Roger Donaldson

Having proved himself to be a capable craftsman of several compelling political thrillers, director Roger Donaldson hit a downward spiral in his career after emerging from his native New Zealand as its cinematic savior, only to reestablish himself in the new millennium. With "Sleeping Dogs" (1977), Donaldson singlehandedly put New Zealand on the map as the next filmmaking capital of the world, while also getting himself noticed in Hollywood. He was also successful with the political thriller "No Way Out" (1987), which effectively tapped into the paranoia surrounding the rejuvenated Cold War. Another highlight of his career was "Thirteen Days" (2000), a taut and suspenseful look at the behind-the-scenes action inside the Kennedy White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis. By the time he helmed the excellent heist thriller "The Bank Job" (2008), Donaldson had established himself as one of cinema's most compelling filmmakers.