One of the most politically conscious filmmakers working today, English writer/director/documentarian Paul Greengrass received considerable praise for his willingness to tackle difficult subjects in his projects. Over the course of a 20-year career, he aimed his hand-held camera at terrorism in Northern Ireland, corruption in the military, and most recently, the hijacking of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. In all cases, his films were challenging and uncompromising fare which highlighted the human condition in its best – and worst – possible light.

Born Aug. 13, 1955 in Cheam, Surrey, in