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Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Years after their teenage daughter’s death, Lois and Doug Riley, an upstanding Indiana couple, are frozen by estranging grief. Doug escapes to New Orleans on a business trip. Compelled by urgencies he doesn’t understand, he insinuates himself into the life of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  James Gandolfini  •  Melissa Leo  •  Joe Chrest

Years after their teenage daughter’s death, Lois and Doug Riley, an upstanding Indiana couple, are frozen by estranging grief. Doug escapes to New Orleans on a business trip. Compelled by urgencies he doesn’t understand, he insinuates himself into the life of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jake Scott
CAST:  Kristen Stewart  •  James Gandolfini  •  Melissa Leo  •  Joe Chrest

Princesita (2017)

DepressingHeartbreakingDisturbingEmotional

Twelve-year-old Tamara lives within a cult that is ruled by the beliefs of its leader Miguel, who becomes obsessively convinced that Tamara is the "chosen one". But when she falls in love with a classmate, Tamara's relationship gets in the way of Miguel's objective ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marialy Rivas
CAST:  Nathalia Acevedo  •  Marcelo Alonso  •  María Gracia Omegna  •  Rafael Federman

Twelve-year-old Tamara lives within a cult that is ruled by the beliefs of its leader Miguel, who becomes obsessively convinced that Tamara is the "chosen one". But when she falls in love with a classmate, Tamara's relationship gets in the way of Miguel's objective ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marialy Rivas
CAST:  Nathalia Acevedo  •  Marcelo Alonso  •  María Gracia Omegna  •  Rafael Federman

My Little Princess (2011)

DepressingHeartbreakingDisturbingEmotional

Young Violetta and her mother Hannah are a peculiar couple. Ten-year-old Violetta lives a quiet life with her grandmother, while her mother Hannah is an unpredictable photographer who lives off of the generosity of others. When Hannah forces her daughter to pose as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Éva Ionesco
CAST:  Isabelle Huppert  •  Georgetta Leahu  •  Denis Lavant  •  Anamaria Vartolomei

Young Violetta and her mother Hannah are a peculiar couple. Ten-year-old Violetta lives a quiet life with her grandmother, while her mother Hannah is an unpredictable photographer who lives off of the generosity of others. When Hannah forces her daughter to pose as ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Éva Ionesco
CAST:  Isabelle Huppert  •  Georgetta Leahu  •  Denis Lavant  •  Anamaria Vartolomei

For Colored Girls (2010)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

About existence from the perspective of 20 nameless black females. Each of the women portray one of the characters represented in the collection of twenty poems, revealing different issues that impact women in general and women of color in particular.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tyler Perry
CAST:  Kimberly Elise  •  Janet Jackson  •  Loretta Devine  •  Thandiwe Newton

About existence from the perspective of 20 nameless black females. Each of the women portray one of the characters represented in the collection of twenty poems, revealing different issues that impact women in general and women of color in particular.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tyler Perry
CAST:  Kimberly Elise  •  Janet Jackson  •  Loretta Devine  •  Thandiwe Newton

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

Concussion (2015)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

Storm Boy (2019)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Triple 9 (2016)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hillcoat
CAST:  Casey Affleck  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Kate Winslet  •  Aaron Paul

A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Hillcoat
CAST:  Casey Affleck  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Kate Winslet  •  Aaron Paul

American Underdog (2021)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

The true story of Kurt Warner, who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Erwin  •  Jon Erwin
CAST:  Zachary Levi  •  Anna Paquin  •  Hayden Zaller  •  Dennis Quaid

The true story of Kurt Warner, who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Erwin  •  Jon Erwin
CAST:  Zachary Levi  •  Anna Paquin  •  Hayden Zaller  •  Dennis Quaid

American Gun (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aric Avelino
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Lisa Long

Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aric Avelino
CAST:  Forest Whitaker  •  Marcia Gay Harden  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Lisa Long

