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A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

American Woman (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A young grandmother in a small Pennsylvania town raises her daughter's child after the girl disappears. All the while, a desperate search for her continues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Sienna Miller  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Aaron Paul  •  Will Sasso

A young grandmother in a small Pennsylvania town raises her daughter's child after the girl disappears. All the while, a desperate search for her continues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Sienna Miller  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Aaron Paul  •  Will Sasso

A Thousand Acres (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

The lives of an Iowa farmer's three daughters are shattered when he suddenly decides to bequeath them the family's fertile farm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Jessica Lange  •  Jason Robards  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

The lives of an Iowa farmer's three daughters are shattered when he suddenly decides to bequeath them the family's fertile farm.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyn Moorhouse
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Jessica Lange  •  Jason Robards  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

Witness (1985)

SuspensefulIntenseAction-packedBeautiful

A sheltered Amish child is the sole witness of a brutal murder in a restroom at a Philadelphia train station, and he must be protected. The assignment falls to a taciturn detective who goes undercover in a Pennsylvania Dutch community. On the farm, he slowly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Kelly McGillis  •  Josef Sommer  •  Lukas Haas

A sheltered Amish child is the sole witness of a brutal murder in a restroom at a Philadelphia train station, and he must be protected. The assignment falls to a taciturn detective who goes undercover in a Pennsylvania Dutch community. On the farm, he slowly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Weir
CAST:  Harrison Ford  •  Kelly McGillis  •  Josef Sommer  •  Lukas Haas

The Holiday (2006)

EmotionalEnjoyableBeautifulBoring

Two women, one from the United States and one from the United Kingdom, swap homes at Christmas time after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nancy Meyers
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Kate Winslet  •  Jude Law  •  Jack Black

Two women, one from the United States and one from the United Kingdom, swap homes at Christmas time after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a local man but realizes that the imminent return home may end the relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nancy Meyers
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Kate Winslet  •  Jude Law  •  Jack Black

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

EmotionalClassicCuteEnjoyable

When a feisty little fox named Tod is adopted into a farm family, he quickly becomes friends with a fun and adorable hound puppy named Copper. Life is full of hilarious adventures until Copper is expected to take on his role as a hunting dog -- and the object of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Rich  •  Ted Berman  •  Art Stevens
CAST:  Mickey Rooney  •  Kurt Russell  •  Pearl Bailey  •  Jack Albertson

When a feisty little fox named Tod is adopted into a farm family, he quickly becomes friends with a fun and adorable hound puppy named Copper. Life is full of hilarious adventures until Copper is expected to take on his role as a hunting dog -- and the object of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Rich  •  Ted Berman  •  Art Stevens
CAST:  Mickey Rooney  •  Kurt Russell  •  Pearl Bailey  •  Jack Albertson

The Goldfinch (2019)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In a rush of panic, he steals 'The Goldfinch', a painting that eventually draws him into a world of crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Crowley
CAST:  Ansel Elgort  •  Oakes Fegley  •  Aneurin Barnard  •  Finn Wolfhard

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In a rush of panic, he steals 'The Goldfinch', a painting that eventually draws him into a world of crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Crowley
CAST:  Ansel Elgort  •  Oakes Fegley  •  Aneurin Barnard  •  Finn Wolfhard

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

Flight (2012)

GrippingBrilliantIntenseFast paced

Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker has a problem with drugs and alcohol, though so far he's managed to complete his flights safely. His luck runs out when a disastrous mechanical malfunction sends his plane hurtling toward the ground. Whip pulls off a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Zemeckis
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Don Cheadle  •  Bruce Greenwood  •  Kelly Reilly

Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker has a problem with drugs and alcohol, though so far he's managed to complete his flights safely. His luck runs out when a disastrous mechanical malfunction sends his plane hurtling toward the ground. Whip pulls off a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Zemeckis
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Don Cheadle  •  Bruce Greenwood  •  Kelly Reilly

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

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 Act of Killing (2012)

HeartbreakingPowerfulEmotionalInsightful

Filmmakers expose the horrifying mass executions of accused communists in Indonesia and those who are celebrated in their country for perpetrating the crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joshua Oppenheimer  •  Christine Cynn
CAST:  Haji Anif  •  Syamsul Arifin  •  Herman Koto  •  Sakhyan Asmara

Filmmakers expose the horrifying mass executions of accused communists in Indonesia and those who are celebrated in their country for perpetrating the crime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joshua Oppenheimer  •  Christine Cynn
CAST:  Haji Anif  •  Syamsul Arifin  •  Herman Koto  •  Sakhyan Asmara

Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

Ben Crane believes that a severely injured racehorse deserves another chance. He and his daughter Cale adopt the mare and save it from being sacrificed by the owner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Gatins
CAST:  Kurt Russell  •  Dakota Fanning  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Elisabeth Shue

Ben Crane believes that a severely injured racehorse deserves another chance. He and his daughter Cale adopt the mare and save it from being sacrificed by the owner.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Gatins
CAST:  Kurt Russell  •  Dakota Fanning  •  Kris Kristofferson  •  Elisabeth Shue

The Ice Storm (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

Perfect Sense (2011)

OriginalEmotionalThought provokingMind blowing

In Glasgow, Scotland, while a mysterious pandemic begins to spread around the world, Susan, a brilliant epidemiologist, falls in love with Michael, a skillful cook.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Mackenzie
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Eva Green  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Stephen Dillane

In Glasgow, Scotland, while a mysterious pandemic begins to spread around the world, Susan, a brilliant epidemiologist, falls in love with Michael, a skillful cook.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Mackenzie
CAST:  Ewan McGregor  •  Eva Green  •  Ewen Bremner  •  Stephen Dillane

Light It Up (1999)

DepressingHeartbreakingSuspensefulEmotional

On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Bolotin
CAST:  Usher  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Rosario Dawson  •  Robert Ri'chard

On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Bolotin
CAST:  Usher  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Rosario Dawson  •  Robert Ri'chard

Michael Clayton (2007)

SuspensefulThought provokingIntenseGripping

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Gilroy
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Tom Wilkinson  •  Tilda Swinton  •  Sydney Pollack

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Gilroy
CAST:  George Clooney  •  Tom Wilkinson  •  Tilda Swinton  •  Sydney Pollack

We the Animals (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins

The World According to Garp (1982)

EmotionalWhimsicalComplexDramatic

A struggling young writer finds his life and work dominated by his unfaithful wife and his radical feminist mother, whose best-selling manifesto turns her into a cultural icon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Mary Beth Hurt  •  Glenn Close  •  John Lithgow

A struggling young writer finds his life and work dominated by his unfaithful wife and his radical feminist mother, whose best-selling manifesto turns her into a cultural icon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Mary Beth Hurt  •  Glenn Close  •  John Lithgow
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