Rod Davis

Born in Israel in 1962, Rod Lurie is an American filmmaker, journalist, and former film critic. He relocated to the United States at a young age and grew up in Connecticut and Hawaii. Lurie is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the U.S. Army. His early career included work as an entertainment reporter and film critic for various publications and radio shows, where his sharp commentary sometimes led to controversy. He also conducted investigative reporting on unethical practices in the tabloid industry, gaining national attention.

Lurie transitioned to filmmaking, writing and directing several feature films. His directorial work often explores themes of politics, military life, and power dynamics. Notable films include "Deterrence," a political thriller, and "The Contender," which received critical acclaim and Oscar nominations. He also directed "The Last Castle," "Straw Dogs," and "The Outpost," the latter receiving highly positive reviews for its depiction of the Battle of Kamdesh. Lurie has also been involved in television, creating and directing series such as "Commander in Chief" and "Line of Fire." He is married to author Kyra Davis.

Rod Lurie was born in Israel on May 15, 1962, and is the son of cartoonist Ranan Lurie. He moved to the United States during his childhood, spending his formative years in Greenwich, Connecticut, and Honolulu, Hawaii. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1984, Lurie served as an air defense artillery officer in the U.S. Army. His military background and alma mater often find subtle references in his cinematic work, with characters in films like "Deterrence" and "The Contender" being depicted as fictional West Point graduates, reflecting the institution's significance in his personal history.

Before his directing career, Lurie established himself as a journalist and film critic. He contributed to numerous publications, including News12, the New York Daily News, Premiere, Movieline, and Entertainment Weekly, and appeared on talk radio shows. His critical assessments were often provocative, with an infamous description of Danny DeVito as a "testicle with arms." As an investigative reporter, Lurie exposed unethical practices within the tabloid press, earning national recognition through appearances on major television programs. This period also saw the publication of his book, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Moviemaking, Con Games, and Murder in Glitter City," in 1995.

Lurie's directorial debut was the 1999 political thriller "Deterrence." He gained significant recognition for "The Contender" (2000), a critical success that earned Academy Award nominations for Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges. His subsequent films have explored diverse genres, including the military drama "The Last Castle" (2001) and the remake of the thriller "Straw Dogs" (2011). Lurie also directed "Nothing But the Truth," a film inspired by real-life events surrounding Valerie Plame and Judith Miller, which he intended as a commercial thriller exploring similar themes. His 2020 war film, "The Outpost," based on the Battle of Kamdesh, was highly praised for its realistic portrayal of combat. He has also worked in television, creating and directing series such as "Commander in Chief" and "Line of Fire."

“You look at the story that happened in reality, and Judy Miller gets some sort of permission to speak and then speaks. So what? Nothing really big came of the whole thing.”

“I tried to make a movie that's a commercial thriller as well as being something that's topical.”