When the Game Stands Tall (2014)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A young coach turns a losing high school football program around to go undefeated for 12 consecutive seasons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carter
CAST:  Jim Caviezel  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Laura Dern  •  Clancy Brown

A young coach turns a losing high school football program around to go undefeated for 12 consecutive seasons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carter
CAST:  Jim Caviezel  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Laura Dern  •  Clancy Brown

Friday Night Lights (2004)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Berg
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Lucas Black  •  Garrett Hedlund  •  Derek Luke

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Berg
CAST:  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Lucas Black  •  Garrett Hedlund  •  Derek Luke

Chelsea Walls (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

This movie tells five stories set in a single day at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, involving an ensemble cast of some 30-35 characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ethan Hawke
CAST:  Uma Thurman  •  Guillermo Díaz  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Kris Kristofferson

This movie tells five stories set in a single day at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, involving an ensemble cast of some 30-35 characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ethan Hawke
CAST:  Uma Thurman  •  Guillermo Díaz  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Kris Kristofferson

Day Zero (2007)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor. If called to serve, what would you do?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Gunnar Cole
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Chris Klein  •  Ginnifer Goodwin  •  Ally Sheedy

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor. If called to serve, what would you do?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Gunnar Cole
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Chris Klein  •  Ginnifer Goodwin  •  Ally Sheedy

Four Good Days (2021)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A mother helps her daughter work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Mila Kunis  •  Glenn Close  •  Stephen Root  •  Joshua Leonard

A mother helps her daughter work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Mila Kunis  •  Glenn Close  •  Stephen Root  •  Joshua Leonard

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry George
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Nick Nolte  •  Sophie Okonedo  •  Joaquin Phoenix

Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his hotel in attempt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry George
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Nick Nolte  •  Sophie Okonedo  •  Joaquin Phoenix

The United States of Leland (2003)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A withdrawn young man, Leland Fitzgerald is imprisoned for the murder of a mentally disabled boy, who also happened to be the brother of his girlfriend, Becky. As the community struggles to deal with the killing, Pearl Madison, a teacher at the prison, decides to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matthew Ryan Hoge
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Ryan Gosling  •  Chris Klein  •  Kevin Spacey

A withdrawn young man, Leland Fitzgerald is imprisoned for the murder of a mentally disabled boy, who also happened to be the brother of his girlfriend, Becky. As the community struggles to deal with the killing, Pearl Madison, a teacher at the prison, decides to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Matthew Ryan Hoge
CAST:  Don Cheadle  •  Ryan Gosling  •  Chris Klein  •  Kevin Spacey

Brothers of the Wind (2015)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

The way of the eagle is to raise two chicks. The stronger is destined always to throw the weaker from the nest. Man also has his ways, often to hurt those closest to him. Lukas suffers at the hands of a father who has withdrawn since the loss of his wife. Killed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gerardo Olivares  •  Otmar Penker
CAST:  Manuel Camacho  •  Jean Reno  •  Tobias Moretti  •  Eva Kuen

The way of the eagle is to raise two chicks. The stronger is destined always to throw the weaker from the nest. Man also has his ways, often to hurt those closest to him. Lukas suffers at the hands of a father who has withdrawn since the loss of his wife. Killed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gerardo Olivares  •  Otmar Penker
CAST:  Manuel Camacho  •  Jean Reno  •  Tobias Moretti  •  Eva Kuen

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

Winged Creatures (2008)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A psychotic man opens fire in a diner, murdering numerous people before killing himself. The survivors struggle in different ways following this horrendous event: a doctor doubts his own instincts and elects to use an experimental medical procedure on his wife, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowan Woods
CAST:  Dakota Fanning  •  Josh Hutcherson  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Guy Pearce

A psychotic man opens fire in a diner, murdering numerous people before killing himself. The survivors struggle in different ways following this horrendous event: a doctor doubts his own instincts and elects to use an experimental medical procedure on his wife, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rowan Woods
CAST:  Dakota Fanning  •  Josh Hutcherson  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Guy Pearce
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