Food, Inc. (2008)

Thought provokingInsightfulRealScary

Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner examines how mammoth corporations have taken over all aspects of the food chain in the United States, from the farms where our food is grown to the chain restaurants and supermarkets where it's sold. Narrated by author and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Kenner
CAST:  Michael Pollan  •  Eric Schlosser  •  Richard Lobb  •  Vince Edwards

Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner examines how mammoth corporations have taken over all aspects of the food chain in the United States, from the farms where our food is grown to the chain restaurants and supermarkets where it's sold. Narrated by author and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Kenner
CAST:  Michael Pollan  •  Eric Schlosser  •  Richard Lobb  •  Vince Edwards

Waiting for "Superman" (2010)

InsightfulEpicThought provokingGripping

Gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, Waiting for Superman is an impassioned indictment of the American school system from An Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Davis Guggenheim
CAST:  Charles Adams  •  Jonathan Alter  •  Jonathan Alter

Gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, Waiting for Superman is an impassioned indictment of the American school system from An Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Davis Guggenheim
CAST:  Charles Adams  •  Jonathan Alter  •  Jonathan Alter

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

The Truman Show (1998)

Thought provokingOriginalCharmingClever

Truman Burbank is the star of The Truman Show, a 24-hour-a-day reality TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows, including ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Laura Linney  •  Noah Emmerich  •  Natascha McElhone

Truman Burbank is the star of The Truman Show, a 24-hour-a-day reality TV show that broadcasts every aspect of his life without his knowledge. His entire life has been an unending soap opera for consumption by the rest of the world. And everyone he knows, including ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Laura Linney  •  Noah Emmerich  •  Natascha McElhone

Happy (2011)

Thought provokingInspiringUpliftingBeautiful

Happy is a 2011 feature documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Roko Belic. It explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries, weaving in the newest findings of positive psychology. Director ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roko Belic
CAST:  Gregory Berns  •  Roy Blanchard  •  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  •  Tenzin Gyatso

Happy is a 2011 feature documentary film directed, written, and co-produced by Roko Belic. It explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries, weaving in the newest findings of positive psychology. Director ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roko Belic
CAST:  Gregory Berns  •  Roy Blanchard  •  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  •  Tenzin Gyatso

The Breakfast Club (1985)

BrilliantClassicEmotionalUplifting

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hughes
CAST:  Emilio Estevez  •  Anthony Michael Hall  •  Judd Nelson  •  Molly Ringwald

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hughes
CAST:  Emilio Estevez  •  Anthony Michael Hall  •  Judd Nelson  •  Molly Ringwald

Lost in Translation (2003)

BeautifulEmotionalInsightfulRomantic

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sofia Coppola
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Anna Faris  •  Giovanni Ribisi

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sofia Coppola
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Anna Faris  •  Giovanni Ribisi

Don Jon (2013)

OriginalThought provokingFunnyBrilliant

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Julianne Moore  •  Tony Danza

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Julianne Moore  •  Tony Danza

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

EnjoyableCuteFunnyFun

Andy moves to New York to work in the fashion industry. Her boss is extremely demanding, cruel and won't let her succeed if she doesn't fit into the high class elegant look of their magazine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  Anne Hathaway  •  Emily Blunt  •  Stanley Tucci

Andy moves to New York to work in the fashion industry. Her boss is extremely demanding, cruel and won't let her succeed if she doesn't fit into the high class elegant look of their magazine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  Anne Hathaway  •  Emily Blunt  •  Stanley Tucci

Into the Wild (2007)

AdventurousThought provokingInspiringBeautiful

After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sean Penn
CAST:  Emile Hirsch  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  William Hurt  •  Jena Malone

After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sean Penn
CAST:  Emile Hirsch  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  William Hurt  •  Jena Malone

Killing Them Softly (2012)

SuspensefulViolentThought provokingDark

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Dominik
CAST:  Brad Pitt  •  Scoot McNairy  •  Ben Mendelsohn  •  Richard Jenkins

Jackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Dominik
CAST:  Brad Pitt  •  Scoot McNairy  •  Ben Mendelsohn  •  Richard Jenkins

Big Fish (2003)

BeautifulCharmingOriginalFantastical

Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Burton
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Albert Finney  •  Billy Crudup  •  Jessica Lange

Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Burton
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Albert Finney  •  Billy Crudup  •  Jessica Lange

The Matrix (1999)

Action-packedBrilliantComplexMind blowing

Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Laurence Fishburne  •  Carrie-Anne Moss  •  Hugo Weaving

Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski
CAST:  Keanu Reeves  •  Laurence Fishburne  •  Carrie-Anne Moss  •  Hugo Weaving

Better Luck Tomorrow (2003)

Thought provokingEmotionalViolentDark

A group of over-achieving Asian-American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extra-curricular criminal activities.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Justin Lin
CAST:  Parry Shen  •  Jason Tobin  •  Sung Kang  •  Karin Anna Cheung

A group of over-achieving Asian-American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extra-curricular criminal activities.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Justin Lin
CAST:  Parry Shen  •  Jason Tobin  •  Sung Kang  •  Karin Anna Cheung

About Time (2013)

BeautifulRomanticCharmingEmotional

The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Curtis
CAST:  Rachel McAdams  •  Bill Nighy  •  Domhnall Gleeson  •  Tom Hollander

The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Curtis
CAST:  Rachel McAdams  •  Bill Nighy  •  Domhnall Gleeson  •  Tom Hollander

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

BeautifulThought provokingBrilliantMind blowing

Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michel Gondry
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Kate Winslet  •  Elijah Wood  •  Mark Ruffalo

Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michel Gondry
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Kate Winslet  •  Elijah Wood  •  Mark Ruffalo

Her (2013)

RomanticEmotionalThought provokingTear-jerker

In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need. To Theodore's surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Rooney Mara  •  Amy Adams

In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need. To Theodore's surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Jonze
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Rooney Mara  •  Amy Adams

American History X (1998)

EmotionalThought provokingViolentDisturbing

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Kaye
CAST:  Edward Norton  •  Edward Furlong  •  Beverly D'Angelo  •  Avery Brooks

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Kaye
CAST:  Edward Norton  •  Edward Furlong  •  Beverly D'Angelo  •  Avery Brooks

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Darabont
CAST:  Tim Robbins  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Bob Gunton  •  William Sadler

Framed in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Darabont
CAST:  Tim Robbins  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Bob Gunton  •  William Sadler