Newton Thomas Sigel Biography

Newton Thomas Sigel
Director of Photography

Newton Thomas Sigel began his career as a painter and experimental filmmaker at the Whitney Museum in New York City. His films began to take on a documentary flavor while covering the Central American wars of the 1980s. These included the Oscar® winning Witness to War and the theatrical success of When the Mountains Tremble. Catching the eye of Haskell Wexler, Sigel was given his first narrative opportunity on Latino, a film based on Newton's own-life experiences in combat.

Gaining more ground while shooting second-unit with Oliver Stone on Platoon and Wall Street, it wasn't long before Sigel was a renowned cinematographer in his own right. The Usual Suspects has become a cult-classic, and its elegant photography spawned a whole generation of contemporary gangster films. A sampling of his credits would include: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Leatherheads, with long-time collaborator George Clooney; X-Men 1 & 2 with Bryan Singer; Valkyrie (his sixth collaboration with Bryan Singer); Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm; Anand Tucker’s Leap Year and the directorial debut of Alan Ball, Towelhead. Sigel also photographed Bob Rafelson's dark noir tale Blood and Wine with Jack Nicholson, as well as Fallen with Denzel Washington.

Filmography Newton Thomas Sigel


The Conspirator

by Robert Redford - 2010

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