmental initiatives. Highlights include the provocative short JESUS WAS A COMMIE (2011), the hand-drawn feature CHEATIN’ (2013) directed by Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, the Webby Award-winning political documentary THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD (2016), the FULL METAL JACKET DIARY iPad app and audiobook, and two comedy shorts: MERRY XMAS (2015) starring Dick Van Dyke and Valerie Harper, and SUPER SEX (2016) starring Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, and Ed Asner.
You can find out more about Matthew Modine by visiting his website http://matthewmodine.com
AWARDS
Matthew is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup, and Golden Lion. MARY, directed by Abel Ferrara, co-starring Juliette Binoche and Forest Whitaker, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. BIRDY won the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix. EQUINOX (1992), directed by Alan Rudolph, received four Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best Actor and Best Film. Matthew was part of the Emmy-winning Showtime series WEEDS in 2007 one received Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for the M.O.W. WHAT THE DEAF MAN HEARD (1997) and HBO's Emmy-winning AND THE BAND PLAYED ON (1993).
Screen Actors Guild Award Best Ensemble, STRANGER CUT
Golden Globe Award Best Ensemble, SHORT CUTS
Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup, SHORT CUTS
Micheal Moore's Traverse City Film Festival Founders Prize, Best Short Film, JESUS WAS A COMMIE
Oldenburg Film Festival, Best Short Film, JESUS WAS A COMMIE
Dublin Film Festival Best Short, SUPER SEX
Coronado Film Festival Best Short Film, SUPER SEX
Venice Film Festival Best Actor, STREAMERS
Garden State Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award