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Ordinary People (1980)

Thought provokingGrippingEmotionalDepressing

Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Redford
CAST:  Donald Sutherland  •  Mary Tyler Moore  •  Judd Hirsch  •  Timothy Hutton

Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Redford
CAST:  Donald Sutherland  •  Mary Tyler Moore  •  Judd Hirsch  •  Timothy Hutton

Barney's Version (2010)

GrippingDramaticTragicEmotional

The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard J. Lewis
CAST:  Minnie Driver  •  Rosamund Pike  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Paul Giamatti

The picaresque and touching story of the politically incorrect, fully lived life of the impulsive, irascible and fearlessly blunt Barney Panofsky.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard J. Lewis
CAST:  Minnie Driver  •  Rosamund Pike  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Paul Giamatti

Careful What You Wish For (2015)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingSuspenseful

A guy gets more than he bargained for after entering into an affair with the wife of an investment banker. Soon, a suspicious death and substantial life insurance policy embroil him in a scandal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
CAST:  Isabel Lucas  •  Kandyse McClure  •  Nick Jonas  •  Dermot Mulroney

A guy gets more than he bargained for after entering into an affair with the wife of an investment banker. Soon, a suspicious death and substantial life insurance policy embroil him in a scandal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
CAST:  Isabel Lucas  •  Kandyse McClure  •  Nick Jonas  •  Dermot Mulroney

Nomadland (2021)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingTragic

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chloé Zhao
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  David Strathairn  •  Linda May  •  Bob Wells

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chloé Zhao
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  David Strathairn  •  Linda May  •  Bob Wells

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

Mary Magdalene (2018)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingTragic

In the first century, free-spirited Mary Magdalene flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher named Jesus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garth Davis
CAST:  Rooney Mara  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Ariane Labed

In the first century, free-spirited Mary Magdalene flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher named Jesus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garth Davis
CAST:  Rooney Mara  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Ariane Labed

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

Just, Melvin: Just Evil (2000)

GrippingDisturbingTragicBrilliant

A documentary about a man who molested generations of his children and stepchildren.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Ronald Whitney
CAST: 

A documentary about a man who molested generations of his children and stepchildren.  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Ronald Whitney
CAST: 

Frozen River (2008)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingOriginal

Ray Eddy, an upstate New York trailer mom, is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling. Broke after her husband takes off with the down payment for their new doublewide, Ray reluctantly teams up with Lila, a smuggler, and the two begin making runs across ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Courtney Hunt
CAST:  Melissa Leo  •  Misty Upham  •  Charlie McDermott  •  John Canoe

Ray Eddy, an upstate New York trailer mom, is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling. Broke after her husband takes off with the down payment for their new doublewide, Ray reluctantly teams up with Lila, a smuggler, and the two begin making runs across ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Courtney Hunt
CAST:  Melissa Leo  •  Misty Upham  •  Charlie McDermott  •  John Canoe

Deep Water (2006)

TragicGrippingRomanticInspiring

DEEP WATER is the stunning true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who enters the most daring nautical challenge ever – the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Rothwell  •  Louise Osmond
CAST:  Tilda Swinton  •  Simon Russell Beale  •  Jean Badin  •  Donald Crowhurst

DEEP WATER is the stunning true story of the fateful voyage of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur yachtsman who enters the most daring nautical challenge ever – the very first solo, non-stop, round-the-world boat race.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Rothwell  •  Louise Osmond
CAST:  Tilda Swinton  •  Simon Russell Beale  •  Jean Badin  •  Donald Crowhurst

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

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

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

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

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

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
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