RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: November 30, 1943

Background: Malick studied philosophy at Harvard University, and then attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, thoough he left without earning a doctorate. He taught philosophy at MIT and wrote freelance for Newsweek, the New Yorker, and Life. He earned an MFA from the AFI Conservatory in 1969.

Filmography: Though Malick's career spans nearly forty years, he has only directed five feature films. His first was 1973's "Badlands," which had a troubled production but earned rave reviews. His next film, 1978's "Days of Heaven," won an Oscar for its cinematography. But it would take twenty years for Malick to make his next film, the 1998 World War II-set drama "The Thin Red Line," which earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. His next film, "The New World" (2005), focused on the clash between English colonialists and Native Americans. His 2011 film, "The Tree of Life," was long-gestating before finally premiering at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it won the top prize. It received rave reviews upon its theatrical release soon thereafter.

Academy Awards:

Best Director Nominations
"The Tree of Life" (2011); lost to Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist")
"The Thin Red Line" (1999); lost to Steven Spielberg ("Saving Private Ryan")

Best Adapted Screenplay Nomination
"The Thin Red Line" (1999); lost to Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters")