He's best known for his films Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter, Where the Truth Lies and Chloe. His stylistic trademarks are explorations of alienation, isolation and sexuality (though often as Fan Disservice, sometimes not, but at the very least always in service of the story), as well several uses of non-linear storytelling.
Egoyan's rise took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s when independent film was becoming a force in Hollywood. He is generally considered on the level of Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino, and is seen as one of the most important filmmakers in Canada, along with David Cronenberg and Don McKellar. His work often lends itself to Wild Mass Guessing, due to his occasional use of the Mind Screw.
Partial Filmography:
- 1994 Exotica
- 1997 The Sweet Hereafter
- 1999 Felicia's Journey
- 2000 Krapp's Last Tape
- 2002 Ararat
- 2005 Where the Truth Lies
- 2008 Adoration
- 2009 Chloe
- 2013 Devil's Knot
- 2014 The Captive
- 2015 Re;member
- 2019 Guest of Honour
Tropes:
- Author Appeal: Egoyan's films often draw on his Armenian heritage, whether directly (like in Next of Kin, Calendar, and Ararat) or not.
- Canada, Eh?: Many of his films are set in his hometown of Toronto, which he naturally portrays quite realistically. The Sweet Hereafter was set in British Columbia.
- Production Posse: For actors, he works frequently with Arsinée Khanjian (his IRL wife), Elias Koteas, Maury Chaykin, Sarah Polley, Christopher Plummer, Don McKellar, Gabrielle Rose, David Hemblen, and Bruce Greenwood. For crew he's got Susan Shipton and Bruce McDonald as editors, Paul Sarossy as cinematographer, and Mychael & Jeff Danna as composers.
