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A Beautiful Mind (2001)

BrainySleep-throughBrilliantSlow moving

John Nash is a brilliant but asocial mathematician fighting schizophrenia. After he accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Russell Crowe  •  Ed Harris  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Christopher Plummer

John Nash is a brilliant but asocial mathematician fighting schizophrenia. After he accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Russell Crowe  •  Ed Harris  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Christopher Plummer

The Pervert's Guide to Ideology (2012)

BrainyBrilliantBoringThought provoking

A journey into the labyrinthine heart of ideology, which shapes and justifies both collective and personal beliefs and practices: with an infectious zeal and voracious appetite for popular culture, Slovenian philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek analyzes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sophie Fiennes
CAST:  Slavoj Žižek

A journey into the labyrinthine heart of ideology, which shapes and justifies both collective and personal beliefs and practices: with an infectious zeal and voracious appetite for popular culture, Slovenian philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek analyzes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sophie Fiennes
CAST:  Slavoj Žižek

The Red Violin (1998)

IntenseOriginalBrainyRomantic

300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  François Girard
CAST:  Carlo Cecchi  •  Irene Grazioli  •  Anita Laurenzi  •  Tommaso Puntelli

300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  François Girard
CAST:  Carlo Cecchi  •  Irene Grazioli  •  Anita Laurenzi  •  Tommaso Puntelli

Limitless (2011)

Fast pacedBrainyIntenseThought provoking

A paranoia-fueled action thriller about an unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret "smart drug" that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Burger
CAST:  Bradley Cooper  •  Robert De Niro  •  Abbie Cornish  •  Andrew Howard

A paranoia-fueled action thriller about an unsuccessful writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret "smart drug" that allows him to use 100% of his brain and become a perfect version of himself. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil Burger
CAST:  Bradley Cooper  •  Robert De Niro  •  Abbie Cornish  •  Andrew Howard

Waking Life (2001)

Thought provokingBrainyBrilliantOriginal

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Wiley Wiggins  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Trevor Jack Brooks  •  Julie Delpy

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Wiley Wiggins  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Trevor Jack Brooks  •  Julie Delpy

Another Earth (2011)

Thought provokingBrainySlow movingSmart

On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Cahill
CAST:  William Mapother  •  Brit Marling  •  Jordan Baker  •  Flint Beverage

On the night of the discovery of a duplicate Earth in the Solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Cahill
CAST:  William Mapother  •  Brit Marling  •  Jordan Baker  •  Flint Beverage

Being John Malkovich (1999)

OriginalCleverBrainyBrilliant

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  John Malkovich  •  John Cusack  •  Cameron Diaz  •  Mary Kay Place

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  John Malkovich  •  John Cusack  •  Cameron Diaz  •  Mary Kay Place

Gattaca (1997)

FuturisticBrainyBrilliantThought provoking

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman

Inside Man (2006)

BrilliantHeistBrainyMind blowing

When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Jodie Foster  •  Clive Owen  •  Christopher Plummer

When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Jodie Foster  •  Clive Owen  •  Christopher Plummer

Perfect Blue (1998)

Mind blowingDarkBrainyDepressing

Pop singer Mima Kirigow looks forward to a bright new career when she quits her chart-topping trio to become an actress. When she lands a role in a sexually charged murder mystery, Mima’s life begins to fall apart.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Kon
CAST:  Rica Matsumoto  •  Junko Iwao  •  Shinpachi Tsuji  •  Masaaki Okura

Pop singer Mima Kirigow looks forward to a bright new career when she quits her chart-topping trio to become an actress. When she lands a role in a sexually charged murder mystery, Mima’s life begins to fall apart.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Kon
CAST:  Rica Matsumoto  •  Junko Iwao  •  Shinpachi Tsuji  •  Masaaki Okura

Lucy (2014)

CleverAction-packedFast pacedThought provoking

A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luc Besson
CAST:  Scarlett Johansson  •  Lio Tipton  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Amr Waked

A woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luc Besson
CAST:  Scarlett Johansson  •  Lio Tipton  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Amr Waked

Minority Report (2002)

FuturisticAction-packedOriginalThought provoking

John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Max von Sydow  •  Steve Harris  •  Neal McDonough

John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Max von Sydow  •  Steve Harris  •  Neal McDonough

The Social Network (2010)

GrippingFast pacedInsightfulDramatic

The tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Jesse Eisenberg  •  Andrew Garfield  •  Justin Timberlake  •  Rooney Mara

The tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Jesse Eisenberg  •  Andrew Garfield  •  Justin Timberlake  •  Rooney Mara

Brick (2006)

CleverComplexMysteriousGripping

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Emilie de Ravin  •  Nora Zehetner  •  Lukas Haas

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Emilie de Ravin  •  Nora Zehetner  •  Lukas Haas

Primer (2004)

Mind blowingBrainyComplexAction-packed

Friends and fledgling entrepreneurs invent a device in their garage which reduces the apparent mass of any object placed inside it, but they discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities - ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shane Carruth
CAST:  Shane Carruth  •  David Sullivan  •  Casey Gooden  •  Anand Upadhyaya

Friends and fledgling entrepreneurs invent a device in their garage which reduces the apparent mass of any object placed inside it, but they discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities - ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shane Carruth
CAST:  Shane Carruth  •  David Sullivan  •  Casey Gooden  •  Anand Upadhyaya

The King's Speech (2010)

InspiringBeautifulEmotionalBrilliant

The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Hooper
CAST:  Colin Firth  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Helena Bonham Carter  •  Guy Pearce

The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Hooper
CAST:  Colin Firth  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Helena Bonham Carter  •  Guy Pearce

The Usual Suspects (1995)

SuspensefulViolentThought provokingDark

Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Singer
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Stephen Baldwin  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Benicio del Toro

Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Singer
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Stephen Baldwin  •  Gabriel Byrne  •  Benicio del Toro

American Beauty (1999)

BeautifulBrilliantThought provokingComplex

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Annette Bening  •  Thora Birch  •  Wes Bentley

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Annette Bening  •  Thora Birch  •  Wes Bentley

Gone Girl (2014)

BrilliantCleverMysteriousDark

With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Rosamund Pike  •  Tyler Perry  •  Neil Patrick Harris

With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Fincher
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Rosamund Pike  •  Tyler Perry  •  Neil Patrick Harris

Looper (2012)

FuturisticCleverAction-packedThought provoking

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past where a looper, a hired gun, like Joe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rian Johnson
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Bruce Willis  •  Emily Blunt  •  Paul Dano
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