For sheer cinematic punch, it’s hard to equal the films of director William Friedkin. In 1971, his The French Connection was released to wide critical acclaim. Shot in a gritty style more suited for documentaries than Hollywood features, the film won five Academy Awards, including Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. Friedkin followed up with 1973’s The Exorcist, based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel, which revolutionized the horror genre and is considered by some critics to be the greatest horror movie of all time. The Exorcist was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It won the Best Screenplay Award. His action/crime movie To Live And Die In L.A. (1985), won the Audience Award at the Cognac Film Festival. Starring William Petersen and Willem Dafoe, it was a critical favorite and drew comparisons to Friedkin’s own The French Connection. Other films include Sorcerer, Rules Of Engagement, The Hunted; Bug and his most recent film, Killer Joe starring Matthew McConaughey. His next film project is about Mae West for HBO films starring Bette Midler.