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I Am Sam (2001)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jessie Nelson
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Dakota Fanning  •  Dianne Wiest

Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jessie Nelson
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Dakota Fanning  •  Dianne Wiest

Trainspotting (1996)

Thought provokingDarkDisturbingGripping

Heroin addict Mark Renton stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud and Tommy. He also has an underage girlfriend, Diane, along for the ride. After cleaning up and moving from Edinburgh to London, Mark ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Boyle
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Jonny Lee Miller  •  Kevin McKidd

Heroin addict Mark Renton stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud and Tommy. He also has an underage girlfriend, Diane, along for the ride. After cleaning up and moving from Edinburgh to London, Mark ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Boyle
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Jonny Lee Miller  •  Kevin McKidd

The Revenant (2015)

Thought provokingViolentDisturbingDark

In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alejandro González Iñárritu
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Tom Hardy  •  Will Poulter  •  Domhnall Gleeson

In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alejandro González Iñárritu
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Tom Hardy  •  Will Poulter  •  Domhnall Gleeson

Dead Man Walking (1995)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A death row inmate turns for spiritual guidance to a local nun in the days leading up to his scheduled execution for the murders of a young couple.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Robbins
CAST:  Susan Sarandon  •  Sean Penn  •  Robert Prosky  •  Raymond J. Barry

A death row inmate turns for spiritual guidance to a local nun in the days leading up to his scheduled execution for the murders of a young couple.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Robbins
CAST:  Susan Sarandon  •  Sean Penn  •  Robert Prosky  •  Raymond J. Barry

Blood Diamond (2006)

Action-packedViolentEmotionalThought provoking

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler. A Mende fisherman. Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward Zwick
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Djimon Hounsou  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Kagiso Kuypers

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler. A Mende fisherman. Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward Zwick
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio  •  Djimon Hounsou  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Kagiso Kuypers

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Zaillian
CAST:  Max Pomeranc  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Joan Allen  •  Ben Kingsley

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Zaillian
CAST:  Max Pomeranc  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Joan Allen  •  Ben Kingsley

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A veteran actress comes face-to-face with an uncomfortable reflection of herself when she agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Olivier Assayas
CAST:  Chloë Grace Moretz  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Juliette Binoche  •  Brady Corbet

A veteran actress comes face-to-face with an uncomfortable reflection of herself when she agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Olivier Assayas
CAST:  Chloë Grace Moretz  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Juliette Binoche  •  Brady Corbet

The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Derek Cianfrance
CAST:  Ryan Gosling  •  Eva Mendes  •  Bradley Cooper  •  Rose Byrne

A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Derek Cianfrance
CAST:  Ryan Gosling  •  Eva Mendes  •  Bradley Cooper  •  Rose Byrne

The Hunger Games (2012)

FuturisticAdventurousAction-packedGripping

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Ross
CAST:  Jennifer Lawrence  •  Josh Hutcherson  •  Liam Hemsworth  •  Stanley Tucci

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Ross
CAST:  Jennifer Lawrence  •  Josh Hutcherson  •  Liam Hemsworth  •  Stanley Tucci

The Godfather (1972)

Thought provokingEmotionalViolentDark

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Felon (2008)

Thought provokingViolentDisturbingEmotional

A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ric Roman Waugh
CAST:  Stephen Dorff  •  Val Kilmer  •  Marisol Nichols  •  Vincent Miller

A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ric Roman Waugh
CAST:  Stephen Dorff  •  Val Kilmer  •  Marisol Nichols  •  Vincent Miller

The Virgin Suicides (2000)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sofia Coppola
CAST:  Kirsten Dunst  •  James Woods  •  Kathleen Turner  •  Josh Hartnett

A group of male friends become obsessed with five mysterious sisters who are sheltered by their strict, religious parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sofia Coppola
CAST:  Kirsten Dunst  •  James Woods  •  Kathleen Turner  •  Josh Hartnett

Scarface (1983)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian De Palma
CAST:  Al Pacino  •  Steven Bauer  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian De Palma
CAST:  Al Pacino  •  Steven Bauer  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Guy Pearce  •  Danny DeVito  •  James Cromwell

Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Hanson
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Guy Pearce  •  Danny DeVito  •  James Cromwell

An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2009)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A fourth grader and her friends deal with bullying from a more popular girl in their class.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martha Coolidge
CAST:  Samantha Hanratty  •  Austin Thomas  •  Annabeth Gish  •  Michael Learned

A fourth grader and her friends deal with bullying from a more popular girl in their class.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martha Coolidge
CAST:  Samantha Hanratty  •  Austin Thomas  •  Annabeth Gish  •  Michael Learned

The Only Living Boy in New York (2017)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

When a young man learns that his overbearing father is having an affair, he tries to stop it, only to be seduced by the older woman as well.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Webb
CAST:  Callum Turner  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Pierce Brosnan

When a young man learns that his overbearing father is having an affair, he tries to stop it, only to be seduced by the older woman as well.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Webb
CAST:  Callum Turner  •  Jeff Bridges  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Pierce Brosnan

Cape Fear (1991)

SuspensefulViolentDisturbingDark

Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martin Scorsese
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Nick Nolte  •  Jessica Lange  •  Juliette Lewis

Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Martin Scorsese
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Nick Nolte  •  Jessica Lange  •  Juliette Lewis

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

OriginalEnjoyableThought provokingMind blowing

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

Public Enemies (2009)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mann
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Johnny Depp  •  Giovanni Ribisi  •  Billy Crudup

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mann
CAST:  Christian Bale  •  Johnny Depp  •  Giovanni Ribisi  •  Billy Crudup

99 Homes (2015)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

After his family is evicted from their home, proud and desperate construction worker Dennis Nash tries to win his home back by striking a deal with the devil and working for Rick Carver, the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ramin Bahrani
CAST:  Andrew Garfield  •  Laura Dern  •  Michael Shannon  •  Tim Guinee

After his family is evicted from their home, proud and desperate construction worker Dennis Nash tries to win his home back by striking a deal with the devil and working for Rick Carver, the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ramin Bahrani
CAST:  Andrew Garfield  •  Laura Dern  •  Michael Shannon  •  Tim Guinee
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