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Life Is Beautiful (1997)

PowerfulBeautifulFunnyDramatic

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberto Benigni
CAST:  Nicoletta Braschi  •  Roberto Benigni  •  Giorgio Cantarini  •  Giustino Durano

A touching story of an Italian book seller of Jewish ancestry who lives in his own little fairy tale. His creative and happy life would come to an abrupt halt when his entire family is deported to a concentration camp during World War II. While locked up he tries ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roberto Benigni
CAST:  Nicoletta Braschi  •  Roberto Benigni  •  Giorgio Cantarini  •  Giustino Durano

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

ClassicPowerfulDramaticEpic

The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence officers conspire to blow up the structure, but Col. Nicholson , the commander who supervised the bridge's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lean
CAST:  William Holden  •  Alec Guinness  •  Jack Hawkins  •  Sessue Hayakawa

The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence officers conspire to blow up the structure, but Col. Nicholson , the commander who supervised the bridge's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lean
CAST:  William Holden  •  Alec Guinness  •  Jack Hawkins  •  Sessue Hayakawa

Warrior (2011)

PowerfulDramaticEmotionalGripping

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

The Great Escape (1963)

EpicPowerfulIntenseGripping

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Steve McQueen  •  James Garner  •  Richard Attenborough  •  James Donald

The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out the remainder of the war. Undaunted, the prisoners plan one of the most ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Steve McQueen  •  James Garner  •  Richard Attenborough  •  James Donald

The Wrestler (2008)

EmotionalGrippingPowerfulReal

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Mickey Rourke  •  Marisa Tomei  •  Evan Rachel Wood  •  Ajay Naidu

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Darren Aronofsky
CAST:  Mickey Rourke  •  Marisa Tomei  •  Evan Rachel Wood  •  Ajay Naidu

The Fighter (2010)

RealEmotionalPowerfulInspiring

Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O. Russell
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Christian Bale  •  Amy Adams  •  Melissa Leo

Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David O. Russell
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Christian Bale  •  Amy Adams  •  Melissa Leo

Fruitvale Station (2013)

GrippingPowerfulHeartbreakingReal

Oakland, California. Young Afro-American Oscar Grant crosses paths with family members, friends, enemies and strangers before facing his fate on the platform at Fruitvale Station, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryan Coogler
CAST:  Michael B. Jordan  •  Octavia Spencer  •  Melonie Diaz  •  Ahna O'Reilly

Oakland, California. Young Afro-American Oscar Grant crosses paths with family members, friends, enemies and strangers before facing his fate on the platform at Fruitvale Station, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryan Coogler
CAST:  Michael B. Jordan  •  Octavia Spencer  •  Melonie Diaz  •  Ahna O'Reilly

The Theory of Everything (2014)

PowerfulInspiringDramaticEmotional

The Theory of Everything is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Marsh
CAST:  Felicity Jones  •  Emily Watson  •  Harry Lloyd  •  David Thewlis

The Theory of Everything is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Marsh
CAST:  Felicity Jones  •  Emily Watson  •  Harry Lloyd  •  David Thewlis

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Fast pacedIntenseSmartPowerful

When a CIA operation to purchase classified Russian documents is blown by a rival agent, who then shows up in the sleepy seaside village where Bourne and Marie have been living. The pair run for their lives and Bourne, who promised retaliation should anyone from ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Greengrass
CAST:  Matt Damon  •  Brian Cox  •  Julia Stiles  •  Joan Allen

When a CIA operation to purchase classified Russian documents is blown by a rival agent, who then shows up in the sleepy seaside village where Bourne and Marie have been living. The pair run for their lives and Bourne, who promised retaliation should anyone from ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Greengrass
CAST:  Matt Damon  •  Brian Cox  •  Julia Stiles  •  Joan Allen

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

DramaticPowerfulClassicReal

In a small Jewish community in a pre-Revolutionary Russian village, a poor milkman, determined to find good husbands for his five daughters, consults the traditional matchmaker – and also has words with God.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Jewison
CAST:  Norma Crane  •  Leonard Frey  •  Molly Picon  •  Topol

In a small Jewish community in a pre-Revolutionary Russian village, a poor milkman, determined to find good husbands for his five daughters, consults the traditional matchmaker – and also has words with God.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Jewison
CAST:  Norma Crane  •  Leonard Frey  •  Molly Picon  •  Topol

The Book Thief (2013)

DramaticThought provokingPowerfulIntense

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Percival
CAST:  Roger Allam  •  Sophie Nélisse  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Emily Watson

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Percival
CAST:  Roger Allam  •  Sophie Nélisse  •  Geoffrey Rush  •  Emily Watson

Maleficent (2014)

FantasticalOriginalPowerfulBeautiful

A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Stromberg
CAST:  Angelina Jolie  •  Elle Fanning  •  Juno Temple  •  Sharlto Copley

A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Stromberg
CAST:  Angelina Jolie  •  Elle Fanning  •  Juno Temple  •  Sharlto Copley

The Wave (2008)

Thought provokingBrilliantPowerfulGripping

A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dennis Gansel
CAST:  Jürgen Vogel  •  Frederick Lau  •  Max Riemelt  •  Jennifer Ulrich

A school teacher discusses types of government with his class. His students find it too boring to repeatedly go over national socialism and believe that dictatorship cannot be established in modern Germany. He starts an experiment to show how easily the masses can ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dennis Gansel
CAST:  Jürgen Vogel  •  Frederick Lau  •  Max Riemelt  •  Jennifer Ulrich

The Help (2011)

CleverThought provokingPowerfulCharming

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tate Taylor
CAST:  Emma Stone  •  Viola Davis  •  Octavia Spencer  •  Bryce Dallas Howard

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tate Taylor
CAST:  Emma Stone  •  Viola Davis  •  Octavia Spencer  •  Bryce Dallas Howard

Cloud Atlas (2012)

ComplexThought provokingBeautifulBrilliant

A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski  •  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Halle Berry  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugo Weaving

A set of six nested stories spanning time between the 19th century and a distant post-apocalyptic future. Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lilly Wachowski  •  Lana Wachowski  •  Tom Tykwer
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Halle Berry  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugo Weaving

Skyfall (2012)

Action-packedIntenseGrippingThrilling

When Bond's latest assignment goes gravely wrong, agents around the world are exposed and MI6 headquarters is attacked. While M faces challenges to her authority and position from Gareth Mallory, the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, it's up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Judi Dench  •  Javier Bardem  •  Ralph Fiennes

When Bond's latest assignment goes gravely wrong, agents around the world are exposed and MI6 headquarters is attacked. While M faces challenges to her authority and position from Gareth Mallory, the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, it's up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Daniel Craig  •  Judi Dench  •  Javier Bardem  •  Ralph Fiennes

Gravity (2013)

IntenseSuspensefulGrippingBeautiful

Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfonso Cuarón
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  George Clooney  •  Ed Harris  •  Orto Ignatiussen

Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfonso Cuarón
CAST:  Sandra Bullock  •  George Clooney  •  Ed Harris  •  Orto Ignatiussen

Disconnect (2012)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Disconnect interweaves multiple storylines about people searching for human connection in today’s wired world. Through poignant turns that are both harrowing and touching, the stories intersect with surprising twists that expose a shocking reality into our daily ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Alex Rubin
CAST:  Jason Bateman  •  Hope Davis  •  Frank Grillo  •  Paula Patton

Disconnect interweaves multiple storylines about people searching for human connection in today’s wired world. Through poignant turns that are both harrowing and touching, the stories intersect with surprising twists that expose a shocking reality into our daily ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Alex Rubin
CAST:  Jason Bateman  •  Hope Davis  •  Frank Grillo  •  Paula Patton

The Hunt (2012)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A teacher lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son’s custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Vinterberg
CAST:  Mads Mikkelsen  •  Alexandra Rapaport  •  Thomas Bo Larsen  •  Anne Louise Hassing

A teacher lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son’s custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Vinterberg
CAST:  Mads Mikkelsen  •  Alexandra Rapaport  •  Thomas Bo Larsen  •  Anne Louise Hassing

Schindler's List (1993)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Liam Neeson  •  Ben Kingsley  •  Ralph Fiennes  •  Caroline Goodall

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Liam Neeson  •  Ben Kingsley  •  Ralph Fiennes  •  Caroline Goodall
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