Matt Villa

Matt Villa isn’t exactly a household name, but the guy’s fingerprints are all over some seriously wild films. He’s the editing genius who stitched together the time-bending craziness of “Predestination” (2014)—yeah, that one with Ethan Hawke playing a Temporal Agent chasing a bomber through a handful of realities. Honestly, if you blink, you’ll miss a plot twist. Villa’s cuts keep you second-guessing what’s real, what’s memory, and what’s just straight-up bonkers sci-fi. Fast-forward to 2022, and Villa’s in the thick of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis.” You know, the glitter-filled, hip-shaking biopic that somehow makes the King of Rock and Roll feel even larger than life. Villa’s editing is all kinetic energy and neon—his sense of rhythm matches the music, and you can practically taste the sweat and stardust. It’s not just splicing scenes; he builds a pulse that drags you right onto the stage with Elvis, even if you’re just watching from your couch. And don’t forget “The Great Gatsby” (2013). That movie was basically a fever dream of jazz, champagne, and heartbreak. Villa’s work turns the roaring twenties into a kaleidoscope—one minute, you’re lost in a glittering party, the next, you’re catching your breath in the quiet moments that break your heart. There’s this frenetic elegance to the way he moves you through Gatsby’s world—fast, slow, whatever the story needs. If you think editing’s just about cutting scenes, Matt Villa’s filmography will make you think again.