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Love in the Time of Money (2002)

Thought provokingIntenseRomanticTragic

New York serves as a backdrop for a cast of characters in search of love, lust or lucre including a woman who makes awkward moves on the man renovating her SoHo loft, an embezzler, a sleazy artist and a phone psychic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Mattei
CAST:  Vera Farmiga  •  Domenick Lombardozzi  •  Jill Hennessy  •  Malcolm Gets

New York serves as a backdrop for a cast of characters in search of love, lust or lucre including a woman who makes awkward moves on the man renovating her SoHo loft, an embezzler, a sleazy artist and a phone psychic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Mattei
CAST:  Vera Farmiga  •  Domenick Lombardozzi  •  Jill Hennessy  •  Malcolm Gets

True Crime (1999)

Tear-jerkerThought provokingSuspensefulTragic

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Sicko (2007)

Thought provokingFunnyEnjoyableReal

Sicko is a Michael Moore documentary about the corrupt health care system in The United States who's main goal is to make profit even if it means losing people’s lives. "The more people you deny health insurance the more money we make" is the business model for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Moore
CAST:  Michael Moore  •  George W. Bush  •  Bill Clinton  •  Hillary Clinton

Sicko is a Michael Moore documentary about the corrupt health care system in The United States who's main goal is to make profit even if it means losing people’s lives. "The more people you deny health insurance the more money we make" is the business model for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Moore
CAST:  Michael Moore  •  George W. Bush  •  Bill Clinton  •  Hillary Clinton

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

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

The Zero Theorem (2013)

TragicBrilliantWeirdDepressing

A computer hacker's goal to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management; this time, they send a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry Gilliam
CAST:  Christoph Waltz  •  David Thewlis  •  Mélanie Thierry  •  Lucas Hedges

A computer hacker's goal to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management; this time, they send a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry Gilliam
CAST:  Christoph Waltz  •  David Thewlis  •  Mélanie Thierry  •  Lucas Hedges

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

Personal Effects (2009)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalRomantic

Walter is a rising star in the NCAA wrestling world until his life is ripped apart by the brutal murder of his sister. Returning home to console his mother Gloria he seeks vengeance on the man who is accused of the crime. A chance meeting with a beautiful mature ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Hollander
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Kathy Bates  •  Spencer Hudson

Walter is a rising star in the NCAA wrestling world until his life is ripped apart by the brutal murder of his sister. Returning home to console his mother Gloria he seeks vengeance on the man who is accused of the crime. A chance meeting with a beautiful mature ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Hollander
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Kathy Bates  •  Spencer Hudson

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

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

Nine Lives (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

The Safety of Objects (2002)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell

Two Lovers and a Bear (2016)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalRomantic

Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Nguyen
CAST:  Dane DeHaan  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  Gordon Pinsent  •  John Ralston

Set in a small town near the North Pole where roads lead to nowhere, the story follows Roman and Lucy, two burning souls who come together to make a leap for life and inner peace.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Nguyen
CAST:  Dane DeHaan  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  Gordon Pinsent  •  John Ralston

Oslo, August 31st (2011)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

Jungle Fever (1991)

DepressingThought provokingRomanticHeartbreaking

A successful and married black man contemplates having an affair with a white girl from work. He's quite rightly worried that the racial difference would make an already taboo relationship even worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Spike Lee  •  Annabella Sciorra  •  Ruby Dee  •  John Turturro

A successful and married black man contemplates having an affair with a white girl from work. He's quite rightly worried that the racial difference would make an already taboo relationship even worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Spike Lee
CAST:  Spike Lee  •  Annabella Sciorra  •  Ruby Dee  •  John Turturro

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

TragicEmotionalHeartbreakingIntense

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Tsutomu Tatsumi  •  Ayano Shiraishi  •  Yoshiko Shinohara  •  Kozo Hashida

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Tsutomu Tatsumi  •  Ayano Shiraishi  •  Yoshiko Shinohara  •  Kozo Hashida

The Glass Castle (2017)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Keanu Reeves  •  James Russo  •  William Richert

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Van Sant
CAST:  River Phoenix  •  Keanu Reeves  •  James Russo  •  William Richert

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

1985 (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung
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