Actor Brendan Gleeson (1955)

Six Shooter (2004), a short film by Martin McDonagh, follows Donnelly as he receives the news of his wife’s passing. As the doctor breaks the devastating news that she died at 3 o’clock that morning, Donnelly is brought to her bedside. However, the doctor must quickly excuse himself due to a chaotic scene at the hospital. Two cot deaths and a woman whose son ‘shot the poor head off her’ have caused an influx of patients. Left alone with his wife, Donnelly struggles to find the right words and instead gives her a photo of their pet rabbit, David. On his train ride home, Donnelly finds himself ...

The Village (2004), an American period thriller film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, is set in 19th-century Pennsylvania. The small, isolated village is plagued by mysterious humanoid-creatures that inhabit the nearby woods. To protect themselves, watchtowers and tall poles with oil lamps are positioned around the perimeter of the village. Additionally, the elders have forbidden the color red as it seems to attract the creatures. When a young villager dies, Lucius Hunt asks for permission to venture through the woods to retrieve medicine from ‘the towns’, but his request is denied. His ...

Troy (2004) is an epic historical war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff. Set in 1250 BC, the film tells the story of King Agamemnon’s quest to unite the Greek kingdoms. The heroic warrior Achilles fights for Agamemnon, despite his disdain for the king’s tyrannical ways. Meanwhile, Prince Hector of Troy and his brother Paris are negotiating a peace treaty with Menelaus, King of Sparta. However, Paris begins an affair with Menelaus’ wife, Queen Helen, and smuggles her aboard his ship as they return home. Hector reluctantly ...

Dark Blue (2002) is an American crime thriller film, directed by Ron Shelton and written by David Ayer, based on a story by novelist James Ellroy. The setting is Los Angeles in 1992. We are immediately introduced to LAPD Sergeant Eldon Perry who is seen pacing nervously with a shotgun and pistol in a motel room. The scene then shifts back five days earlier when two men, Darryl Orchard and Gary Sidwell, rob a convenience store and commit murder in the process. These events trigger an internal hearing for Detective Bobby ...

28 Days Later (2002) is a British post-apocalyptic horror film helmed by Danny Boyle and penned by Alex Garland. The cause of chaos is a highly contagious virus known as the ‘rage virus’, which is set loose in Great Britain when an infected chimpanzee escapes from its confinement at a laboratory in Cambridge, thanks to animal rights activists. One of the activists succumbs to the virus moments after freeing the enraged chimp, quickly spreading it to another individual. As hours and days pass, the illness spreads like wildfire and plunges society into utter ...

Gangs of New York (2002) is an American historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on Herbert Asbury’s book, The Gangs of New York. Set in the slum of Five Points in 1846, the story follows two rival gangs. The Anglo-Protestant Confederation of American Natives, led by William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting, and the Irish Catholic Dead Rabbits, led by ‘Priest’ Vallon, engage in their final battle for control of the territory. After Bill kills Vallon and declares the Dead Rabbits outlaws, Vallon’s young son witnesses it all and is sent to an orphanage on Blackwell’s ...

The Tailor of Panama (2001) is a spy thriller film directed by John Boorman, co-written by John le Carré and Andrew Davies. It is based on le Carré’s 1996 novel of the same name. The story follows Andy Osnard, an MI6 spy who has been sent to Panama after an affair with the foreign minister’s mistress in Madrid. Despite his superior’s warning about the corruption in Panama, Osnard sees it as an opportunity. He consults a list of British citizens living in ...

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) is an American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. Set in the 22nd century, rising sea levels caused by global warming have decimated cities and drastically reduced the world’s population. To fill the void left by human loss, Mecha humanoid robots have been created to take their place. In Madison, New Jersey, David – a prototype Mecha child programmed to feel love – is given to Henry Swinton and his wife Monica. They had lost their son Martin to a rare disease and he remains in suspended animation. While initially distant towards David, Monica ...

In Mission: Impossible II (2000), a thrilling spy movie directed by John Woo, Tom Cruise takes on the roles of both producer and star. Here, bio-genetics scientist Dr. Vladimir Nekhorvich reaches out to the IMF agency to warn his old friend Dimitri (Ethan Hunt) about his employer’s nefarious plans. Biocyte Pharmaceuticals has coerced him into creating a biological weapon for their own financial gain. Desperate to stop them, Nekhorvich injects himself with the Chimera virus and carries its antidote, Bellerophon, in a bag. However, things take a dangerous turn when ...

The biographical period drama film, Michael Collins (1996), was written and directed by Neil Jordan. As the Easter Rising of 1916 comes to an end, the Irish republicans at their headquarters in Dublin surrender to the British Army. Tragically, several prominent figures of the Rising, including Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh, Tom Clarke and James Connolly are executed by firing squad. The only exception is Éamon de Valera, who is spared due to his American citizenship but is detained with Michael Collins and Harry Boland. After Sinn Féin’s victory in the 1918 Irish general election, they unilaterally declare ...

Braveheart (1995) is an epic historical drama set in late-13th century Scotland. Directed and produced by Mel Gibson, the film follows Sir William Wallace, a brave Scottish warrior who leads his people in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. After the Scots’ king dies without an heir, Edward I, also known as ‘Longshanks’, conquers Scotland in 1280. Witnessing the brutal execution of several Scottish nobles by Longshanks, young William Wallace loses both his father and brother when they resist the English. He then goes to live with his uncle, Argyll. As years pass, ...