Taking Lives

Daniel John “D.J.” Caruso (born January 17, 1965) is an American director and producer. Caruso has directed the films Disturbia, Two for the Money, Taking Lives, The Salton Sea, Eagle Eye and I Am Number Four. He has also directed television episodes for shows such as The Shield, Over There, Smallville, and Dark Angel. He directed his first music video in 2007 for the song “Don’t Make Me Wait” by This World Fair. He was also a guest judge on the FOX reality show On the Lot for the episode of May 28/29. In 2009 he directed the music video for Airborne Toxic Event, Sometime Around Midnight.

His first feature film as a director was The Salton Sea which starred Val Kilmer. It was released in 2002.

In 2004, Caruso directed Taking Lives with Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke and Kiefer Sutherland. The film was released in theaters on March 16, 2004 but did not gross as much at box office as expected, only grossing $65,470,529. The film was later released on DVD the same year and was number one on the charts for three straight weeks.

Two for the Money was Caruso’s next film which was considered “a well done sport thriller, but with too many details”. The film was released on October 7, 2005 and was a moderate success, grossing $30,526,509 worldwide with a modest budget of $18 million. It was later released on DVD on January 17, 2006.

In 2007, Caruso was asked by Steven Spielberg to direct Disturbia. The movie was Caruso’s first big hit grossing over $117 million, with only a $20 million budget. It starred Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, David Morse, Aaron Yoo, and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was released April 13, 2007 in theaters and on DVD August 7.

Eagle Eye was Caruso’s second collaboration with Shia LaBeouf. It also starred Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson and was released in theaters September 26, 2008. It was produced by Steven Spielberg. Critic reactions were mixed but, on its opening weekend the movie grossed $29.1 million dollars in 3,510 theaters in the United States and Canada. It has grossed $201 million worldwide with a movie budget of $80 million.

He directed 2011’s I Am Number Four, based on a book by Pittacus Lore.

Caruso is currently working on a film adaptation for Y: The Last Man. It is rumored that it will be Caruso’s third time working with LaBeouf. On July 24, 2009, it has also been announced that he will be working with Electronic Arts on a movie based on the hit game Dead Space. It was officially announced that he will directing the film adaptation of Preacher. —Wikipedia