Neil Corbould

Falling back on the old cliché, it runs in the family might be the best way to describe the Corbould family's work in the realm of special effects. Ushered into special effects work under the tutelage of Oscar-winning uncle Colin Chilvers (Superman [1978], X-Men [2000]), Neil Corbould (along with siblings Ian, Chris, and Paul) has carved part of a successful familial niche of talented special effects wizards within the film industry -- a niche so influential and enticing that one addition was the Corbould clan's father, Cliff Corbould. Beginning his career in cinematic illusion on such films as Victor/Victoria (1982), Neil Corbould soon began finding consistent work under the likes of such prolific directors as Ridley Scott (for whom he supplied effects for a Coca-Cola commercial in 1989) and Ron Howard (Far and Away [1992]). With strong family support and a talent for convincing and detailed special effects, Corbould continued working on such effects-heavy projects as director Luc Besson's The Fifth Element (1997) and Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan (1998). Over a decade after teaming with Scott, Corbould would re-team with the prolific director for Gladiator (2000). The challenging task of creating a convincing Coliseum and transporting audiences back to the days of swords and sandals paid off handsomely for Corbould, earning him the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 2000 Academy Awards.

- Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide