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Capturing the Friedmans (2003)

Thought provokingPowerfulTragicDisturbing

An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Jarecki
CAST:  Arnold Friedman  •  Elaine Friedman  •  Jesse Friedman  •  David Friedman

An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Jarecki
CAST:  Arnold Friedman  •  Elaine Friedman  •  Jesse Friedman  •  David Friedman

The East (2013)

Thought provokingIntenseSmartPowerful

An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zal Batmanglij
CAST:  Brit Marling  •  Alexander Skarsgård  •  Elliot Page  •  Toby Kebbell

An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zal Batmanglij
CAST:  Brit Marling  •  Alexander Skarsgård  •  Elliot Page  •  Toby Kebbell

Spun (2003)

Thought provokingIntenseFunnyTragic

Over the course of three days Ross, a college dropout addicted to crystal-meth, encounters a variety of oddball folks - including a stripper named Nikki and her boyfriend, the local meth producer, The Cook - but all he really wants to do is hook up with his old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonas Åkerlund
CAST:  Jason Schwartzman  •  Mickey Rourke  •  Brittany Murphy  •  John Leguizamo

Over the course of three days Ross, a college dropout addicted to crystal-meth, encounters a variety of oddball folks - including a stripper named Nikki and her boyfriend, the local meth producer, The Cook - but all he really wants to do is hook up with his old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonas Åkerlund
CAST:  Jason Schwartzman  •  Mickey Rourke  •  Brittany Murphy  •  John Leguizamo

Compliance (2012)

PowerfulDarkDisturbingThought provoking

On a particularly busy day at a suburban Ohio fast food restaurant, manager Sandra receives a phone call from a police officer saying that an employee has stolen money from a customer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Zobel
CAST:  Ann Dowd  •  Dreama Walker  •  Pat Healy  •  Philip Ettinger

On a particularly busy day at a suburban Ohio fast food restaurant, manager Sandra receives a phone call from a police officer saying that an employee has stolen money from a customer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Zobel
CAST:  Ann Dowd  •  Dreama Walker  •  Pat Healy  •  Philip Ettinger

Network (1976)

Thought provokingInsightfulSuspensefulPowerful

When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet
CAST:  Faye Dunaway  •  William Holden  •  Peter Finch  •  Robert Duvall

When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet
CAST:  Faye Dunaway  •  William Holden  •  Peter Finch  •  Robert Duvall

Milk (2008)

Thought provokingBoringDramaticReal

The true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay rights and inspires others to join him in his fight for equal rights that should be available to all ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Emile Hirsch  •  James Franco  •  Josh Brolin

The true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay rights and inspires others to join him in his fight for equal rights that should be available to all ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  Sean Penn  •  Emile Hirsch  •  James Franco  •  Josh Brolin

The Way Back (2010)

Thought provokingIntenseTragicAdventurous

At the dawn of WWII, several men escape from a Russian gulag—to take a perilous and uncertain journey to freedom as they cross deserts, mountains and several nations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Dejan Angelov  •  Dragos Bucur  •  Ed Harris

At the dawn of WWII, several men escape from a Russian gulag—to take a perilous and uncertain journey to freedom as they cross deserts, mountains and several nations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Colin Farrell  •  Dejan Angelov  •  Dragos Bucur  •  Ed Harris

Monster's Ball (2001)

Thought provokingRomanticEmotionalTear-jerker

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

The Mission (1986)

EpicDramaticThought provokingPowerful

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roland Joffé
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Jeremy Irons  •  Ray McAnally  •  Aidan Quinn

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roland Joffé
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Jeremy Irons  •  Ray McAnally  •  Aidan Quinn

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

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

Black Book (2006)

IntenseThought provokingTragicReal

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Verhoeven
CAST:  Carice van Houten  •  Sebastian Koch  •  Thom Hoffman  •  Halina Reijn

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Verhoeven
CAST:  Carice van Houten  •  Sebastian Koch  •  Thom Hoffman  •  Halina Reijn

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

Vertigo (1958)

Thought provokingSuspensefulBrilliantClassic

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Hitchcock
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Kim Novak  •  Barbara Bel Geddes  •  Tom Helmore

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Hitchcock
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Kim Novak  •  Barbara Bel Geddes  •  Tom Helmore

Cast Away (2000)

AdventurousEmotionalEpicThought provoking

Chuck Nolan, a top international manager for FedEx, and Kelly, a Ph.D. student, are in love and heading towards marriage. Then Chuck's plane to Malaysia crashes at sea during a terrible storm. He's the only survivor, and finds himself marooned on a desolate island. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Zemeckis
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Helen Hunt  •  Chris Noth  •  Paul Sanchez

Chuck Nolan, a top international manager for FedEx, and Kelly, a Ph.D. student, are in love and heading towards marriage. Then Chuck's plane to Malaysia crashes at sea during a terrible storm. He's the only survivor, and finds himself marooned on a desolate island. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Zemeckis
CAST:  Tom Hanks  •  Helen Hunt  •  Chris Noth  •  Paul Sanchez

The Elephant Man (1980)

TragicClassicDramaticTear-jerker

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Anthony Hopkins  •  Anne Bancroft  •  John Gielgud

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  John Hurt  •  Anthony Hopkins  •  Anne Bancroft  •  John Gielgud

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

GrippingDarkDisturbingThought provoking

After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Boyle
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Jonny Lee Miller  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Robert Carlyle

After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Danny Boyle
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Jonny Lee Miller  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Robert Carlyle

Just Mercy (2019)

IntenseRealGrippingPowerful

The powerful true story of Harvard-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who goes to Alabama to defend the disenfranchised and wrongly condemned — including Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death despite evidence proving his innocence. Bryan fights tirelessly for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Michael B. Jordan  •  Jamie Foxx  •  Brie Larson  •  O'Shea Jackson Jr.

The powerful true story of Harvard-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who goes to Alabama to defend the disenfranchised and wrongly condemned — including Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death despite evidence proving his innocence. Bryan fights tirelessly for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Michael B. Jordan  •  Jamie Foxx  •  Brie Larson  •  O'Shea Jackson Jr.

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

Amour (2012)

DepressingTragicSlow movingRomantic

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Haneke
CAST:  Emmanuelle Riva  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  William Shimell

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Haneke
CAST:  Emmanuelle Riva  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  William Shimell
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